Post by maxell on Aug 26, 2006 10:04:08 GMT -5
Liverpool back on winning terms
Liverpool won their first Premiership game of the new season on Saturday, coming from behind to beat West Ham 2-1 at Anfield. Premiership top scorer Bobby Zamora opened the scoring with a fluke cross-shot before a three-minute scoring burst saw Dan Agger and Peter Crouch give Liverpool victory.
West Ham were looking good for their one goal advantage as the first half neared its conclusion, after Zamora had given the visitors the lead when he sent over what seemed like a cross, only for it to turn into a shot that caught Pepe Reina completely unawares in the Liverpool net.
But two goals in three minutes from Liverpool completely turned the game on its head, and it was the hosts who went into the dressing rooms with the lead, leaving West Ham boss Alan Pardew fuming at his side's loss of the lead.
First, centre-half Agger pulled Liverpool level with a stunning strike on 42 minutes when he unleashed a viciously swerving effort with the outside of his left boot which flew into the top corner.
It was surely an early contender for goal of the season, and Liverpool used the boost to go on and take the lead just three minutes later as Crouch rounded Roy Carroll to finish coolly after having been slipped in by a cute Luis Garcia ball.
BRIGHT START
The game started very brightly, with chances at both ends going begging, most notably from Liverpool's Steven Gerrard, Garcia and Fabio Aurelio, the latter who saw a well-struck free kick headed off the line.
For West Ham, Marlon Harewood should have doubled his side's lead just a minute after Zamora's effort had flown in, but the striker lost his composure in front of goal after he was played in by a superb Yossi Benayoun pass.
After the goal burst in the closing stages of the first half, Liverpool began to lose their rhythm a little and West Ham were able to push for an equaliser of their own.
Indeed, Lee Bowyer could have grabbed a point for the Hammers with just ten minutes remaining, but his first time effort shaved the outside of Reina's post, with the Liverpool goalkeeper beaten all ends up.
That proved to be the last chance for the visitors, giving the Merseysiders all three points.
ENCOURAGING FOR BENITEZ
But Reds' boss Rafa Benitez will be able to take a lot more than that from his side's performance.
Liverpool showed grit and determination to fight back from an unlikely goal down, but most pleasing will have been the way the club's summer signings played.
Up front Craig Bellamy - starting for the first time in tandem with Crouch - was his usual busy self and created problems for the visiting defence with his combination of pace and directness.
At the back, Fabio Aurelio was solid and looked threatening going forward in the truest Brazilian tradition, whilst Chilean winger Mark Gonzalez impressed with his pace once he arrived as a substitute on the hour mark.
But the biggest fillip for Benitez must have been the performance of his latest recruit Dirk Kuyt, who arrived from Feyenoord last week.
The Dutchman was introduced on 52 minutes and very nearly scored with his second touch as he fired a long distance effort just wide of Carroll's post.
His persistent running endeared him instantly to the massed ranks on the Kop - which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this week - and he was unfortunate not to get himself on the scoresheet after he saw a header fly past the past just seconds after his first chance.
The win caps a good week for Liverpool, and with their qualification for the Champions League group stage, a first win in the Premiership and a several promising performances from a handful of new recruits, the Reds are looking a force to be reckoned with this season. from eurosports.com
Liverpool won their first Premiership game of the new season on Saturday, coming from behind to beat West Ham 2-1 at Anfield. Premiership top scorer Bobby Zamora opened the scoring with a fluke cross-shot before a three-minute scoring burst saw Dan Agger and Peter Crouch give Liverpool victory.
West Ham were looking good for their one goal advantage as the first half neared its conclusion, after Zamora had given the visitors the lead when he sent over what seemed like a cross, only for it to turn into a shot that caught Pepe Reina completely unawares in the Liverpool net.
But two goals in three minutes from Liverpool completely turned the game on its head, and it was the hosts who went into the dressing rooms with the lead, leaving West Ham boss Alan Pardew fuming at his side's loss of the lead.
First, centre-half Agger pulled Liverpool level with a stunning strike on 42 minutes when he unleashed a viciously swerving effort with the outside of his left boot which flew into the top corner.
It was surely an early contender for goal of the season, and Liverpool used the boost to go on and take the lead just three minutes later as Crouch rounded Roy Carroll to finish coolly after having been slipped in by a cute Luis Garcia ball.
BRIGHT START
The game started very brightly, with chances at both ends going begging, most notably from Liverpool's Steven Gerrard, Garcia and Fabio Aurelio, the latter who saw a well-struck free kick headed off the line.
For West Ham, Marlon Harewood should have doubled his side's lead just a minute after Zamora's effort had flown in, but the striker lost his composure in front of goal after he was played in by a superb Yossi Benayoun pass.
After the goal burst in the closing stages of the first half, Liverpool began to lose their rhythm a little and West Ham were able to push for an equaliser of their own.
Indeed, Lee Bowyer could have grabbed a point for the Hammers with just ten minutes remaining, but his first time effort shaved the outside of Reina's post, with the Liverpool goalkeeper beaten all ends up.
That proved to be the last chance for the visitors, giving the Merseysiders all three points.
ENCOURAGING FOR BENITEZ
But Reds' boss Rafa Benitez will be able to take a lot more than that from his side's performance.
Liverpool showed grit and determination to fight back from an unlikely goal down, but most pleasing will have been the way the club's summer signings played.
Up front Craig Bellamy - starting for the first time in tandem with Crouch - was his usual busy self and created problems for the visiting defence with his combination of pace and directness.
At the back, Fabio Aurelio was solid and looked threatening going forward in the truest Brazilian tradition, whilst Chilean winger Mark Gonzalez impressed with his pace once he arrived as a substitute on the hour mark.
But the biggest fillip for Benitez must have been the performance of his latest recruit Dirk Kuyt, who arrived from Feyenoord last week.
The Dutchman was introduced on 52 minutes and very nearly scored with his second touch as he fired a long distance effort just wide of Carroll's post.
His persistent running endeared him instantly to the massed ranks on the Kop - which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this week - and he was unfortunate not to get himself on the scoresheet after he saw a header fly past the past just seconds after his first chance.
The win caps a good week for Liverpool, and with their qualification for the Champions League group stage, a first win in the Premiership and a several promising performances from a handful of new recruits, the Reds are looking a force to be reckoned with this season. from eurosports.com
