NOVEMBER 29
Konchesky holds hands up
By Jimmy Rice - LFC Official Website
Paul Konchesky today accepted
responsibility for his part in Tottenham's winning goal on
Sunday - and spoke of a determination to up his game as he
continues to settle on Merseyside.
The left-back told Liverpoolfc.tv he was 'gutted' by the
manner of our 2-1 defeat following an injury-time winner by
his direct opponent Aaron Lennon.
It came after an impressive display from those in red - and
Konchesky believes there were still many positives to take
from White Hart Lane.
The 29-year-old said: "Straight after I knew that I'd have
to hold my hands up, but we also had chances to win the
game. That's part of football and we've got to try and take
the positives out of the game.
"I was gutted (with the winner). Being the last minute as
well, it didn't give us any time to get back into the game.
But that's life, we've got to put it behind us, and I've got
to put it behind myself for the next game."
Asked how he was settling into the team after a summer
transfer from Fulham, Konchesky added: "It's taken me a
while, and I got injured early on so I'm just getting back
to playing at full fitness now. I'm getting used to the
atmosphere and the people surrounding the team.
"There is a lot of pressure here but it's a good pressure.
The fans want you to be in the top four because that's where
Liverpool belong.
"I've got to up my game. Where I've played before has not
been as high a standard as Liverpool, but this is a good
pressure."
Despite the defeat, Konchesky - who was managed by Hodgson
at Fulham - thinks there is evidence that Roy Hodgson is now
imposing his brand of football on the team.
"I can see signs that we're starting to play in the style he
wants," said the defender. "The more we work on it on the
training ground, the more the players get used to what the
manager wants.
"We're taking it into games. The performances have been of a
much higher standard in the last two games.
"It's about organisation and a lot of hard work. Players
filling in for each other when someone's out of position.
"I think the team is becoming organised in the system."
NOVEMBER 28
Roy's Spurs
verdict
By Steve Hunter at White Hart Lane - LFC Official Website
Roy Hodgson was left to lament a double
blow after his side's last-gasp 2-1 defeat to Tottenham
Hotspur was compounded by an injury to Jamie Carragher.
Martin Skrtel had given the Reds a first-half lead, only to
then deflect a Luka Modric cross beyond his own 'keeper Pepe
Reina for the equaliser.
Carragher left the field with what appeared to be a
discloated shoulder before Aaron Lennon slotted home the
winner, leaving Hodgson frustrated.
"I'm very disappointed because I didn't feel we deserved to
lose this game," Hodgson told his post-match press
conference.
"It was especially disappointing because it came at a time
when we had to reorganise our defence when Jamie Carragher
had to leave the field.
"It seemed to be a cruel way to come away from a game where
we played well only to end up with nothing and losing our
talismanic centre-half.
"We then paid the price for not dealing with a very simple
long ball which caught us unaware and Lennon then used his
pace and sneaked in to score the winning goal.
"I'm finding it hard to come to terms with the fact we have
got nothing out of this game, but the result is not going to
change with me being disappointed.
"We had plenty of chances in the game and we played well
enough to have put this game to bed before half-time and
then just after the interval, but we didn't do so and then
you always run the risk of the other team getting themselves
back into it.
"Tottenham are a very good attacking team and they certainly
asked lots of questions of us, but I thought we asked plenty
of questions of them as well."
Hodgson was also quizzed by reporters about whether he felt
his team should have had a penalty when Dirk Kuyt went down
in the area under a strong challenge from Benoit
Assou-Ekotto.
He added: "I haven't seen it again but we are football
coaches and we are also fans and we see things from our own
point of view.
"Of course from my position on the bench I thought it was a
penalty, but I haven't seen it again. It was obviously very
close, put it that way.
"I was a bit distressed at first when Tottenham got a
penalty, but having seen it back on the slow motion on the
video it shows David Ngog has got no right to jump in that
way and therefore a penalty was right against him."
Journalists also asked Hodgson if he felt Fernando Torres
was suffering from a crisis of confidence.
Hodgson said: "I think he's getting much better and crisis
in confidence is too strong a phrase. His confidence is
good.
"Because Fernando sets such very high standards he will be
disappointed he didn't take one of the chances that came his
way, but I was pleased with Fernando today. He and Ngog were
very good up front and we created a lot of chances and some
good opportunities."
Hodgson was also asked for his verdict on the FA Cup 3rd
round draw which will see the Reds face a trip to Old
Trafford to face arch rivals Manchester United.
The boss added: "I think it will be a good game and it is
one we will look forward to.
"In many ways it is a shame to see two Barclays Premier
League teams face each other so early on in the competition,
but it will be a difficult game for them as well as for us."
NOVEMBER 28
Lennon grabs late
win for Spurs
TEAMtalk
Aaron Lennon kept his cool to convert a
stoppage-time winner as Tottenham came from behind to beat
Liverpool 2-1 at White Hart Lane on Sunday.
An incident-packed game looked certain to end in a 1-1 draw
after Martin Skrtel netted at both ends and sub Jermain
Defoe also missed a penalty.
Several other clear-cut chances went begging for both sides
before Lennon became the hero to move Spurs to within a
point of fourth-placed Manchester City and back to six of
the summit.
It was the second time in eight days, and the fifth time
this season, Tottenham had come from behind to win a Premier
League game.
Sunday's match was the first meeting between the sides since
Tottenham usurped Liverpool as a member of the top four and
one of England's Champions League flagbearers, a mantle they
have assumed with aplomb.
They suffered a blow early on when they lost Rafael van der
Vaart to injury in the 12th minute, the midfielder having
been passed fit to play after an ankle injury.
Replacement Defoe curled a left-foot volley at Jose Reina
before the lively Maxi Rodriguez forced a fine fingertip
stop from Heurelho Gomes, who then improvised a save to turn
Dirk Kuyt's angled volley behind.
Raul Meireles was cautioned midway through the half for
felling Gareth Bale in full flight and referee Martin
Atkinson had his yellow card out again for Paul Konchesky on
the half-hour after a brilliant 40-yard run by the Tottenham
winger.
A minute later, Defoe should have put Spurs ahead when Reina
spilt Luka Modric's cross to leave him with an open goal but
Jamie Carragher threw himself in front of the ball to block.
It was frantic stuff and David Ngog then powered a header
wide from Kuyt's cross before Spurs suffered another blow
when Younes Kaboul hurt himself after being hit by a
Fernando Torres shot.
Sebastien Bassong came on for the final nine minutes of the
half, which saw Gomes almost fumble Meireles' speculative
shot into his own net and Carragher carded for tripping
Modric in full flight.
Liverpool then snatched the lead when Spurs made a complete
hash of trying to clear Meireles' flighted free-kick and
Skrtel pounced to prod the ball past Gomes.
Maxi and Torres could have doubled the deficit in
stoppage-time but the former fell over his own feet with
only the goalkeeper to beat and the latter was thwarted by a
brilliant last-ditch Bassong tackle.
Incredibly, Lucas Leiva sent Torres clean through again a
minute after the restart and hesitated long enough to allow
Bassong to challenge.
But Spurs were unlucky not to level in the 52nd minute when
Lennon's cross eventually dropped to Bale and his vicious
shot somehow found the head of Meireles on the line.
Atkinson was not interested when Peter Crouch went down in
the box but did penalise Carragher for a challenge on Defoe
which led to a 61st-minute Tottenham penalty.
In a repeat of the spot-kick they were awarded at Arsenal
the previous weekend, Bale blasted a free-kick which Ngog
inexplicably handled.
Skrtel was booked for disputing the award but it did not
matter as Defoe dragged the penalty wide, Spurs' fourth miss
from the spot this season.
However, an inspirational run from Modric did see Spurs
equalise four minutes later, the midfielder jinking his way
into the box.
Skrtel tried to cut out his cross but could only turn the
ball past Reina.
Kuyt was adamant he should have had a penalty following a
strong challenge from Benoit Assou-Ekotto but Atkinson was
unmoved.
The visitors were forced to replace Ngog with Fabio Aurelio
for the final 15 minutes.
Neither side were settling for the draw and Bale saw another
effort blocked when his volley crashed into a crowd of
Liverpool players.
The impressive Meireles also sent a beautifully-struck
left-foot shot inches wide from 25 yards before the Reds
lost Carragher for the final four minutes to a shoulder
injury, Sotirios Kyrgiakos replacing him.
Glen Johnson was booked after leaving Bale in a heap, with
light snow beginning to fall in north London.
Defoe then netted what he thought was a brilliant
last-minute winner but he was offside lashing the ball home.
But, two minutes into stoppage-time, Lennon sealed another
incredible Spurs fightback when he raced onto Crouch's flick
and fired past Reina.
Defoe was immediately withdrawn for Sandro and Lennon almost
made it 3-1 with another barnstorming run.
|
