After The Match 

            


LIVERPOOL-CHELSEA 1-2 (0-1)            Sunday Aug 17     Premier League
Goals: Owen (pen. 79)           Veron (25), Hasselbaink (87)
Team: Dudek, Carragher, Henchoz, Hyypia, Riise, Biscan, Murphy, Cheyrou, Kewell, Owen, Heskey
Subs: Diouf (Cheyrou 54), Finnan (Henchoz 70), Baros (Biscan 70)
Not used: Kirkland, Le Tallec
Yellow: Biscan (30), Henchoz (43), Diouf (89)       Lampard (14)
Red: None
Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent)
Attendance: 44,082

                                                            FIXTURES & RESULTS
TEAM STATS
On target: 7-6
Off target: 5-4
Fouls: 13-12
Corne:rs 8-6
Yellow: 3-1
Red: 0-0

 

 

 

HEADLINES

"We created chances, didn't finish them
and it cost us
the game."
                Gerard Houllier

1908: Houllier has to keep things simple
1808: Kewell adds fuel to the fire for Anfield's       charge     
1808: Roman ruins Anfield hope
1708: Toshack: Top teams will pick Reds off
1708: Finishing disappoints Houllier
1708: Hasselbaink sinks Liverpool
 

AUGUST 17
Toshack: Top teams will pick Reds off

Sky Sports

Former Liverpool striker John Toshack warned the Reds they have a long way to go to compete with the top European clubs after he watched their 2-1 defeat to Chelsea.

Sky pundit Toshack, who has managed both Real Madrid and Real Sociedad, believes Gerard Houllier's side did not pass the ball well enough and rarely threatened the Chelsea goal.

And Toshack, a Liverpool striker himself in the 1970s, criticised boss Houllier for playing too many players out of position.

"It looked like a European side agaisnt a British side," he said. "The top European sides would have picked Liverpool off on the counter-attack.

"Liverpool conceded a lot of possession. The two centre backs and Igor Biscan lost an awful lot of balls.

"In the second half, I don't think Cudicini had a shot to save. Liverpool had five players [Michael Owen, Milan Baros, Emile Heskey, Harry Kewell and El-Hadji Diouf) in attack, but they just got in each other's way. Liverpool finished with so many square pegs in round holes.

"Liverpool are going to have a lot more matches like that this season," he concluded.

Toshack felt Liverpool missed their two absent midfielders. "Gerrard and Hamann weren't playing. They link the defence and the attack - and without them, look at the space [Juan Sebastian] Veron had for the goal."

He was more impressed with Chelsea, adding: "Geremi was very disciplined and Lampard did well. Away from home, they had three men in the centre of midfield [with Veron] and that was the foundation of the victory."


AUGUST 17
Finishing disappoints Houllier

BBC Sport Online

Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier demanded his team improve their finishing after Chelsea's better touch in front of goal ensured they departed Anfield with the victory.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's late goal proved decisive after Juan Sebastian's first-half opener had been cancelled out by Michael Owen's retaken penalty.

"We thought we deserved at least an equaliser," said Houllier. "Chelsea were extremely clinical, they had two chances in the first half, one was saved by Jerzy Dudek and one we slipped and they scored.

"We could have done better after the equaliser in terms of compactness, but this is Liverpool and we wanted a second goal.

"We played a good side. The finishing is not yet at the level of the team performance and the production of chances, but it will come.

"I told my staff that the first goal would be vital and whoever scores will take control but because we needed to take some risks, once we equalised we didn't feel secure enough.

"We created chances, didn't finish them and it cost us the game. We could have at least got a draw but we must keep the mental stamina, the players showed qualities which are very important for the future.

"We didn't finish well but we made openings and that is a good position to move forward from."


AUGUST 17
Hasselbaink sinks Liverpool

BBC Sport Online

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's dramatic late winner gave Claudio Ranieri's expensively-assembled Chelsea a winning Premiership start at Liverpool.

Liverpool looked to have snatched a point thanks to a controversial twice-taken late penalty from Michael Owen.

But Hasselbaink - on as a half-time substitute and playing for his Chelsea future - struck with three minutes left to give the Londoners a rare Anfield win.

It left billionaire Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, watching from the Anfield directors' box, celebrating at the final whistle.

And it fired a warning to Chelsea's potential title rivals that Abramovich's cheque book will make them a force to be reckoned with this term.

Chelsea gave five of their summer signings a debut - with Joe Cole left on the substitute's bench.

But it was one of the Stamford Bridge old guard, goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini, who made a crucial contribution in the opening seconds.

Emile Heskey set up Danny Murphy, who forced Cudicini into a brilliant diving save.

Harry Kewell was heavily involved on his Liverpool debut, but he wasted a glorious chance after 23 minutes, firing across the face of the goal with Owen unmarked.

Chelsea had rarely threatened, but sprung out of defence brilliantly to break the deadlock seconds later.

Jesper Gronkjaer's cross from the right was met by Veron as Stephane Henchoz slipped, and the Argentine thundered a finish past Jerzy Dudek.

And Eidur Gudjohnsen should have doubled Chelsea's advantage after 32 minutes.

Veron was creator, sending the Icelander clear, but he delayed and Dudek saved smartly.

Chelsea coach Ranieri made a change at the interval, replacing Gudjohnsen with Hasselbaink.

Liverpool had more of the possession, but Chelsea continued to pose the greater threat.

Kop boss Gerard Houllier made a double change with 20 minutes left, sending on Steve Finnan and Milan Baros for Henchoz and Igor Biscan.

And Liverpool were level in controversial circumstances after 76 minutes.

Chelsea bitterly disputed a Liverpool throw in - and their disappointment deepened when Wayne Bridge hauled down El-Hadji Diouf in the area.

Owen sent his first spot-kick hopelessly wide, but referee Steve Bennett ordered it to be re-taken after Cudicini encroached off his line.

Liverpool striker Owen slammed home his second attempt to Chelsea's obvious disgust.

But Chelsea responded in style and were back in front with only three minutes left, courtesy of a trademark Hasselbaink strike.

He pulled a Frank Lampard pass out of the air and dragged a brilliant finish into Dudek's far corner to take the points.


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Thor Zakariassen ©