2604: Rafa hails wideboy Pennant
2604: McLeish blames naivety
2604: Benayoun delivers blow to Blues 



 

APRIL 26
Rafa hails wideboy Pennant

By Toby Davis - Setanta Sports

Jermaine Pennant may have played himself into contention for Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Chelsea after Rafa Benitez hailed his performance in Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Birmingham.

The winger was a stand-out performer in a weakened Reds side that clawed their way back from 2-0 down to draw level at St Andrews.

And Benitez was full of praise for Pennant who could now play some part as The Reds look to get a result at Stamford Bridge.

Benitez told the official club website: "Pennant was a threat for them throughout the game and he is an option we have on the right side and when he is playing well he is really dangerous."

He added: "Clearly if you have players playing well they can give you an option on another day and that was another positive from today.”

The result leaves Liverpool nine points ahead of Everton in fifth place and virtually guarantees them Champions League football next year.

And Benitez feels his side can now focus entirely on Wednesday’s Champions League encounter.

He added: "The idea was to win and guarantee fourth place.

"We didn't achieve that but a draw is another option and puts us in a very strong position. Now we can think about the next game against Chelsea and hopefully we can progress in the Champions League and be really focused in the final.

"I am really pleased with the second-half because I think that the team played much better. To score two goals in the second-half and create the chances we did was very, very positive.

"We started the game controlling things for the first 30 minutes but then we conceded the goal and we couldn't manage. So at half-time we talked about how we could improve and I think the mentality of the players was positive.

"You must guarantee the Champions League for next season. We are almost sure now in fourth position and so we can think about Chelsea.

"I'd like to finish as high as possible but sometimes this cannot happen and at the end you must be happy with the fourth position and happy if you do well in the Champions League."

APRIL 26
McLeish blames naivety

By Peter Fraser - Sky Sports

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish blames his side's surrender of a two-goal lead against Liverpool on the naivety of his players.

The Blues remain in the Premier League relegation zone following a 2-2 draw with Liverpool at St Andrews as goals from Mikael Forssell and Sebastian Larsson were cancelled out by Peter Crouch, aided by a superb run from Jermaine Pennant, and Yossi Benayoun.

And McLeish was not happy with what he saw from his defenders as Liverpool fought their way back into the contest

"In the second half Liverpool really put us on the rack a little bit," McLeish told Sky Sports News.

"To get the two goals was a dream start for us. Forssell got the goal and Larsson has topped it off and I thought, 'finally we can get a shut out'.

"Jermaine Pennant had a great run for the first goal for Liverpool. But I put it down to naivety from my players who were diving in all over the place."

And as relegation rivals Fulham - who Birmingham visit next weekend - came from behind to defeat Manchester City, McLeish admits his side are in a fight.

"That was a great result," McLeish added when asked about Fulham's victory.

"Every team is fighting for Premier League survival and it is a credit to the Premier League. It is up to us to show the same sort of spirit."

APRIL 26
Benayoun delivers blow to Blues

TEAMtalk

Yossi Benayoun's equaliser all but clinched Champions League football for Liverpool but dealt a big blow to troubled Birmingham in a 2-2 draw.

Alex McLeish's side had appeared to be coasting to victory in Saturday's Premier League clash at St Andrews after goals from Mikael Forssell and Sebastian Larsson had put them in total command.

But a lethargic Liverpool suddenly came to life and, after Peter Crouch had reduced the arrears, Benayoun's deflected header rescued a point and dealt a massive blow to the home side.

Blues will be wondering how they surrendered two priceless points after appearing to be cruising to only a second win in the last eight matches.

Larsson and James McFadden were a handful throughout for the Reds and Birmingham were also hard to break down - a sharp contrast to the 5-1 mauling at Aston Villa last weekend.

But a failure to keep clean sheets has been an Achilles heel for City all season and they were forced to defend desperately for the final half hour.

Liverpool's inspiration was former Blues winger Jermaine Pennant and he was one of the few players in Rafael Benitez's 'shadow' side to stake a claim to start in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final with Chelsea.

Benitez's line-up, showing nine changes from the starting XI against Chelsea in the Champions League, had plenty of possession in the early stages and were content to knock the ball around and probe for an opening.

Lucas had the first effort on target from a cross by Andriy Voronin but Blues goalkeeper Maik Taylor was able to save comfortably away to his left as he failed to make full contact.

Forssell showed good skill on the edge of the Liverpool box to manufacture half a chance for himself but his volley flew straight at Jose Reina.

Forssell was looking the most threatening for Blues when the ball was played into his feet and good skills by the Finnish international found Olivier Kapo in space on the left of the Liverpool box.

But the former Juventus player opted to strike the ball first time and his shot flew into the side netting.

Kapo did better when turning past Steve Finnan and getting to the byline but he over-hit his cross with Forssell waiting in the centre.

Then after 34 minutes the home side went ahead through Forssell's ninth goal of the season.

McFadden was the creator with a teasing cross from the right flank which seemed to glance off the head of Martin Skrtel before finding Forssell unmarked at the far post.

He had time to bring the ball down before hammering it past Reina.

Liverpool tried to retaliate and Taylor was called into meaningful action for the first time to turn aside a dipping powerful 25-yard drive from Crouch.

Voronin became the first player to be yellow-carded after 42 minutes for a touch-line challenge on City skipper Liam Ridgewell.

Then home defender David Murphy was booked in first half injury-time for chopping down Pennant but, fortunately for Blues, John Arne Riise was inches too high with his 30 yard free-kick.

Benitez would have wanted a more committed performance from his side and Liverpool had most of the possession in the early stages of the second period.

But after 54 minutes St Andrews erupted after a stunning free-kick from Larsson doubled Birmingham's lead.

McFadden was brought down by Skrtel some 25 yards out and before the free-kick was taken both Riise and Hyypia complained that Jaidi was obstructing Reina.

But the keeper had no chance as Larsson's curling effort beat his dive and hit the top corner of the net.

Ridgewell got up well to meet a corner from Larsson but he directed his header past the post when he should have at least hit the target.

But Liverpool gave themselves a life-line after 62 minutes when Crouch made no mistake with a first time drive from the edge of the box after a mazy run by Pennant had created the chance.

It means City have now gone 17 games since last keeping a clean sheet against Middlesbrough on Boxing Day.

Jaidi had a chance to restore City's two-goal advantage but headed Larsson's free-kick wide from close range before Nafti was booked for bringing down Pennant.

But Liverpool were now in the ascendancy and Voronin and Benayoun both wasted decent opportunities.

The visitors were not to be denied and after 77 minutes Benayoun's deflected header brought them back on level terms.

Lucas sent over a teasing cross which Benayoun was first to react to but his header hit Jaidi and wrong-footed Taylor as it trickled into the corner of the net.

Thor Zakariassen ©