Showing posts with label Charlie Adam. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Charlie Adam. Show all posts
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| Glen Johnson celebrates after scoring against his former club |
Maxi Rodriguez gave The Reds a deserved half time lead with a clinical finish after a swift move from Liverpool. The lead was shortlived after half time as Daniel Sturridge fired home from close range.
On a day where Fernando Torres and Raul Meireles met their former club, it was infact Chelsea old boy Glen Johnson who had the last laugh on his previous employers to give Liverpool a much-needed 1-2 Victory.
Manager Kenny Dalglish had made 3 changes to the team that faced Swansea. Dirk Kuyt was given the nod as well as Craig Bellamy, who Kenny was hoping would recreate some of the form he displayed over the international break where he was a pivotal figure for Wales against Norway. The team sheet also saw a surprise inclusion for Maxi Rodriguez, making his first start of the campaign.
The game started off lively, both teams were offering attacks and Maxi Rodriguez was nearly through on goal twice, but was denied by John Terry and Ivanovic, muscling him out of the way. The Argentine was looking to capitalise on his rare start and show manager Kenny what he has to offer.
Chelsea also offered a threat on goal, with the likes of Juan Mata, Drogba and Lampard all starting and were nearly ahead on the 10 minute mark. Florent Malouda brilliantly skipped passed right back Glen Johnson, and swung in a dipping cross to the back post, but Mata couldn’t capitalise, flashing his shot across the face of the goal. John Obi Mikel then attempthed an audacious effort at goal from 25 yards out, only for his shot to clear the cross bar.
Chelsea had then appeared to take the lead, as far as thousands in the stadium and at home thought. Didier Drogba won a freekick on the edge of the area and stepped up to take it. The ball emerged to have hit the back of the net but on a second look it had narrowly missed the post and brushed along the outernet. A let off for The Reds.
It was soon Liverpool’s turn to threaten the Chelsea goal once again; John Terry lost the ball in a dangerous position to Dirk Kuyt, who released Suarez, fresh off a 4 goal demolition for Uruguay. But the striker was unable to pick out the advancing Maxi or Craig Bellamy.
Liverpool soon made up for the earlier missed chances. It was Mikel this time that was dispossesed within his own half, quick pressing from Charlie Adam allowed Craig Bellamy to snatch the ball playing a one-two with Suarez before faking a shot to put through Maxi on the left, who was left with the simple task of slotting it past goalkeeper Cech. A precise move saw Liverpool finally convert a chance, which has somewhat become a struggle as of late.
The lead was then nearly extended to two. A defence splitting pass from Lucas Leiva put through Luis Suarez, but the Uruguayans first time cross deflected off David Luiz and nearly nestled into the net.
With Chelsea behind, Villas Boas had to change things. Mikel was replaced with Daniel Sturridge at half time. The change seemed to have had worked, they stepped out the blocks quickly and created a chance instantly. Mata and Lampard had combined cleverly to release Drogba, but the Ivorian could only lift the ball over the bar.
However the equaliser then came on 55 minutes. Malouda was allowed to advance into the box, before his wayward shot found Sturridge at the back post, who made no mistake and tucked it into the corner from close range.
Chelsea were on top and very nearly made it two, a flick on from David Luiz from a resulting freekick was expertly kept out by Reina with an instinctive save.
Kenny Daglish sought to his bench to bolster the midfield. Craig Bellamy made way for Jordan Henderson, another player who glistened during the international break.
An over head kick from Malouda received applause from the Chelsea crowd but that’s where the honours ended as Reina watched it comfortably slide past the post. The frenchman then had the best opportunity of the match to make Chelsea’s second half dominance count but his shot from close range went well wide of the target.
Former reds Torres and Meireles then made their bow, greeted by an array of jeers from the travelling Kop, drowning the cheers from the home fans. But it was Liverpool who threatened, a sublime piece of skill from Henderson saw him skip past Ashley Cole via nutmeg and then evaded a sliding challenge from John Terry, crossing for Downing, who layed off Kuyt but the Dutchman’s shot was quite the opposite of the build up.
On 87 minutes the game seemed to be heading for a draw, with neither team able to deliver a knock out blow. Until Charlie Adam picked up the ball in the centre of midfield and found former blue, Johnson with his trademark left foot pass. The rightback nutmegged Ashley Cole and steamed into the box finding himself one on one with Petr Cech, clinically finishing with his left foot to give Liverpool the spoils. A well earned victory on Stamford Bridge for the second year running.
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| Charlie Adam fires home from the penalty spot for the opener |
Andy Carroll and Charlie Adam were on target as Liverpool extended their unbeaten run to 7 games with a dominant 2-0 victory over West Brom on Saturday evening.
Record signing Carroll bagged his third of the campaign on the stroke of half time, finishing tidily into the bottom corner. Charlie Adam had earlier put The Reds in front with a 9th minute penalty.
The result moves Dalglish’s men up to 5th, just one point away from 3rd placed Chelsea.
Roy Hodgson was up against his successor and was hoping for the same result, which saw the Reds go down in defeat in April last season.
The team news was fuelled with speculation, social networking sites went over drive with rumours that Steven Gerrard had picked up yet another injury along with Jamie Carragher. This was believed to be the case with manager Kenny Dalglish confirming fans’ fears. However Luis Suarez had shaken off an ankle injury sustained in the midweek Carling cup-tie at Stoke to feature in the starting line up alongside Andy Carroll. Lucas had returned from his one match ban against Norwich to partner Charlie Adam in the centre of midfield.
Liverpool had again started on the front foot. Within a minute Jose Enrique launched a pinpoint pass finding Luis Suarez in acres of space in front of the goal, but uncharacteristically the Uruguayan’s touch deserted him.
He was then involved again, setting up Charlie Adam on the edge of the area, but the Scotsman’s shot with his less favoured right foot flew several yards over the bar.
In recent games Liverpool had struggled to make an early break through after dominating but their persistence was rewarded with a spot kick in the 8th minute. Suarez linked up with Glen Johnson before being hurled to the ground by Jermone Thomas, the referee’s assistance waved for a foul, leaving Lee Mason with no choice but to point to the spot. The decision was greeted with several West Brom players expressing their displeasure towards the decision as well as the 25,000 home fans packed into the Hawthorns.
Charlie Adam stepped up to take the penalty and coolly slotted it away, sending ‘keeper Ben Foster the wrong way.
A one-goal lead was always dangerous to go by on by but Liverpool stamped their authority on the game. They retained the ball and were patient in possession. West Brom couldn’t match the fluidity of the Reds; they were second to every loose ball and adopted a deep approach, paying their opposition with a lot of respect.
The lead was almost extended to two, the flair and guile of Luis Suarez allowed him to burst down the right and delivered a searching cross for Andy Carroll who met it sweetly with his head, only for it to be blocked by what appeared to be Steven Reid’s arm. A penalty decision would’ve been harsh if given.
It seemed Luis Suarez was able to convert the difficult chances rather than the simpler ones. Martin Skrtel cleverly picked out Suarez from a resulting corner but the Uruguayan was only able to lift the ball over the bar from 8 yards out.
West Brom finally provided an attack of their own, but the Liverpool defence stood firm. Paul Scharner’s fierce long-range effort was well blocked by Slovakian Martin Skrtel.
A second goal would’ve provided Liverpool will the perfect cushion going into half time and it arrived just on the stroke of the break. A misplaced pass was seized upon by Lucas, delivering a crisp outside of the foot pass to Suarez on the right. The striker looked up and drilled an accurate ball to Andy Carroll, who fended off a defender and poked the ball into the back of the net.
The Suarez and Carroll partnership had now brought in 8 goals in 10 games. Plenty to get the Liverpool fans excited about.
After the break, West Brom were the same dejected side but their best chance of the game came courtesy of Somen Tchoyi. The Cameroon international found space on the edge of the area and shot across the face of Reina’s goal, with it only narrowly going wide.
At the other end Suarez was still in search of his first goal of the game. His inaccurate shots were the only thing stopping him on two occasions and on 57 minutes it appeared as he was going to get his reward after Andy Carroll neatly laid off Suarez, but his powerful drive was superbly blocked by Olsson.
Foster then kept out Jose Enrique, as his shot appeared to have been floating into the top corner. From the resulting corner Downing was left unmarked on the edge of the area, but his shot was well wide of the target.
Liverpool were again hampered by a combination of lack of finishing and opposition goal keeping brilliance. Andy Carroll came close to a second goal, but Ben Foster smartly saved his scissor kick shot on the edge of the box.
Downing was then close to getting his maiden goal in a red shirt but his powerful shot struck the post in injury time. This was the 10th time the woodwork had denied the Reds this season, four more than any other Premier League side.
My MOTM: I will shy away from the obvious catalyst in this Liverpool side and my Man of the Match vote goes to Lucas Leiva. The Brazilian was first to every loose ball and never let any of the West Brom attackers space on the ball, hunting them down viciously. He occasionally linked up front in attack but his tough tackling and sweeping up was badly missed against Norwich last week. Another great performance from the ever growing Lucas Leiva.
News Update: Earlier in the day Liverpool were drawn with a tricky visit to Chelsea in the ¼ finals of the Carling Cup. The draw has been harsh to Kenny Dalglish’s men, with away trips to Brighton and recently Stoke.
Liverpool picked up where they left off in midweek with a 2-1 win at Anfield against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Luis Suarez was once again instrumental in a much-needed win for the reds after defeats in their last two Premier League fixtures.
Andy Carroll was among six players recalled to the first team after the midweek Carling Cup tie at Brighton. Henderson, Enrique, Downing returned to the first XI along with Skrtel and Charlie Adam who had served their one match bans. Bellamy was dropped to the bench alongside Steven Gerrard.
Wolves had started the game the livelier of the teams, earning two freekicks in dangerous positions within the first three minutes. However, it was Charlie Adam who opened the scoring for Liverpool, the Scot unleashed a shot from 25 yards deflecting off Roger Johnson to nestle into the back of the net, leaving Wayne Hennessey helpless.
Andy Carroll minutes later met a Stuart Downing corner but the Wolves ‘keeper was equal to the shot. Liverpool nearly bagged a second when Suarez turned R. Johnson in the penalty area but the Uruguayan failed to find Andy Carroll to finish off a great move.
A second goal was coming and it arrived in the 38th minute courtesy of Suarez. Jose Enrique spotted the run and delivered a precise ball over the defence, leaving Suarez to dance around the edge of the 6-yard box and cheekily find the back of the net with his left foot.
Liverpool didn’t want half time to come as they searched for a third. The passing was much more fluid than what has been in the past few weeks, the movement was that of similar quality to the Bolton match last month. Carroll seemed to have linked up with Suarez and the attackers more frequently than we have seen in his short tenure as the Reds’ number 9. His movement was on point and he had regained the sharpness he has missed since his Newcastle days.
It may well have been 3-0 when Suarez had done most of the work, but prodded his shot wide from an acute angle on the stroke of half time.
At the start of the second half Wolves manager Mick McCarthy made 2 substitutions, bringing on Steven Fletcher and Matt Doherty, for David Edwards and Richard Stearman. The changes paid instant dividends when Fletcher scored from a Stevent Hunt low cross, leaving the Liverpool defence scratching their heads.
Luis Suarez could’ve restored the 2 goal advantage but for a brilliant Wayne Hennessy save.
Carroll had then almost repaid his early promise with a header that struck the post, getting the Anfield faithful on their feet. Liverpool were then further unlucky as a quick counter attack had Charlie Adam find Stuart Downing in the Wolves box, but the winger chose to shoot instead of square it to Suarez or Carroll. The ‘keeper once again kept Wolves in the match with a fine save from a stinging effort.
Liverpool had failed to convert their chances, but held on to a slender 1-goal advantage coming into the last 15 minutes. The next shot to test Wayne Hennessey came from an unlikely source, Lucas’ side footed shot kept drifting away from the goal and was inches away from the bottom left corner.
Suarez was lively all afternoon and was at it once again, skipping challenges along the by-line but his cut back took a nick off a Wolves defender and skipped passed the waiting Andy Carroll.
Suarez was lively all afternoon and was at it once again, skipping challenges along the by-line but his cut back took a nick off a Wolves defender and skipped passed the waiting Andy Carroll.
The final 10 minutes saw the introduction of Steven Gerrard following his short stint against Brighton on Wednesday; the captain came close to what would have been a sight we have seen many times. Gerrard chested the ball past the defender and unleashed a volley that flew past over the target.
Despite the missed chances and sometimes-conservative football, it was 3 points that mattered and the reds got the job done. Andy Carroll put in a shift to silence his critics and Luis Suarez was lethal as always, running into little pockets of space and causing havoc amongst the Wolverhampton back four.
Next up for Liverpool is the Merseyside derby against Everton away, next Saturday.
News Update: Earlier in the day Liverpool were drawn against Stoke, away, in the Last 16 of the Carling Cup. It will prove a tricky destination following the recent 1-0 defeat there, but the reds will be looking to get revenge on The Potters and make it to the last 8 of the League Cup.
