FOOTBALL Live

Wednesday October 29, 2008 Finished Anfield

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Liverpool

  • Gerrard 74’ (pen.)

Portsmouth

  1. Liverpool overcome Portsmouth

    Liverpool overcome Portsmouth

    Liverpool overcame a stubborn Portsmouth 1-0 at Anfield in Tony Adams's first match in charge to maintain their three-point lead at the top. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Liverpool
    • Portsmouth
    • - Liverpool maintain their three-point lead at the top of the table from Chelsea, who beat Hull City tonight. Their title credentials survive another test.
    • 90+3' The final whistle sounds!! Liverpool have the win!!
    • 90+2' Liverpool change: Keane on for Gerrard.
    • 90' Three minutes of injury time to play...
    • 90' Defoe hits the deck in the box amid a flurry of bodies - but he will not get a penalty for that.
    • 87' Carragher heads under pressure and the ball may run for a corner, but Reina does very well to get back and recover.
    • 86' The away side's spell of pressure continues, with Liverpool drawing back towards their own box.
    • 85' Pompey change: Utaka replaced by Defoe. Is there time for him to threaten?
    • 83' The nerves are evident around Anfield... Belhadj creating problems for the home team, putting a wicked ball into the danger area - corner kick...
    • 80' Pompey change: Richard Hughes on for Diarra - still no Defoe, surprisingly.
    • 78' Pompey are not attacking any more after the goal - maybe time for a change?
    • 74' Belhadj and Bouba Diop are both booked for dissent.
    • 74' GERRARD TUCKS AWAY THE SPOT-KICK!! Into the bottom corner, just out of the reach of James as he dives to his right. The Kop go mad.
    • 74' PENALTY FOR LIVERPOOL!! BOUBA DIOP HANDLES!! What was he doing - he leapt and threw both hands at it. Stupid defending.
    • 73' Aurelio smashes a shot at goal that James parries away - great stop!!
    • 72' Can Riera inspire the home side to three points - with Chelsea hammering Hull, their lead will be down a point if they draw here...
    • 71' 'Pool change: Albert Riera on for Babel.
    • 71' Kuyt tees up Alonso... he strikes from over 20 yards, low and wide of the mark.
    • 70' Crouch penalised by the officials and is not happy about it.
    • 68' Pompey seem content to defend as we enter the final quarter of the game.
    • 66' Babel into the area on the left, taking the ball on... his shot flashes over the near post!!
    • 64' Portsmouth change: Traore replaced by Niko Kranjcar.
    • 64' Babel will get to the ball first ahead of Kaboul... the Frenchman takes some skin off his knee with a studs-up challenge!! That was naughty - but no yellow card, bizarrely.
    • 63' Liverpool change: Yossi Benayoun on for Pennant.
    • 59' Gerrard fighting for every ball, leading by example. Babel fails to control cleanly to groans from the home crowd.
    • 58' Lucas's shot is deflected for a corner. Gerrard whips it in and Hyypia heads wide of the near post. A good chance for the veteran centre-half.
    • 56' Diarra with a shot at goal from all of 30 yards, wide of the far post.
    • 54' Liverpool must surely chuck on Keane at some point soon. They could do without Lucas perhaps - while Riera would also provide a fresh threat. No changes as yet.
    • 52' Gerrard sprints to the right side of the area to hook a cross between James and his defence... Kuyt is a yard behind it! A great opportunity for Liverpool.
    • 49' Alonso strikes the free-kick poorly and Pompey escape again. That is the position where they usually execute a cheeky tap across for Gerrard and he strikes first-time...
    • 48' Gerrard fouled a couple of yards outside the box on the left. Great position for a free-kick... Lassana Diarra booked for the challenge.
    • 46' The second half begins, Pompey now kicking to our left - the Reds attacking the Kop.
    • 45+2' The half-time whistle blows: goalless at the break. Pompey had a good spell, but it is Liverpool that should be ahead. Perhaps we will see Keane for most of the second half.
    • 45+1' Arbeloa shoots from the right edge of the penalty area after a short corner by Pennant... it dips over James's outstretched hand and just past the far post!! A great effort, so close.
    • 44' Babel and Gerrard work to earn a chance for the skipper - he shoots low and James parries it... no one following up! That is where they could do with a second striker.
    • 42' Liverpool need to win matches like this if they are to challenge for the title until the end of the season - and especially so if they are to win it.
    • 41' Keeper James races out to the edge of his box to claim a looping ball - and has a few choice words for his defenders as he regains his feet.
    • 39' Kuyt controls, spins and shoots as he welcomes a Gerrard pass into feet following a strong run in from the touchline - into the side-netting!! A lovely effort. For me he is a real threat when picked in an outright attacking position.
    • 38' The Netherlands winger chasing down a long ball soon enough - it has too much on it and runs out for a goal-kick.
    • 37' The Senegalese is up first and drinking water - or perhaps an energy-boosting isotonic beverage - while Babel takes longer and looks a touch groggy.
    • 35' Two players down after an aerial challenge near the touchline: Bouba Diop and Babel.
    • 34' The game settling into an intirguing contest, far more even now than in the opening 20 minutes or so.
    • 33' Free-kick to Portsmouth in a dangerous position on the right... Crouch heads the ball in over the top.
    • 28' Bouba Diop fouls Babel outside the box, but the visiting side defend the resultant free-kick... Carragher strikes at goal, well held by James.
    • 27' This is a real purple patch for Pompey. Crouch tries to get a shot on goal but he is denied by the offside flag - and his dig is wide anyway.
    • 25' Papa Bouba Diop with a free header on the edge of the six-yard box!! He was left alone by Hyypia and Carragher and directed the chance straight at a grateful Jose Reina!!
    • 24' Adams will be happier to see his men passing the ball about in the Liverpool half.
    • 22' Portsmouth swing in a set-piece from the right wing near halfway: Kaboul rises but heads well wide.
    • 20' Kuyt unhappy that he is not awarded a free-kick by referee Steve Tanner.
    • 18' Babel with a powerful run down the left, cutting through the away defence like butter... eventually he is dispossessed by Noe Pamarot. It could have been goal of the month if he had banged it in from 20 yards.
    • 16' Portsmouth's Armand Traore penalised for a push on Arbeloa as he advanced towards the penalty area. Gerrard to take it from near the right corner of the box... into the wall.
    • 15' A dangerous low ball across goal from a rampaging Gerrard is not met by anyone as Kuyt hung back.
    • 14' Alonso with a shot from distance that flies a few yards wide of the far post. Not up to his usual standard.
    • 13' Pompey happy to spend some time in possession, even though it is near their own box. Soon enough Liverpool have the ball back.
    • 12' Younes Kaboul across quickly to snuff out another attack, conceding a throw-in. Liverpool attacking in waves.
    • 10' Lucas, completely unmarked in a central position, meets a Gerrard corner - but can only direct his header over the crossbar!! He should have hit the target - and perhaps scored.
    • 9' Alvaro Arbeloa attacking down the right as Liverpool pile forward... he finds Kuyt, who shoots low - OFF THE POST!! James tipped it up with a hand and it came off the upright and ricocheted to safety.
    • 7' Liverpool with all the territorial ball in the opening minutes, but yet to force David James into a save. What a game this is for Adams to start with - playing against the league leaders.
    • 4' Babel fighting for the ball near the touchline with John Utaka and Distin - the Dutchman comes off worst.
    • 3' Resurgent midfielder Xabi Alonso looks to provide a difficult ball over the top which is just off target. Goal-kick Pompey.
    • 2' It falls to Kuyt in the middle of the box via the top of Crouch's head... he doesn't catch it well and the ball flies way over the top.
    • 1' The Reds win an immediate corner as Jermaine Pennant attacks down the right... Gerrard to take.
    • 1' The match begins, Liverpool in all red kicking from right to left. Portsmouth in all blue.
    • - Captain Steven Gerrard leads out Liverpool while Sylvain Distin has the Pompey armband in the absence of Big Sol.
    • - The teams are below for this 20:00 (UK time) kick-off. Albert Riera is also left out while there are places for Lucas and Ryan Babel; Sami Hyypia comes in for Daniel Agger.
    • - Adams has opted to leave out livewire striker Jermain Defoe in favour of a lone striker too - the former Red Peter Crouch.
    • - No Johnson, Little or Campbell for Pompey; Davis does play however.
    • - The teams are in: in fact, Keane is on the bench, with Dirk Kuyt operating as a lone striker in front of several attacking midfielders.
    • - Glen Johnson (pelvis) and Glen Little (hamstring) are both major doubts for new Pompey boss Tony Adams, but Sol Campbell should recover from a slight hamstring strain in time to play. Sean Davis could also return after serving a one-match ban.
    • - Liverpool are still without star striker Fernando Torres, although the Spain man is back in training. Robbie Keane will again lead the line despite struggling with a slight groin strain.
    • - Welcome to eurosport.yahoo.co.uk's LIVE text coverage of Liverpool's home clash against Portsmouth in the Premier League.

  • Team Stats

    Liverpool Stats Portsmouth
    57% Possession 42%
    19 Shots 5
    5 Shots on target 1
    1 Saves 1
    7 Corners 1
    12 Fouls 13
    4 Offsides 5
    0 Yellow cards 2
    0 Red cards 0
    30 Tackles 31
    454 Accurate passes 316
    67 Bad passes 42

  • Player Stats

    G =
    Goals
    S =
    Shots
    SoT =
    Shot on Target
    F =
    Fouls
    FW =
    Fouls Won
    O =
    Offsides
    A =
    Assists
    AP =
    Accurate Passes
    BP =
    Bad Passes
    T =
    Tackles
    • Liverpool
      G S SoT F FW O A AP BP T
      25 Jose Reina 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 3 0
      23 Jamie Carragher 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 61 3 1
      12 Fabio Aurelio 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 44 18 4
      17 Alvaro Arbeloa 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 23 1 7
      4 Sami Hyypia 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 63 6 1
      19 Ryan Babel 0 1 0 2 3 0 0 32 9 0
      21 Lucas Leiva 0 1 0 2 1 0 0 45 6 9
      14 Xabi Alonso 0 3 0 1 1 0 0 76 7 2
      16 Jermaine Pennant 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 20 0 1
      8 Steven Gerrard 1 4 2 0 2 2 0 37 5 2
      18 Dirk Kuyt 0 4 1 1 0 2 0 32 4 2
      5 Daniel Agger 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      11 Alberto Riera 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 4 4 1
      2 Andrea Dossena 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      20 Javier Mascherano 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      1 Diego Cavalieri 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      15 Yossi Benayoun 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 5 1 0
      7 Robbie Keane 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
    • Portsmouth
      G S SoT F FW O A AP BP T
      1 David James 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 5 0
      39 Nadir Belhadj 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 34 10 3
      16 Noe Pamarot 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 48 1 1
      30 Armand Traore 0 0 0 1 2 1 0 12 3 1
      15 Sylvain Distin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 30 7 7
      3 Younes Kaboul 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 25 4 3
      8 Papa Bouba Diop 0 2 1 5 2 1 0 30 0 1
      28 Sean Davis 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 38 3 1
      17 John Utaka 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 18 0 3
      6 Lassana Diarra 0 1 0 2 3 0 0 35 2 8
      9 Peter Crouch 0 1 0 2 1 3 0 19 2 1
      14 Jermain Defoe 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      27 Nwankwo Kanu 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      22 Richard Hughes 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 2 2
      7 Hermann Hreidarsson 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      21 Jamie Ashdown 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      19 Niko Kranjcar 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 3 0
      18 Arnold Mvuemba 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

  • Summary

    • - Liverpool maintain their three-point lead at the top of the table from Chelsea, who beat Hull City tonight. Their title credentials survive another test.
    • 74' GERRARD TUCKS AWAY THE SPOT-KICK!! Into the bottom corner, just out of the reach of James as he dives to his right. The Kop go mad.
    • 74' PENALTY FOR LIVERPOOL!! BOUBA DIOP HANDLES!! What was he doing - he leapt and threw both hands at it. Stupid defending.
    • 73' Aurelio smashes a shot at goal that James parries away - great stop!!
    • 52' Gerrard sprints to the right side of the area to hook a cross between James and his defence... Kuyt is a yard behind it! A great opportunity for Liverpool.
    • 45+1' Arbeloa shoots from the right edge of the penalty area after a short corner by Pennant... it dips over James's outstretched hand and just past the far post!! A great effort, so close.
    • 44' Babel and Gerrard work to earn a chance for the skipper - he shoots low and James parries it... no one following up! That is where they could do with a second striker.
    • 39' Kuyt controls, spins and shoots as he welcomes a Gerrard pass into feet following a strong run in from the touchline - into the side-netting!! A lovely effort. For me he is a real threat when picked in an outright attacking position.
    • 25' Papa Bouba Diop with a free header on the edge of the six-yard box!! He was left alone by Hyypia and Carragher and directed the chance straight at a grateful Jose Reina!!
    • 10' Lucas, completely unmarked in a central position, meets a Gerrard corner - but can only direct his header over the crossbar!! He should have hit the target - and perhaps scored.
    • 9' Alvaro Arbeloa attacking down the right as Liverpool pile forward... he finds Kuyt, who shoots low - OFF THE POST!! James tipped it up with a hand and it came off the upright and ricocheted to safety.

Live Team Line-Up

  • Referee: Steve Tanner

  • Liverpool

    Manager: Rafael Benitez

    Captain: Steven Gerrard

    Starting line-up

    • J. Reina
    • A. Arbeloa
    • S. Hyypia
    • J. Carragher
    • F. Aurelio
    • J. Pennant Substitution Out (63′)
    • L. Lucas
    • X. Alonso
    • R. Babel Substitution Out (71′)
    • S. Gerrard Substitution Out (90′)
    • D. Kuyt

    Subs

    • R. Keane Substitution In90′
    • Y. Benayoun Substitution In63′
    • A. Riera Substitution In71′
    • A. Dossena
    • J. Mascherano
    • D. Agger
    • D. Cavalieri

    Injured

    • F. Torres
    • M. Skrtel

    Suspended

    None

  • Portsmouth

    Manager: Tony Adams

    Captain: Sylvain Distin

    Starting line-up

    • D. James
    • N. Pamarot
    • Y. Kaboul
    • S. Distin
    • A. Traore Substitution Out (64′)
    • P. Bouba Diop Yellow Card
    • J. Utaka Substitution Out (85′)
    • L. Diarra Yellow Card Substitution Out (80′)
    • S. Davis
    • N. Belhadj Yellow Card
    • P. Crouch

    Subs

    • N. Kanu
    • H. Hreidarsson
    • J. Defoe Substitution In85′
    • J. Ashdown
    • R. Hughes Substitution In80′
    • N. Kranjcar Substitution In64′
    • A. Mvuemba

    Injured

    • G. Little
    • D. Nugent

    Suspended

    None