The latest news, reports and results from Liverpool and Anfield for August 2009:
Following The Reds’ opening-game defeat at Tottenham on Sunday 16th August, an unhappy Rafael Benitez demanded immediate improvement from his Liverpool side.
But boss Benitez was also furious at referee Phil Dowd’s decision not to award the visitors two penalties, both involving Spurs player Benoit Assou-Ekotto, the first being a challenge on Andriy Voronin and a later handball.
“The decisions were very poor,” said the 49-year-old Spaniard. “Everyone could see the first one was a penalty. The second one was handball but we knew it would not be a penalty.”
During the match, assistant manager Sammy Lee received a red card from the fourth official for protesting the alleged handball, which only added to Rafa’s ire.
Watch Rafa Benitez’ post-match interview with the BBC here.
Liverpool FC Barclays Premier League Result
Wednesday 19th August 2009
Liverpool FC 4 – 0 Stoke City
(Torres 4,
Johnson 45,
Kuyt 78,
Ngog 90)
Liverpool made up for their opening day defeat at White Hart Lane with an assertive win in front of their home crowd against Stoke.
A Steven Gerrard cross in the fourth minute found Fernando Torres to open the scoring, with new signing Glen Johnson scoring his debut goal in front of the Anfield faithful just before the break.
Gerrard was instrumental again for the third goal from Dirk Kuyt, and a strong Liverpool display was capped off with an injury-time header from substitute David Ngog.
Manager Rafa Benitez told the BBC:
“We needed to win and we needed to score goals.
“We have plenty of room for improvement though. Some players are still short of full fitness.
“We are working hard to bring in new good signings. We have enough money for now.”
Liverpool FC played 2, won 1, lost 1, gd +3, points 3, position 4th
Gerrard was instrumental again for the third goal from Dirk Kuyt, and a strong Liverpool display was capped off with an injury-time header from substitute David Ngog.
Manager Rafa Benitez told the BBC:
“We needed to win and we needed to score goals.
“We have plenty of room for improvement though. Some players are still short of full fitness.
“We are working hard to bring in new good signings. We have enough money for now.”
Liverpool FC played 2, won 1, lost 1, gd +3, points 3, position 4th
On 20th August, Liverpool football club’s assistant manager Sammy Lee was charged with improper conduct by the Football Association.
Former Bolton boss Lee, 50, was sent to the stands for continued protests toward fourth official Stuart Attwell during Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat by Tottenham.
Lee will have until the 26th August to respond to the FA charges.
Better news for the Reds came on the 21st August, with the signing of Greek defender
Sotirios Kyrgiakos for 2million.The 30-year-old from AEK Athens agreed a two-year deal.
“He is a player with experience who can hopefully help us in defence,” said Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez.
“He’s a good player in the air, strong and aggressive. We were looking for a player with experience.”
Kyrgiakos‘ arrival happens at a time when defenders Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel are both out with injuries.
“He is a player with experience who can hopefully help us in defence,” said Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez.
“He’s a good player in the air, strong and aggressive. We were looking for a player with experience.”
Kyrgiakos‘ arrival happens at a time when defenders Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel are both out with injuries.
The player has been capped 50 times for the Greece national side, and previously played for Rangers and Eintracht Frankfurt. He announced the deal on his presonal website: “This is the biggest challenge of my career. I have accepted Liverpool’s proposal.”
Liverpool FC Barclays Premier League Result
Monday 24th August 2009
Liverpool FC 1 – 3 Aston Villa
(Torres 72) (Lucas 34og, Davies 45,
Young 75pen)
Aston Villa were outstanding in defence as they got their first win against Liverpool in eight years, making up for their opening-day defeat against Wigan Athletic and Europa League failing against Rapid Vienna.
Liverpool started brightly enough with a header from Yossi Benayoun going wide in the first minute, but now have the same number of losses this season (2) as they had through the whole of the 2008-2009 campaign.
The home side were not without chances but failed to capitalise on them in the first half, which saw Lucas deflect an Ashley Young free-kick into his own net and Curtis Davies putting the visitors two goals up from a corner on the stroke of half-time.
Liverpool came forward in the second-half, but ‘keeper Brad Friedel and his defence performed well, until Fernando Torres got Liverpool FC back in the game.
But minutes later, Steven Gerrard brought down Nigel Reo-Coker in the box, and Villa’s Young converted the penalty.
Hear Rafa Benitez ruing Liverpool’s missed chances on BBC Radio 5Live.
Liverpool FC played 3, won 1, lost 2, gd +1, points 3, position 10th
Hear Rafa Benitez ruing Liverpool’s missed chances on BBC Radio 5Live.
Liverpool FC played 3, won 1, lost 2, gd +1, points 3, position 10th
Following the Monday night defeat, manager Rafael Benitez still insisted that Liverpool’s Premier League title challenge was still alive.
Benitez said: “We now know that we have to go to Bolton on Saturday and win.
“Everything could change if we do that, our confidence will improve.
“This squad is virtually the same as last season so I believe it is good enough to mount a title challenge.”
Liverpool are currently six points behind top-placed Tottenham and Chelsea, who have both won all three of their opening games, while Arsenal and Manchester City have both won two from two.
Defending champions Manchester United have six points from a possible nine, having lost to Burnley last week.
Liverpool FC’s next game is on Saturday, 29 August against Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium.