- 閱讀權限
- 80
- 最後登錄
- 17-5-27
- 精華
- 0
- UID
- 86801
- 帖子
- 14727
- 積分
- 17372
- 註冊時間
- 03-7-21
- 在線時間
- 4396 小時
- UID
- 86801
- 帖子
- 14727
- 積分
- 17372
- Good
- 403
- 註冊時間
- 03-7-21
- 在線時間
- 4396 小時
|
Portsmouth 0-0 Liverpool
 Kanu saw his penalty saved by Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina
|
Goalkeeper Pepe Reina saved a penalty but Liverpool slipped off thetop of the Premier League after they were held to a draw at Portsmouth.
Reina dived low to his right to save Kanu's penalty, after Alvaro Arbeloa had tugged the Nigerian's shirt.
Portsmouth were impressive and John Utaka should have at least hit the target from 14 yards.
Andriy Voronin grazed the Pompey crossbar, while David James saved from Yossi Benayoun and Peter Crouch.
 Interview: Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez
Interview: Portsmouth assistant manager Tony Adams
Reds boss Rafa Benitez cut a frustrated figure on thetouchline but Pompey, who have now played all of the so-called 'topfour' in their opening six Premier League games of the season, weregood value for their point.
And having left Fernando Torres, Ryan Babel and StevenGerrard on the bench - no doubt mindful of the midweek Champions Leaguetie with Porto - Benitez clearly took a gamble that did not pay off ashis team failed to score for the first time this season.
Liverpool might have started without several of theirstar players but there was no doubting the skill and appetite withwhich they initially went about their work.
Benayoun, making his first Premier League start since his transfer to Anfield, and Crouch both enjoyed early strikes at goal.
Andriy Voronin, particularly lively operating along thefront line, found himself in space with the opportunity to play acompletely unmarked Jermaine Pennant through on goal but the Ukraineinternational got too much purchase on his pass.
Pompey - despite the return of Sol Campbell and theconsiderable presence of Papa Bouba Diop, who was making his debut inmidfield - struggled to find any kind of rhythm in the opening stages.
However, Harry Redknapp's increasingly durable sideeventually started to threaten, with two long balls causing chaos inthe Liverpool area, while a shot from Benjani took a slight deflectionand required a decent save from Reina.
And Pompey should have taken the lead after winning a penalty.
Arbeloa certainly had hold of the back of Kanu's shirt,although the infringement was completely needless and it took anexcellent save from his compatriot Reina to atone of his error ofjudgement.
Pompey started to take control in midfield, with a SeanDavis strike forcing Reina into action again and by the breakLiverpool's forward duo of Crouch and Voronin had become starved ofservice and increasingly ineffective.
Pompey striker Utaka wasted another brilliantopportunity to take the lead after the break, drilling his shot wideafter the ball dropped to him 14 yards from goal.
Liverpool threatened next, Voronin looping a shotagainst the top of the crossbar from 18 yards after a slick moveinvolving Pennant, Sissoko and Babel.
But it was a fragmented performance by the team whostarted the day top of the league, especially given that their lastperformance had led to them demolishing Derby 6-0 at Anfield.
Benitez had clearly seen enough and first introduced Torres, then Gerrard and eventually Crouch.
Torres and Gerrard almost combined to open the scoringbut the Spaniard drilled his shot way over the crossbar after theEngland midfielder had ended a driving run forward by playing asuperbly weighted pass.
Pompey, however, continued to threaten, with Diopheading wide and Muntari failing to make the most of a neat lay-offfrom Kanu, the Ghanaian's shot missing the target after taking a slightdeflection.
Voronin was inches away from converting a low cross lateon but Portsmouth were not to be denied their first clean sheet in thePremier League this season.
Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp:
"He covered every blade of glass."I have always been a fan of his. He is big and he has a presence about him. He will do well for us.
"It was an even game and we had a couple of great chances.
"When you get the chance you have to stick it awayagainst Liverpool and if we had got in front I'm sure we would havegone and won the game."
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez:
"I think it is disappointing."But I think we played well, creating chances and good on the counter attack. I am really pleased with the players.
"I think we controlled the game in the first half but in the last 15 minutes it was very open."
ben sir
pepe
|
|
樓主: 奧雲仔仔
發表於 07-9-15 10:37 AM
發表於 07-9-15 11:20 AM
發表於 07-9-15 07:00 PM
