Date: Thursday 4 October 2012
Kick Off: 20:05
Venue: Anfield, Liverpool
Competition: UEFA Europa League Group A
Referee: Stefan Johannesson (Sweden)
Broadcast: ITV4 (20:00)
LINKS
http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?matchid=172288
LIVE ARTICLE
http://www.ja606.co.uk/articles/viewLiveArticle/157948
Liverpool lost an entertaining game at home to Udinese on Thursday night in the Europa League.
It was hardly a result that Liverpool deserved, having been in control for most of the game. They scored the first goal on 23 minutes through Jonjo Shelvey, who fed the ball to Stewart Downing on the right before charging forward and receiving a cross of pinpoint accuracy from Downing which Shelvey headed in.
Antonio Di Natale was the danger man throughout for Udinese, and it was he who levelled it up within a minute of the second half starting. He fed it out to the left for Andrea Lazzari, who returned it to him and he guided it into the top corner.
Liverpool lost their way for a while following this goal; the neat passing and patient build-up in the first half now being replaced by scrappy play and losing the ball too often. Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez came on together on 65 minutes and within a few minutes, Liverpool should have scored. Suarez took a shot from a tight angle on the left and Shelvey, just a couple of yards out, only managed to help clear it off the line as opposed to helping it in.
And moments later, Liverpool were behind. Di Natale took a free kick 30 yards out, and Sebastian Coates only succeeded in heading it into his own net.
Two minutes later, Liverpool looked to be out of the game completely as Di Natale was the creator once again for another Udinese goal. He laid it off for Giovanni Pasquale, who was charging full speed towards it, and he thumped it into the far corner.
But just three minutes later, Liverpool were right back in it. Suarez took a free kick from 25 yards out and thumped it into the roof of the net.
Liverpool seemed to then get their confidence back and threatened to get the equaliser, but Udinese managed to close the game out and held on for three points.
The result leaves Liverpool third in the group, while Udinese leapfrog the Reds into second.
LIVE SCOREBOARD
LIVERPOOL - 2
Shelvey 23'
Suarez 75'
UDINESE - 3
Di Natale 46'
Coates o.g. 70'
Pasquale 72'
GROUP POSITIONS AS IT STANDS
2. Udinese - Pld 2, W 1, D 1, L 0, F 4, A 3, GD 1, Pts 4.
3. Liverpool - Pld 2, W 1, D 0, L 1, F 7, A 6, GD 1, Pts 3.
TEAMS
Liverpool
25 Reina
2 Johnson
16 Coates
23 Carragher
49 Robinson
14 Henderson (Gerrard 65')
24 Allen
33 Shelvey
19 Downing
29 Borini (Sterling 80')
11 Assaidi (Suarez 65' )
Subs: 1 Jones, 4 Sahin, 7 Suarez, 8 Gerrard, 31 Sterling, 37 Skrtel, 47 Wisdom.
Udinese
1 Brkic
17 Benatia
5 Danilo
11 Domizzi
6 Faraoni
7 Agyemang-Badu
66 Pinzi (Willians 70')
26 Pasquale
37 Pereyra
10 Di Natale (Ranegie 85')
27 Armero (Lazzari 46')
Subs: 25 Padelli, 13 Ranegie, 16 Coda, 21 Lazzari, 31 Fabbrini,
75 Heurtaux, 88 Willians.
KEY UPDATES
23: GOAL - LIVERPOOL 1-0 UDINESE
Stewart Downing receives the ball on the right from Jonjo Shelvey (3), who bursts forward into the box and is there to head Downing's cross into the left corner of the net.
46: UDINESE SUB
Pablo Armero is replaced by Andrea Lazzari at half time.
46: GOAL - LIVERPOOL 1-1 UDINESE
Roberto Pereyra gives the ball to Antonio Di Natale (4), who passes it out wide to Andrea Lazzari who then crosses it back in for Di Natale to guide it in to the top corner.
65: LIVERPOOL SUB
Oussama Assaidi is replaced by Luis Suarez.
65: LIVERPOOL SUB
Jordan Henderson is replaced by Steven Gerrard.
66: UDINESE BOOKING
Mehdi Benatia receives a yellow card (3) for a foul on Luis Suarez.
68: UDINESE BOOKING
Giampero Pinzi receives a yellow card (6) for a foul on Stewart Downing.
70: UDINESE SUB
Giampero Pinzi is replaced by Willians.
70: GOAL - LIVERPOOL 1-2 UDINESE
Antonio Di Natale swings in a free kick from 30 yards and Sebastian Coates only succeeds in heading the ball into his own net.
72: GOAL - LIVERPOOL 1-3 UDINESE
Udinese attack again and Antonio Di Natale lays the ball off to the charging Giovanni Pasquale (1), who thumps it into the far corner from the edge of the box.
75: GOAL - LIVERPOOL 2-3 UDINESE
Liverpool win a free kick approximately 25 yards out on the left, and Luis Suarez (7) steps up and smashes it into the roof of the net.
80: LIVERPOOL SUB
Fabio Borini is replaced by Raheem Sterling.
85: UDINESE SUB
Antonio Di Natale is replaced by Mathias Ranegie.
90+1: UDINESE BOOKING
Marco Davide Faraoni receives a yellow card (1) for a foul on Raheem Sterling.
LAST MATCHES
Liverpool
Saturday 29 September 2012
Barclays Premier League
Norwich 2-5 Liverpool
Udinese
Sunday 30 September 2012
Serie A TIM
Udinese 0-0 Genoa
Head to head
n/a
TOP SCORERS
Liverpool
Luis Suarez - 7
Steven Gerrard - 3
Nuri Sahin - 3
Udinese
Antonio Di Natale - 4
Dusan Basta - 2
Pablo Armero - 1
FT: LIVERPOOL 2-3 UDINESE
posted on 4/10/12
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 4/10/12
Hopefully Sterling can cause their big players some problems, as well as Suarez who is on fire so far this season.
posted on 4/10/12
That's the first time I've seen Johnson having a poor game for us in ages also.
posted on 4/10/12
Yeah, at least Suarez looks like he can score those 25+ goals this season.
posted on 4/10/12
Johnson is a LB, thats why
posted on 4/10/12
TOOR, agree Johnsons first game where he's been anything other than very good.
posted on 4/10/12
As Rodgers has just said in his post match interview, we concede goals too easily and he's got to look into it. I think we are missing Lucas. Our defence has never been solid without the likes of Alonso, Mascherano or Lucas. Henderson is no where near anyone one of them. With Lucas injuries problems, we probably need a new defensive midfielder in January.
posted on 4/10/12
Allen does a good job covering Lucas, a defensive midfielder is not the solution. Simply concentration needs to be improved, less individual errors, especially in our half. They will get it, it has been slowly coming together.
posted on 4/10/12
I think with Rodgers formation and style of play, we need to play two good defensive midfielders. Allen is one, we need another one. We always dominate the midfield but once we lose the ball we are being outnumbered trying to defend
posted on 4/10/12
y Zabi-Juve have won 30 titles on the pitch. Suso the Maestro (U11371)
posted 16 minutes ago
I think with Rodgers formation and style of play, we need to play two good defensive midfielders. Allen is one, we need another one. We always dominate the midfield but once we lose the ball we are being outnumbered trying to defend
--------------
I've been thinking along similar lines, but for me it comes down to being smart, or to use that annoying expression game intelligence.
The players at certain times, like when we are a goal up can easily move so that either one of the two CM;s slots in beside Allen when we haven't got the ball and require to play a bit tighter.
Individual errors due to lapses in concentration have cost us, but the fact is that sometimes the team is susceptible to a quick counter attack. The two CM's charge up into attacking positions and if the ball if given away, it takes one good pass inyo the space they vacate cab leave the DM and back four isolated.
This has been a negative feature of our play this season, amongst a few others and many positives. Player just need to bit a bit more flexible and a bit smarter. Sahin and Lucas should help in this regard.