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LIVERPOOL FC FIXTURES AND RESULTS 03-04

Liverpool News and Results

Reds lose two in a row

Liverpool failed to take advantage of a great first half where they pounded Arsenal but somehow went into the break with the game tied 1-1. Kewell put Liverpool ahead after a cross by Riise into the box hit the back of Owen's head and fell to the aussie in space and he finished the chance sublimely. Minutes later, an almost identical chance fell to Kewell but he showed how difficult his first shot was by blazing over with his second.  Unusually, Michael Owen had a poor day and missed a string of chances.  After half an hour Edu went up to head Robert Pires' floated freekick, his header was going wide but took a deflection off Sami Hyypia's boot and somehow ended up in the back of Liverpool's net.

Arsenal were a different side in the second half, and possession was more like 50/50.  Liverpool's day grew worse as Robert Pires curled in an incredible shot on sixty eight minutes.  Then, as Liverpool looked for an equaliser, they had to take off Michael Owen after he turned his ankle. Xrays later showed two of the bones in Owen's ankle had parted slighted.  Vladimir Smicer also hobbled off injured in this first-half and Liverppol had to throw in the inexperienced Anthony Le Tallec.

Starting line-up: J. Dudek, S. Finnan, I. Biscan, S. Hyypia, J. Riise, S. Diao, E. Diouf, H. Kewell, M. Owen, S. Gerrard, V. Smicer

Subs: S. Henchoz, E. Heskey on for M. Owen, Welsh on for S. Diao, Le Tallec on for V. Smicer, C. Kirkland

MATCH PHOTOS

Liverpool Reserves 1-0 Everton Reserves

Sinama-Pongolle   

Sent off: Diao, Clarke     Deva Stadium, Chester                                      

MURPHY OUT FOR A MONTH AFTER MINI-DERBY VICTORY

(Picture from premierleague.com) Danny Murphy faces a month out injured after being stretchered off with a leg injury.  The red's midfield will be further dented by Salif Diao's sending off, which will earn him a three-match ban.  Diao received his marching orders for aiming a punch at Everton striker Francis Jeffers (who is on loan from Arsenal). Liverpool already have Didi Hamann, Milan Baros, Bruno Cherou and Jamie Carragher out with long-term injuries. On the plus side, Swiss defender Stephane Henchoz (right, picture from premierleague.com) made an impressive return after being side-lined by injury and Houllier must now decide whether to include him in Saturday's match against Arsenal or stick with Hyypia and Biscan at the centre of defence.

Liverpool Reserves: Luzi, Otsemobor, Whitbread, Henchoz, Traore, Diao, Murphy (Potter 43), Welsh, Sinama-Pongolle, Le Tallec, Partridge (Foy 85). Subs unused: Foley-Sheridan, Harrison, Wright.

Everton Reserves: Turner, Brian Moogan, Alan Moogan, Clarke, Weir, Nyarko, Li Tie, Linderoth, Campbell, Chadwick, Jeffers.

Referee: R L Lewis.

Disaster at the Valley - Brilliant Lisbie shocks LiverpoolChalton                        3 -2          Liverpool

Lisbie 31, 43, 83                          Smicer 15

                                                     Owen 52 pen

Kevin Lisbie managed just four goals for Charlton last season, in recent games he has been booed at by his own team's fans, but he silenced his critics with a marvellous hat-trick. (Left: Kevin Lisbie, Right: Houllier, pictures from skysports.com)

Liverpool looked like they might cruise to victory after Smicer opened the scoring after 15 minutes, finishing with a neat chip over Dean Kiely after a superb ball from Harry Kewell. However the Liverpool defence was not at it's best, with Hyypia and Biscan looking uneasy in the centre of defence. Lisbie had missed a string of chances and the Charlton fans were once again becoming uneasy.  Lisbie shocked everyone by grabbing two goals to send Charlton 2-1 up. Liverpool came out fired up after the break and a clumsy challenge by Chris Perry on Emile Heskey allowed Owen to equalise from the spot. Still the game flowed from end to end and it was impossible to predict a winner. On 83 minutes Charlton broke and Lisbie broke free of Sami Hyypia to produce a wonderful finish, curling the ball past Jerzy Dudek. Charlton finished the match defending with eleven men behind the ball. Kewell hit the post three minutes into injury time but Houllier was left looking glum-faced.

MATCH PHOTOS

Starting line-up:

J. Dudek, S. Finnan, I. Biscan, S. Hyypia, J. Riise, E. Heskey, E. Diouf, H. Kewell, M. Owen, S. Gerrard, V. Smicer

Subs:

S. Diao

A. Le Tallec on for Diouf 84

P. Luzi Bernardi

D. Murphy on for Smicer 67

D. Traore

Liverpool must return to Blackburn.

Liverpool will have to return to the scene of Jamie Carragher and Milan Baros' horror injuries when they play Blackburn Rovers in the Carling Cup.  This will be an intense game after an amazing war of words between Gerard Houllier and former Reds manager Graeme Souness since the game.

Third round draw

Bristol City v Southampton
Everton v Charlton
Nottm Forest v Portsmouth
Blackburn Rovers v Liverpool
Bolton v Gillingham
Wigan v Middlesbrough
Wolves v Burnley
Blackpool v Crystal Palace
Chelsea v Notts County
QPR v Manchester City
Reading v Huddersfield
Aston Villa v Leicester
Tottenham v West Ham
Arsenal v Rotherham
Newcastle v West Brom
Leeds v Manchester United

(Souness picture from bbc.co.uk)

Premier League Top Scorers Fri, Sep 26, 2003.

Know the Score! -

LIVERPOOL FC FIXTURES AND RESULTS 03-04