| Saturday 20 August 2005 15:00 FA
Barclays Premier League |
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| "Liverpool" |
1 - 0 |
"Sunderland" |
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(1-0) |
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| GOAL |
| Alonso 24 |
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25 Jose Reina
28 Stephen Warnock
4 Sami Hyypia
23 Jamie Carragher
3 Steve Finnan
22 Mohamed Sissoko
14 Xabi Alonso
8 Steven Gerrard (c)
30 Boudewijn Zenden
19 Fernando Morientes
9 Djibril Cisse
Subs:
20 Scott Carson
17 Jose Miguel Rey
6 John Arne Riise
10 Luis Garcia
5 Milan Baros |
|
1 Kelvin Davis
33 Julio Arca
5 Gary Breen
22 Alan Stubbs
12 Nyron Nosworthy
14 Tommy Miller
7 Liam Lawrence
4 Carl Robinson
18 Andy Gray
11 Andy Welsh
8 Dean Whitehead
Subs:
30 Joe Murphy
20 Chris Brown
6 Steven Caldwell
10 Stephen Elliott
19 Martin Woods |
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| SUBSTITUTIONS |
Gerrard (Garcia 55)
Zenden (Riise 63)
Cisse (Baros 75) |
|
Gray (Elliot 66)
Lawrence (Brown 66)
Robinson (Woods 82) |
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| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: Barrie Knight
(Kent) |
| Booked: Gerrard 21, Sissoko 35 |
|
Booked: Breen 10, Robinson 23,
Nosworthy 88
Sent Off: Welsh 74 |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Anfield (capacity 45,362)
Attendance: 44,913 |
|
Mark Hughes (Blackburn R)
Mick McCarthy (Sunderland) |
 Price: J3,00
Notes:
- Luis Garcia 50th
game for the Reds
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|
ALONSO
EARNS ANFIELD POINTS
A brilliant first half free-kick from Xabi Alonso was enough to give Liverpool all
three points in their first Premiership match of the season at Anfield against Sunderland
today.
Alonso's matchwinner came in the 24th minute, but the Reds were made to battle all
the way for this victory.
Rafa Benitez made just one change to the side that drew at Middlesbrough last week
with Djibril Cisse replacing Luis Garcia as the Reds looked to open their home campaign
with a win. But they found it far from easy against a Sunderland who, particularly in the
first half, caused them plenty of problems.
Liverpool were almost ahead as early as the 3rd minute when Gerrard's inswinging
cross rebounded off the Sunderland post. And from the resulting corner, Morientes flashed
a free header narrowly wide.
The Reds missed an even better opportunity when Cisse stabbed a shot wide after 18
minutes. But Anfield's full house didn't have to wait long for a breakthough and what a
goal it was.
Zenden's direct running caused panic in the Sunderland defence and when he was
fouled, Alonso stepped up and curled a superb free kick into the top corner.
Any thoughts that a rout would follow were soon dispelled by Sunderland, who played
with plenty of spirit and caused the Reds no end of problems.
And they will have left cursing their inability to convert a number of promising
chances.
Liverpool almost had what would have been a controversial second after 50 minutes
when Stubbs went down under a challenge from Gerrard. Referee Knight failed to see the
incident and Cisse was in no mood to kick the ball out, but a diplomatic incident was
averted when Cisse fired his shot over.
The Reds were dealt a blow soon after when their inspirational skipper Steven
Gerrard was forced off injured and replaced by Luis Garcia.
Any concerns over Gerrard's departure were almost quickly erased when Cisse found
himself through on goal, but he fired his blistering half volley just wide.
Sunderland's task was made considerably harder when they were reduced to ten men
for the last 15 minutes after Welsh was sent off for pushing Garcia. But their ten men
continued to worry Liverpool until the final whistle. They wont go down if they can play
like this every week.
As for Liverpool, they will be hugely relieved to have won and Rafa will have taken
some positives from this match. Not least the continued emergence of Momo Sissoko, who was
man of the match.
Teams
Liverpool (4-1-4-1): Reina, Warnock, Carragher,
Hyypia, Finnan, Zenden, Alonso, Sissoko, Cisse, Gerrard, Morientes. Subs - Carson, Riise,
Josemi, Garcia, Baros
Sunderland (4-1-4-1): Davis, Arca, Breen, Stubbs, Nosworthy, Welsh, Robinson,
Whitehead, Miller, Gray, Lawrence. Subs - Murphy, Caldwell, Elliott, Brown, Woods
Referee: B Knight
Conditions: Dry
Attendance: 44,913
Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Momo Sissoko
Breakdown
14:17 GMT : Match Starts
1 min : Sunderland kick off attacking the Kop
2 mins : Hyypia has to clear as Arca drives a dangerous ball into the area
2 mins : Gerrard curls the ball into the area and watches as it cannons back off the post
3 mins : Morientes heads wide as he meets Gerrard's corner unmarked inside the box
5 mins : Carragher charges forward towards the edge of the box and wins a free kick as he
is brought down
10 mins : Reina isn't troubled as Gray rises in the area but heads well wide at the Kop
end
10 mins : Booking: Gary Breen:
14 mins : Zenden ghosts in at the far post to head Finnan's raking ball just wide
17 mins : Stubbs makes a fine block in the area to stop Gerrard's shot heading goalwards
18 mins : Zenden crosses from the left and Cisse can only turn the ball inches wide from
close range. Best chance so far
21 mins : Booking: Steven Gerrard:
23 mins : Booking: Carl Robinson:
23 mins : GOAL! Xabi Alonso: Brilliant right footed free kick into the corner from 25
yards
29 mins : Great clearance from Finnan to deny Sunderland an equaliser as Whitehead crosses
from the right
35 mins : Booking: Momo Sissoko:
42 mins : Sissoko drives the ball goalwards from Morientes' knock-down, but it's straight
at the goalkeeper
15:04 GMT : Half Time Reached
15:22 GMT : Second Half Begins
46 mins : Liverpool get the second half underway attacking the kop
47 mins : Sissoko and Morientes combine well in the area but Sunderland clear for a corner
49 mins : Cisse drives towards the edge of the area and blasts a right footed shot over
the goal
55 mins : Substitution: Luis Garcia for Steven Gerrard:
55 mins : Alonso's well struck free kick is deflected behind for a corner
56 mins : Cisse spins inside the box before driving a ferocious volley just wide of the
post
62 mins : Substitution: John Arne Riise for Bolo Zenden:
63 mins : Cisse turns the ball in from close range but the goal is ruled out for offside
66 mins : Substitution: Chris Brown for Andy Gray:
66 mins : Substitution: Stephen Elliott for Liam Lawrence:
73 mins : Sending Off: Andy Welsh:
74 mins : Substitution: Milan Baros for Djibril Cisse:
81 mins : Substitution: Martin Woods for Carl Robinson:
83 mins : Reina dives to his left and comfortably watches a long range volley dip wide of
his goal
83 mins : Garcia cuts inside onto his left foot and curls a shot over the bar
86 mins : Riise drives a shot well over after being found with a great ball by the
impressive Sissoko
87 mins : Booking: Nyron Nosworthy:
16:09 GMT : Match Over
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