Reds in surprise Euro defeat to Fiorentina

Liverpool's hopes of reaching the Champions League knockout stage have suffered a blow after they slumped to a surprise 2-0 defeat against Fiorentina.

The Reds went into the clash on the back of a six-match winning streak but rarely looked like extending it as Fiorentina claimed all the three points courtesy of a first-half double from teenage striker Stevan Jovetic.

The Reds were without hamstring injury victim Javier Mascherano, and really missed his composure and passing in midfield, with his replacement Fabio Aurelio struggling to fill the Argentinian's boots.

Rafael Benitez's troops failed to register a single shot on target in a first half which saw young striker Jovetic beat Pepe Reina on 28 and 37 minutes.

The opening goal came when Cristiano Zanetti's throughball found the 19-year-old, who coolly slotted past Reina from 15 yards.

And it was 2-0 to the hosts when Juan Manuel Vargas' fierce cross into the box from the left was deftly turned past the Reds stopper at his near post.

Benitez stirred his misfiring men at the interval, and they created three early second-half chances, with Sebastian Frey saving shots from Yossi Benayoun and Dirk Kuyt, and Lucas Leiva steering a free header from a corner inches over the crossbar.

Jamie Carragher whistled a 25-yard drive narrowly wide of the upright on the hour mark, Fernando Torres volleyed high and wide on 76 and Steven Gerrard looped a header just off target in the closing stages.

But the Italians held on for three vital points which means they are now level on points with Liverpool in Group E and three behind leaders Lyon who saw off Debrecen in Hungary.

The Reds will now look to pick themselves up in time for Sunday's crunch match with Chelsea.
Liverpool head to Stamford Bridge hoping to repeat last season's 1-0 success against the Londoners. The Reds brought an end to Chelsea's 86-match unbeaten run on home turf courtesy of Xabi Alonso's deflected strike, but they will have to be at their very best if they are to conjure up another three points against Carlo Ancelotti's men.

Torres double sinks Hammers

Fernando Torres scored twice to help Liverpool overcome battling West Ham. The victory, Liverpool’s fourth successive win, lifted Liverpool into third place in the Barclays Premier League.

The Hammers, still looking for their first win since the opening day of the season, started off brightly and came within a whisker of taking the lead within only two minutes.

The Jamaican-born Hines, making his second Premier League start, stole possession from the napping Carragher on the edge of the box but could only curl his shot against the upright.

The Reds though, adopting a 4-2-3-1 formation with Torres as the solo striker, poured forward and grabbed the opener on 20 minutes thanks to a dash of Spanish magic.

The West Ham midfield lost the ball to Emiliano Insua and his through-ball found Torres on the left who weaved around James Tomkins before blasting over the on-rushing Green.

But the home side were back in the game in the 28th minute when referee Andre Marriner adjudged that Hines had been pushed by Carragher in the box.

Up stepped Italian Diamanti for the spot-kick and although the ball flew over Pepe Reina, the Liverpool bench were incensed, claiming the striker had kicked the ball twice after slipping.

Liverpool fought back and grabbed the lead again with Kuyt's boot getting on the end of a towering Gerrard header from an inswinging Benayoun corner.

For all of Liverpool's possession, West Ham's frontline was always threatening and stunned the visitors on the stroke of half-time when Cole outjumped three defenders to nod in the equaliser.

The second period was a case of West Ham hanging on with a handful of players suffering from cramp as Liverpool poured forward looking for the winning goal.

The Reds finally clinched the game in the 75th minute when substitute Babel’s cross was headed into the corner of the net by Torres from eight yards.

Watch all the Liverpool goals here.

In their next match, Liverpool begin their quest for the Carling Cup with a third round tie against Leeds United at Elland Road. The two teams haven't met since Leeds' relegation from the Barclays Premier League in 2004 and, last time, Harry Kewell and Milan Baros were the Reds' scorers in an entertaining 2-2 draw at Elland Road.

Winning start for Liverpool in Champions League

Dirk Kuyt's strike on the stroke of half-time gave Liverpool a narrow 1-0 win over Hungarian champions Debrecen in their Champions League opening game at Anfield.

Wednesday night's game was Rafa Benitez's 300th match in charge of the Reds and he afforded himself the luxury of naming the same Liverpool team that beat Burnley 4-0 at Anfield on Saturday.

In the first half action, Riera had two fierce strikes saved in the 38th and 39th minute, with Kuyt seeing a follow-up cleared off the line.

But after Gerrard sidefooted inches wide of the upright, the breakthrough came on 45 minutes when Debrecen's goalkeeper Vukasin Poleksic parried a Torres shot and was helpless to prevent Kuyt from converting the rebound.

It was all Liverpool after the interval, with Gerrard whistling a 20-yard volley inches over the crossbar, Yossi Benayoun being denied by a fine save and Lucas Leiva and Torres heading good chances off target.

Despite failing to carve out a bigger victory, Liverpool fans will be happy that the main goal of making a winning start in Group E has been achieved comfortably.

Watch all the Liverpool goals here.

In their next match, Liverpool are back on the road in the Barclays Premier League and will travel to Upton Park to take on West Ham United. The Reds will be looking to secure their second away victory of the season - and they have enjoyed several good results in East London in recent years. Last season, Ryan Babel added to a Steven Gerrard brace as Liverpool ran out comfortable 3-0 victors. However, in 2007-08, West Ham claimed a 1-0 win with an injury-time Mark Noble penalty.

Liverpool edge ten-man Bolton

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard's late winner earned his side a 3-2 victory at Bolton as they twice came from behind at the Reebok Stadium.

The Reds were made to fight desperately hard by a Bolton side who were down to 10 men for much of the second half.

Liverpool, who lost at home to Aston Villa on Monday, gave new Greek signing Sotirios Kyrgiakos his debut in place of Martin Skrtel, while Spanish winger Albert Riera replaced Yossi Benayoun on the left-flank.

Liverpool's poor defensive marking at set-pieces had been found wanting in recent games, and it proved yet again to be their downfall when Bolton took the lead in the 35th minute. Matt Taylor’s corner kick found Johan Elmander at the far post who headed it down into the six-yard box for Kevin Davies to turn past Jose Reina. There was not a single red shirt anywhere in the six-yard box to challenge Kevin Davies as he booted home.

But Liverpool hit back when right-back Glen Johnson punished a poor clearance from a corner with a low drive from the edge of the box.

Bolton went ahead again two minutes after the re-start. Liverpool failed to clear a right-wing cross, and Kevin Davies flicked the ball across the box for Tamir Cohen to lash the ball home from eight-yards.

The turning point in the game came in the 54th minute when Sean Davis was dismissed for a second caution. Given a numerical advantage, Liverpool made the most of it, and minutes later they were level again when Gerrard's chip into the box was chested on by Dirk Kuyt into Fernando Torres' path for the striker to stab home.

And with less than eight minutes remaining captain Gerrard rifled home Torres' knockdown from Yossi Benayoun's corner to put Liverpool ahead.

Watch all the Liverpool goals here.

While Liverpool still need to improve to challenge for the title, they will be pleased to have secured victory in a game which they could hardly afford to lose. The upcoming one-week international break will provide a much needed opportunity for the team to work on improving their game before the next Premier League game against newcomers Burnley on Sep 12.

Liverpool bounces back with thumping win over Stoke

Liverpool bounces back from their opening day defeat at Tottenham with a convincing 4-0 victory over Stoke at Anfield.

The win stretches the Reds' unbeaten home record to 31 games and quashes any worries that the Anfield faithful may have had after last weekend's setback at Tottenham Hotspur.


Rafa Benitez made two changes from the side that lost on the opening day of the season.

Spanish defender Daniel Ayala was handed his full debut replacing Martin Skrtel who failed to recover in time from a bruised jaw sustained in the Spurs clash, while Yossi Benayoun came in for Ryan Babel.

Steven Gerrard created the first goal of the season for Fernando Torres, the Spaniard drilling home from 12-yards early on.

Glen Johnson, who had an outstanding game on his home debut, hooked in the second a minute from the break, and then aided Gerrard’s advance to set up the third for Dirk Kuyt.

Substitute David Ngog headed in the fourth from under the bar after another fine run and cross from Johnson had deflected into his path in injury-time.

Watch all the Liverpool goals here.

Liverpool next lock horns with Aston Villa at Anfield on Monday evening with the Reds hoping to continue an impressive home record against the Midlanders. The Merseysiders have only lost once to the Villans in front of the Kop in the last ten meetings.

Last season, a Steven Gerrard hat-trick helped Liverpool to an emphatic 5-0 victory over Villa at Anfield. Steven Gerrard has scored ten goals against Aston Villa in his career (including nine in the league) – that’s his highest tally against any one club.