Speroni lifts Palace and Reich finishes off Liverpool
Last updated : 26 October 2005 By The Guardian
Instead the Liverpool manager watched a disappointing season disintegrate further when his team were beaten by Crystal Palace last night. For all their accomplished displays in Europe, Liverpool continue to fall horribly short in domestic combat, particularly on their travels. Their understrength team may have noted that Palace's Julian Speroni made several good first-half saves but their lack of killer instinct remains plain and Benítez will be dismayed his team failed to build on Steven Gerrard's equaliser.
Instead they got steadily worse and an increasingly lively and confident Palace ultimately deserved a winner that came when the influential Michael Hughes set up Marco Reich. Liverpool never seriously threatened to force extra-time. No one should imagine Benítez did not want to win after reaching last season's final, even if the Carling Cup is his lowest priority.
The frequency with which Liverpool are losing suggests they are going backwards after unexpectedly lifting the European Cup. A 4-1 home defeat by Chelsea confirmed how far they trail the country's best and the defeats at Fulham on Saturday and now here have raised further worrying questions about their level. Benítez rested several players, notably Jamie Carragher, Djibril Cissé and José Reina, and had an inexperienced defence and keeper. But, much as Palace deserve credit, Liverpool's second-half display was unacceptable and this demonstrated the lack of depth in the Spaniard's squad after a frustrating summer.
Liverpool had broadly dominated the first half and attacked decently, while also conceding chances. Speroni, standing in for Gabor Kiraly, denied them four times, yet the goalkeeper's excellence cannot totally disguise Benítez's need for a striker who will provide a steady supply of goals.
Fernando Morientes, who showed some nice early touches but faded, failed to make the most of his opportunities. Peter Crouch, another short of confidence in front of goal, never looked like scoring and the disappointing Harry Kewell wasted a couple of volleys. Florent Sinama-Pongolle, who came on later, was desperate.
As it stands Liverpool are far too reliant on Gerrard for goals and much more besides. The captain scored on his return from injury and was one of the few visiting players to catch the eye, even if he was not at his best.
Liverpool will be dismayed that Palace were given such freedom for their two goals and just as worrying for Benítez was the lack of ideas his players showed as they tried to find a way back at 2-1. Liverpool's shortcomings should not detract, though, from Palace's performance. This was their second straight home win over Liverpool, after beating them last season in the Premiership, and it will strengthen their belief that they can make an instant return to the top-flight.
Their midfielders Ben Watson and Tom Soares impressed not just with their energy but with much of their passing. Hughes set up both Palace goals, the first for Dougie Freedman, who had moments of quality. Their defence was breached regularly to begin with but tightened after the interval.
For a 10-minute period of Liverpool pressure in the first half, it seemed an upset was unlikely. With Gerrard prompting and Morientes linking play well, only Speroni's reflexes kept the visitors out. He had saved from Kewell, Morientes and Gerrard before Palace took the lead with a well created and taken strike.
A Palace goal was not totally unexpected given that Carson had been called into action twice and created another opening that was denied when the referee called play back for a free-kick. Freedman fed Hughes and the Irishman delivered a delightful cross which Freedman sped on to and headed home unmarked.
Liverpool's response was quick. Gerrard was fortunate when his header, aimed for Morientes, came back to him off Mark Hudson and he calmly placed a shot into the corner.
Yet after Morientes had wasted two chances, Liverpool grew weaker and Palace attacked vigorously. Iain Dowie's team were powerful down the flanks and, when Liverpool failed to clear a long throw, Hughes clipped the ball to the far post for Reich to volley in and humiliate the European champions. That heady night in Istanbul can hardly have felt more distant.
