Liverpool saw their slim Champions League hopes reduced to a flicker as Michael Dawson’s first half header handed relegation threatened Hull City a crucial 1-0 victory at the KC Stadium.
With top four rivals Manchester United beaten by Everton on Sunday, a win would have seen the Reds move to within four points of their rivals.
But they failed to take advantage of United’s slip, as the more determined Tigers managed to hold on to a slim win to take a big step closer to top flight survival.
Brendan Rodgers’ side had a host of chances to score in the first half but none really troubled Steve Harper in the Hull net, with Philippe Coutinho, Jordan Henderson and Mario Balotelli all firing straight at the veteran goalkeeper.
The hosts proved a threat on the break and they took full advantage of Liverpool’s apparent lack of fire and concentration when a rapid surge up field resulted in a well taken goal from former Tottenham captain Dawson, the former Tottenham captain sending a thumping header past Simon Mignolet to leaves the Tigers four points clear of the drop zone.
Liverpool, meanwhile, remain in fifth and look set for Europa League football next season.
Build up to the game was dominated by reports of a mass boycott from Liverpool fans over inflated ticket prices, and the supporters who stayed at home will be glad they did, with their side looking directionless at times.
The visitors were on the back foot from the start, with Hull unlucky not to take an early lead when in-form striker Dame N'Doye sent a free header straight at Mignolet after clever wing play from the lively Sone Aluko.
Coutinho was again the Merseysiders' most lively attacking outlet and the Brazilian was first to test Harper, smashing a volley straight at the shot-stopper after Jordon Ibe cleverly dummied Henderson’s corner.
Having little luck through a packed midfield, most of the Reds’ best chances came from out wide where they put the pace of Raheem Sterling and Ibe to good use.
Balotelli, who started for the second successive game, was quiet on the whole but did go close with an audacious backheel shot which took Harper by surprise but failed to beat the former Newcastle man.
But the three-man defence of Liverpool were vulnerable on the counter and Hull went close with two chances in quick succession which forced Mignolet into a fine double save, first parrying Jake Livermore’s header before he and Glen Johnson combined to clear Sone Aluko’s follow up off the line.
It was brilliant play from the Belgian, but he was soon picking the ball out of his net when Dawson took a step off his marker, the daydreaming Martin Skrtel, before heading Ahmed Elmohamady's cross into the top corner to send the KC Stadium into raptures.
Goalscoring opportunities dried up after the break until Liverpool suddenly sparked to life with 30 minutes to play.
Coutinho was again the instigator as he threaded a lovely pass through to Henderson, who chested the ball down but saw his volleyed effort saved, with skipper going close moments later but again his thumping shot was well gathered by Harper.
Liverpool once again suffered without the injured Daniel Sturridge and the ineffective Balotelli made way for Rickie Lambert on 65 minutes, though the former Southampton man didn’t fare much better.
Hull mustered a handful of half chances in the closing stages, with Robbie Brady going close from a corner and Tom Huddlestone firing just wide, but the hosts remained fairly untroubled until the referee finally blew the final whistle.
No comments:
Post a Comment