Watch Liverpool

Posts Tagged ‘shot’

• Reds captain takes responsibility for missing out on victory
• Tiredness also played a part after Chelsea exertions

The Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has accepted the blame for last night’s disappointing 1-1 draw at Wigan but insists extending their unbeaten run is a positive.

Having taken an early lead through Fernando Torres, the Reds tired badly and Hugo Rodallega equalised just after half-time, with the Latics looking the more likely to score a winner.

Gerrard gave the ball away in the passage of play moments prior to the Colombian’s goal but had chance to make amends late on only to see his shot beat Ali al-Habsi but crash down off the crossbar.

“I tried to play a one-two that, if it had come off, could have been a good move,” said the England midfielder. “You don’t expect it to lead to a goal but, when it does, you have to take responsibility.

“Then when I went through on goal, I maybe struck my shot too well but I should have scored – I expected to. As we haven’t taken maximum points, maybe people should point a finger at me.

“Maybe our performance suffered after the energy and intensity we put into beating Chelsea. You can often find that happening after you play a game 72 hours after a big fixture.”

However, the 30-year-old remains upbeat as attentions turn to another tough encounter against Stoke on Saturday.

“After a fantastic win over Chelsea and having gone 1-0 up, of course we understand why people will be slightly disappointed,” he told the Liverpool Echo. “But we have kept our unbeaten run going, Fernando has got another goal and there are other positives. I’m happy with my form.

“It’s going to be tough at Stoke but we will have to stand up and fight, stick together and if we get a win, that would be a superb result. We will be ready for it.”

Steven GerrardLiverpoolPremier Leagueguardian.co.uk

The relegation which has been Burnley’s destiny since Owen Coyle left in January was finally confirmed today when Steven Gerrard scored twice in the space of seven second-half minutes to keep alive Liverpool’s hopes of Champions League qualification.

If Gerrard’s first was something of a fluke (the shot took a big deflection), the second was more typical, thrashed past Brian Jensen’s left hand from 25 yards. Liverpool’s third took the form of a smart finish by Maxi Rodriguez and the fourth came in added time, from Ryan Babel.

The rain pelted down shortly before kick-off – the sky crying in sympathy with Burnley’s plight and driving off the cricketers on the pitch next door, where England’s Jimmy Anderson learned his trade. These things are relative, and it has been a poor season for Liverpool, too, but still the scouse loyalists pledge vocal loyalty to the manager, Rafael Benítez, who continues to be linked with Juventus.

With Fernando Torres and David Ngog both injured, Dirk Kuyt reverted to the role in which he was originally signed, as principal striker. He was found wanting there a long time ago, and was once again here.

The standard of play rarely rose above the prosaic, and the first goal attempt of any consequence was delayed until the 27th minute, when an inviting right wing cross from Martin Paterson was wasted by Steven Fletcher heading over from a central position, seven yards out. Jack Cork at least demanded a save with another header from similar distance.

The worst miss of all saw Fletcher, on the edge of the six-yard box, horribly culpable again when he failed to make contact with Cork’s cross from the left. Profligacy with such chances has been the story of Burnley’s season.

Gerrard responded with a shot from near the penalty spot which lacked the accuracy to inconvenience “The Beast” Jensen, the goalkeeper who has made more saves than any other in the Premier League. But when the same protagonists were in action again, seven minutes into the second half, poor Jensen had no chance with a shot from the 18-yards line which took a cruel deflection off Leon Cort.

He had no chance again after 52 minutes, but this time due to Gerrard’s scorching accuracy. Fletcher shot against Pepe Reina’s left-hand upright after 72 minutes, but Liverpool had the last word, through Rodriguez and Babel. Burnley return whence they came last summer, Liverpool play Chelsea next Sunday and need to raise their game if they are to finish fourth.

Premier LeagueBurnleyLiverpoolJoe Lovejoyguardian.co.uk