Markovic Seals Reds Victory

After securing a safe passage into the FA Cup fourth round with a win away to AFC Wimbledon, Liverpool returned to league duties with an away trip to face Sunderland.

Both sides looked to make a good start to the first weekend of the new year and it was the visiting Reds that made the better start of the two sides. A clever run from Lazar Markovic in the ninth minute allowing him to advance into the box and play a one-to with Fabio Borini which led to the Serbian tapping into the net past Costel Pantilimon.

Sunderland looked to respond rapidly with a free-kick just four minutes later but despite a long range effort from Seb Larsson, Simon Mignolet was able to save comfortably. Liverpool came close to notching a second strike with Steven Gerrard's 24th minute shot deflected past the post before a curling free kick from the Reds captain was tipped over by Pantilimon. 

Lazar Markovic came achingly close to a stellar second when a nice attacking move saw him attempt a scissoring volley which cannoned back off the crossbar to the relief of the home defence who were lucky to remain only a goal behind when Jordan Henderson swept a shot at goal in the 37th minute which ricocheted off the post but had come after an handball in the build-up.

Liverpool should have gone into the interval with a two goal lead when a clever run from Fabio Borini saw him advance on goal and round Pantilimon but his shot missed the target from close range. Sunderland's hopes of a good start to the second half suffered a harsh blow as Liam Bridcutt was sent off for a second booking after a foul on Emre Can just three minutes after the interval.

Despite being a man down, Sunderland could have drawn level just four minutes later when Adam Johnson thundered a shot at goal from 25 yards which to his dismay cannoned back off the crossbar. Liverpool continued to look for a second and wrap up the points and came close with a header from Dejan Lovren via a Philippe Coutinho corner before Mario Balotelli turn and shot in the 70th minute failed to trouble Pantilimon.

Liverpool held on to secure the win and continue their unbeaten start to the year with Aston Villa at home next on the horizon. 

Gerrard Double Ends Wimbledon Run

After a run of good performances in the Premier League, Liverpool started their quest in the FA Cup with a trip to face League Two side AFC Wimbledon on Monday night. Since the sides were paired in the third round draw, the classic 1988 final has been a constant feature in the build up where the underdogs of Wimbledon stunned the giants of Liverpool.

In recent years, Liverpool have made sweeping changes when the third round comes calling but elected to field a strong team due to the threat that AFC Wimbledon could pose despite their lower league position.  Four changes saw Martin Skrtel and Javier Manquillo return while Lazar Markovic and Rickie Lambert were also included.

The kick-off had been preceded by the fourth round draw which saw Bolton Wanderers drawn out to visit either of the two teams and Wimbledon looked to mount the best start to such a match-up with an early chance.  Sean Rigg advanced on goal and found space in the area before driving his shot just past the far post.

Liverpool responded in the 12th minute with Javier Manquillo lofting in a dangerous cross which found the head of Steven Gerrrard who guided the ball past James Shea to the joy of the 800 travelling Reds fans.

Lazar Markovic could have extended the lead when a clever one-two combination between him and Philippe Coutinho saw the winger hit his shot across goal and cleared by the Dons defence. Wimbledon soon came close with an effort of their own after a corner from the right caused chaos in the Liverpool defence and allowed Rigg to power a shot at goal which was superbly tipped over by Simon Mignolet.

A defensive mistake from Skrtel and Manquillo led to the ball finding Matt Tubbs who turned and unleashed a shot but to his despair, saw the ball drift past the target and the attacking prowess from the Dons soon paid off nine minutes before the break. A corner looped into the box caused havoc for the visitors defence with the ball glancing off Sakho and into the path of Adebayo Akinfenwa who rifled the ball into the net.

Wimbledon could have taken a surprise lead after the restart after Adam Barrett hit an effort at goal which was cleared off the line by a clever header from Steven Gerrard before Rigg drove an effort over the bar as the Dons built up some momentum.

The shift in momentum to the home side gave them hopes of causing an upset but those hopes were dented just after the hour mark by a superb free-kick from Steven Gerrard which came after Coutinho had been fouled outside the area. Gerrard stepped up and swept a textbook curling effort into the top corner to regain the lead and show what the club will miss after his summer exit.

The Dons could have drawn level almost instantly when Dannie Bulman hit an effort towards goal but the ball went wide of target before Shea was called into action at the other end to prevent Rickie Lambert from extending the lead.

Gerrard came close with a free-kick before Shea denied a late chance from Coutinho with a superb save before Gerrard was denied his hat-trick by a fine stop from Shea in the closing seconds as the Reds held on to set up a tie against Bolton which may see former Reds attacker Emile Heskey return to Anfield.

Foxes Comeback Denies Reds

After bringing down the curtain to 2014 in fine form, Liverpool looked to start 2015 in a similar vain as they played host to the league's bottom side Leicester City on New Year's Day. Just two changes were made from the rout of Swansea as Steven Gerrard re-claimed the captaincy while Kolo Toure replaced the suspended Martin Skrtel.

Surprisingly, the visitors made the better start ad could have opened the scoring inside two minutes as a foul from Alberto Moreno allowed Riyad Mahrez to test the Liverpool goal with a free-kick which he swept in superbly only to see the ball cannon back off the post. 

Liverpool went even closer to breaking the deadlock a few minutes later with Raheem Sterling tapping in from close range but to his despair the effort was chalked off due to an offside infringement from Jordan Henderson in the build-up.

The visitors seemed to be best at attacking down the wings as Jeff Schlupp and Mahrez threatened with the two combining before the latter swept the ball off target. Liverpool struck back in the 17th minute as Coutinho and Sterling linked up with the latter sweeping in a cross to threaten the Leicester defence and the ball cannoned off the face of Wes Morgan who was harshly penalised for handball.

Steven Gerrard stepped up and slotted the controversially awarded spot kick past Ben Hamer to give the Reds the lead which could have increased when Sakho's pass found Moreno with the Spaniard picking out Lallana whose shot drifted wide of the target.

The Reds lead did increase in the 39th minute when a clever run from Phillipe Coutinho saw him advance into the box and look to loft a pass across goal but saw the ball hit Danny Simpson who was penalised for handball.

Alike the first spot-kick, Steven Gerrard converted well to open up a two-goal lead which sent them into the half-time interval sitting comfortably. The second period saw the Reds mount an early chance as Moreno powered an effort over the bar while a blow in the 55th minute saw Adam Lallana leave the field with an injury.

After coming off the bench, David Nugent came close to an rapid impact as he glanced a chance from a corner past the far post. He soon made amends though as he collected the ball from Jamie Vardy's knockdown to sweep in a scissor-kick volley which sailed past Simon Mignolet. The Belgian was was flummoxed to see his side pegged back to 2-2 just moments later when Jeff Schlupp slotted into the bottom corner to complete a rapid comeback for the Foxes.

Liverpool looked to regain the lead with the introduction of Lazar Markovic before fellow attacker Fabio Borini fired a shot over the crossbar from a pass from Sterling before Coutinho carved through the defence and shot straight at Hamer.

The sides looked set for a share off the points but Liverpool had one more chance to upset the equilibrium with Sakho finding Henderson but the midfielder's clipped strike hit Hamer and went out of play.

Four Star Reds Stun Swans

Liverpool signed off 2014 in style with a 4-1 win at home to Swansea City on Monday Night Football, a performance that saw a long awaited return to the attacking prowess show last season.

As the game was the second of three in the space of six days, the team selection saw Simon Mignolet, Emre Can, Javier Manquillo and Alberto Moreno included as the Reds looked to end a mixed 2014 on a high.

In the absence of Steven Gerrard, Jordan Henderson took over duties and looked to set his team off to a good start when he swept in a dangerous cross in the fifth minute which found the head of Martin Skrtel but the Slovak's effort was too close to trouble Lukas Fabianski in the Swansea goal.

Liverpool continued to push for the opening goal and a pacy combination between Raheem Sterling and Alberto Moreno saw the former power an effort against Lukas Fabianski whose parry fell to Adam Lallana whose rebounded shot went over.

Swansea responded with an effort of their own when a nice move resulted in Nathan Dyer looking to test Simon Mignolet but saw the Belgian claim his header comfortably before Wifried Bony powered an effort high over the target.

Liverpool resumed their attacking threat with promise as Mamadou Sakho swept forward a superb pass for Moreno which saw Spaniard pass infield while advancing into the box, the ball moved from Lallana to Henderson with the Reds captain picking out Moreno who tapped past Fabianski for the lead.

The lead could have been doubled before the interval when Phillipe Coutinho jinked into the box and thundered an effort to the near post which Fabianski denied before the Swans stopper denied the Brazilian from long range.

However, the slim lead was soon increased in bizarre circumstances when a back pass from the Swansea defence saw Fabianski delay a clearance on the edge of the box and with Lallana advancing on him, the Pole's attempted clearance cannoned back off the playmaker and into the net.

Swansea replied instantly as the Liverpool defence were caught out by a loose ball after Sakho had failed to deal with Bony at the back post resulting in an easy conversion past Mignolet for Gylfi Sigurdsson.

Simon Mignolet did come good minutes later as he preserved the Reds lead with a superb save to deny a thunderous effort from Bony before Raheem Sterling came achingly close to restoring the two-goal lead with a clipped shot which cannoned back off the post.

 

The game looked to be firmly in the hosts hands just after the hour mark as a stunning piece of skill from Coutinho saw him find Adam Lallana who evaded numerous challenges before sweeping a shot low into the corner to put the Reds 3-1 in front.

 

Swansea were unable to replicate their rapid response from earlier in the half and soon fell further behind as an in-swinging corner from Jordan Henderson caused chaos for the Swans defenders which saw former Reds midfielder Jonjo Shelvey head into his own net.

 

The Swans were keen to mount a comeback and came close to making it 4-2 when Bafetembi Gomis swept an effort against the upright as the Reds held on for a superb win in what was their 59th game of the year.

A Sterling Effort At Turf Moor

The packed festive period continued yesterday as Liverpool travelled to face Burnley at Turf Moor with the Clarets eager to get out of the bottom three and extend their recent good form.

The Reds fielded the same starting eleven from the Arsenal draw but there was a surprise inclusion on the substitutes bench in the shape of  17-year-old Academy starlet Sheyi Ojo who was included after a run of great performances for the U19's.

Liverpool looked to get off to a good start and came close inside five minutes as Raheem Sterling looked to test Tom Heaton in the Burnley goal after a well-worked counter attack but sadly could only hit an effort past the far post.

The home side responded well and had a chance of their own in the 15th minute when Danny Ings found space to connect to a throw in before driving a shot at goal only to see it cannon against the post.

Brad Jones' afternoon was cut short as he left the field with a knock just a minute later with Simon Mignolet entering in his place and hoping to silence the critics after a run of poor form but could only watch as Ashley Barnes headed over the bar from a Dean Marney cross.

Liverpool did cause a threat though on the half hour mark as Steven Gerrard swept a pass to Adam Lallana but despite finding some space, the midfielder saw his eventual effort blocked by Heaton. Burnley came achingly close to breaking the deadlock when a clearance from Mignolet fell for Scott Arfield who looked to volley into the bottom corner only to be denied by a superb block from Lucas.

The home fans were off their feet again when George Boyd headed at goal but in despair as the effort narrowly missed the target in the last chance of the half which signalled a chance for Liverpool in the second period as Emre Can replaced Kolo Toure.

There was no instant impact from the chance but the momentum began to build and just two minutes after the hour mark, the visitors broke the deadlock as a superb piece of control from Phillipe Coutinho led to him scooping the ball over his own shoulder and perfectly into the path of Raheem Sterling who collected the ball before rounding Heaton and firing into the net.

After earning a brilliant assist, Coutinho came close to scoring himself as he displayed stellar skills in outfoxing three Burnley defenders before aiming for goal and seeing his effort deflect off target before making way for Rickie Lambert later on. Lambert went one better than his teammate by putting the ball into the net but to his dismay saw the effort chalked off for offside as Liverpool held on for a vital away win.

10 Man Reds Deny Gunners

A tough festive schedule for Liverpool continued with the visit of Arsenal on Sunday afternoon in a game that will live long in the memory for both positive and negative reasons.

Liverpool continued the 3-4-3- setup from the defeat to Manchester United and started the better of the two sides with Steven Gerrard curling a free-kick over the bar in the third minute before Adam Lallana shot over in the 12th minute.

Mamadou Sahko came closest to scoring for the home side as he headed past the post after connecting to a corner before Arsenal responded with an effort from Olivier Giroud which went straight at Brad Jones.

A long range effort from Philippe Coutinho on the half hour was taken well by Wojciech Szczesny who was called into action again just five minutes later after Lazar Markovic raced into the box and tested the Gunners 'keeper.

Liverpool looked to be going into the interval in front when a superb run from Raheem Sterling resulted in him picking out Phillipe Coutinho on the edge of the area who turned and fired the ball past Szczesny to open the scoring. However, Liverpool's defensive frailties haunted them as Arsenal levelled in the final seconds of the half with a free-kick from Alexis Sanchez headed on in the box by Mathieu Flamini into the path of Mathieu Debuchy who headed in at the back post.

Both sides had reasonable chances early in the second half with Coutinho blazing over from a free-kick before Santi Cazorla hit a similar effort over for Arsenal. A long delay came in the 50th minute when an Arsenal attack resulted in a tangle between Olivier Giroud and Martin Skrtel with the Liverpool defender suffering a head injury.

After the five minute delay, Skrtel was stitched up and bravely played on as Liverpool looked to retake the lead just after the hour mark but a Raheem Sterling run and Steven Gerrard cross saw Wojciech Szczesny beaten but failed to result in a goal.

Arsenal countered with Giroud hitting wide of the target before redeeming himself just two minutes later by connecting to a clever square pass from Santi Cazorla and hitting the ball through he legs of Brad Jones to put the visitors in front.

The change in fortunes saw Liverpool bring on Fabio Borini in place of Lazar Markovic to try and draw level and the equaliser came so close to appearing in the 75th minute as Jordan Henderson found the path of Lucas who manoeuvred into the area and saw his shot slip agonisingly past the post.

Fabio Borini looked to make an impression after seeing a headed effort tipped over by Szczesny in the 86th minute as he hit for goal again just two minutes later only to have his chance parried to safety by the Arsenal 'keeper. A huge nine minutes of added time as put on the board and Liverpool looked to level early into it as Raheem Sterling forced a clever save from Wojciech Szczesny.

However, Liverpool's momentum suffered a blow as Fabio Borini received his second booking in as many minutes after a yellow card for dissent was followed by a second for raising a foot in a challenge.

The last time Liverpool went down to 10 men against Basel earlier in the month, their performance didn't stutter and they levelled late on despite exiting the Champions League. This time around the same spirit was apparent as in the seventh minute of added time they did draw level as Martin Skrtel superbly met a Gerrard corner and headed past Szczesny to the joy of the home fans.

Sterling Double Sours Cherries Hopes

After a bad result away to Manchester United at the weekend, Liverpool travelled to face Championship leaders Bournemouth in the Capital One Cup quarter final on Wednesday night.

Brendan Rodgers stuck with Brad Jones in goal while the return of Mario Balotelli and Fabio Borini saw them both named among the substitutes as the Reds looked secure a place in the last four and edge closer to a trip to Wembley in March.

The home side started the better which was no surprise given Liverpool's mixed away form and the Reds could have gone 2-0 down early on with a Adam Smith forcing a block from Martin Skrtel before Callum Wilson wasted a superb chance seconds later as he hit narrowly past the post.

Liverpool responded with a duo of chances from Adam Lallana with the midfielder forcing former Southampton teammate Artur Boruc into a superb tipping save before sending a shot wide of the post in the space of seven minutes.

Lazar Markovic has had limited chances this season to live up to his £20m summer price tag but showed some real promise in the 20th minute with a weighted cross to the back post to the head of Jordan Henderson who picked out lone striker Raheem Sterling in space who arrowed the ball past Boruc to open the scoring.

Bournemouth were unable to mount a rapid response as they fell further behind just seven minutes later, Phillipe Coutinho tested Artur Boruc with a close range shot which drew a parry from the Cherries stopper and fell into the path of Lazar Markovic who fired into the net to claim his first goal for the Reds.

The Cherries could have pulled one back instantly when Simon Francis crossed for Yann Kermogant but to the dismay of the home crowd, the Frenchman blazed his effort high over the target before an effort from Dan Gosling was blocked well by Steven Gerrard just five minutes before the interval.

After ending the first half in good spirits, Bournemouth began the second half in a bad way as they were carved open by superbly skillful routine from Raheem Sterling, who danced through the Cherries defence before rifling the ball past a helpless Artur Boruc to extend the lead to three goals in the 51st minute.

Bournemouth bounced back with a superb effort of their own in the 57th minute as Dan Gosling, famed for a FA Cup semi final winning goal against Liverpool powered a shot at goal which looked to have been saved by Brad Jones. However, the Australian was unable to deny the Cherries midfielder as his attempted save failed to stop the ball nestling in the net.

Buoyed by gracing the scoreboard, Bournemouth looked to add a second notation as a deep cross found the head of Ryan Fraser but his effort travelled narrowly over the bar. Raheem Sterling came achingly close to a first senior hat-trick for Liverpool in the 67th minute as he latched on to a clever flick from Adam Lallana before dragging a shot wide of the post.

At the other end, Bournemouth should have made it 3-2 when Dan Gosling cannoned a shot at goal but his effort came back off the post and into the path of Matt Richie who blew a great chance with a shot wide of the target.

Bournemouth had another good chance in the 80th minute as Simon Francis looked to test Brad Jones from long range but could only send the ball past the post before Baily Cargill drew a strong save from Brad Jones with two minutes remaining as Liverpool held on for the win.

A fairly good performance from the Reds against a side who have high hopes of reaching the top flight and look good to do so this season while Liverpool will move their focus to tomorrow's huge clash at home to Arsenal at Anfield.