POST MATCH & DISCUSSION: LIVERPOOL 0 - Hull 0 (25/10/2014, Anfield) Mario Balotelli suffered another frustrating day as his Liverpool team were held at home by Hull City. The striker missed an injury-time effort and had a shot saved, but remains without a Premier League goal since his £16m move from AC Milan. Dejan Lovren had a header cleared off the line by Hulls Ahmed Elmohamady. The Tigers had opportunities but Jake Livermore shot at Simon Mignolet, with Tom Huddlestones deflected effort also going narrowly wide for the visitors. Balotelli had been criticised during the week after swapping shirts with Real Madrid defender Pepe at half-time in the Reds 3-0 Champions League defeat. But manager Brendan Rodgers put his faith in the former Manchester City striker and was nearly rewarded inside 11 minutes when the Italians powerful effort from a tight angle was pushed wide by Hulls third-choice keeper Jakupovic. Balotelli, who was also booked in the second half, had a late chance to win it, but failed to connect with the ball from close range. The result means Liverpool, Premier League runners-up in 2013-14, are eight points behind leaders Chelsea, who have played a game fewer. But for Steve Bruces workmanlike Hull it was another hard-earned point, their fifth draw of the season, after holding Arsenal 2-2 at Emirates Stadium last week. They also had chances to steal a win and Livermore should have done better than shoot at home keeper Mignolet when unmarked in the penalty area. Mohamed Diame, who had scored four times in five games after joining from West Ham, also dragged a shot off target, before Huddlestones effort bounced off Martin Skrtel and narrowly wide. Liverpool - coming off the back of successive league wins, despite their patchy early-season form - had the majority of the possession and chances, and were unlucky not to take an eighth-minute lead, when Elmohamady was well placed to clear Lovrens header off the line from Steven Gerrards corner. The Reds captain curled an effort wide after a one-two with Raheem Sterling and the teenage England winger had a low 20-yard shot saved by Jakupovic. The hosts brought on Rickie Lambert, Philippe Coutinho and Jordan Henderson as they searched for a winning goal to match their second-half dominance, but could not make the breakthrough. Sterlings injury-time effort was scooped wide by Jakupovic, who then made a stunning save to tip Coutinhos 20-yard effort over as Bruces side held on for the draw.
Posted on: Sat, 25 Oct 2014 16:31:59 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015