aku main bolaaaaaaaa!!!! part 2

assalamualaikum....hehe ni aku nak sambung citer aku balik..pasal sejarah aku main bola amatur ni hahaha..lepas aku pindah dari subang ke sarawak..aku langsung x dapat peluang nak main bola kat sana..sebab aku x de geng langsung pun kat sana....ye lah aku x dapat sekolah pun kat sana..macam mana nak wat kawan kan...aku x dapat sekolah pun sebab pejadah lancau yang jadi employer ayah & mak aku sekat macam2 kat parents aku..ceitt..aku pun malas nak citer panjang2 pasal benda tu..huhu..pendek katenye, aku & family duk kt sana 3 bulan je..bulan 11 dah balik semenanjung...Kl gak is the best hehe...

masa pindah tu family aku pindah masuk dalam rumah lama kitorang kat setapak indah tu....rumah tu dah lama dah beli tapi x pernah tinggal pun kat situ..sewakan kat orang je dah lebih 10 tahun...bila pindah masuk tu yelah, area baru...langsung x kenal kawan sorang pun....bilaaku masuk daftar kat SMK Setapak Indah tu ( tahun 2004 ni, aku masa tu form 3 hehe ) , aku macam rusa masuk kampung laa...cam blur je kat situ..hahaha..tapi 1st day tu dapat laa kenal dengan kawan2 kat sini...shahrul, fareez, kamal, hakim, idzwan , habib, amir, haziq...ramai lagi lah..aku ni memang suka buat kawan...hehekawan biar beribu , bercinta biar satu..hahahaha =)

anyway, kawan2 baru aku ni ajak laa aku gi join dorang main bola kat padang bola sebelah tanah perkuburan danau kota tu..aku pun ok je laa..petang tu aku gi laa padang tu..ternampak shahrul..dia pun ajak laa aku join main bola dengan dorang..masa tu ramai dah budak2 nak main bola kat situ..aku kenal yang geng2 aku tadi laa...yang lain aku x kenal...rupenye dorang2 ni sume pun 1 sekolah dengan aku..cuma kelas lain2 laa....masa ni laa aku kenal ijan, jay-jay, sulhi, ramai lagi lah..hehe..pastu kitorang pun start main bola...aku mula2 cam nervous laa gak..ye laa 1st time main bola dengan dorang ni...x tau ape nak expect..huhu..tapi dah main 15 minit cam ok je laa...boleh je ikut rentak dorang main hehe...lepas tu aku ade dapat satu peluang nak gol...aku memang x pandai nak gelecek2 orang ni, so aku just try shoot dengan kaki kiri je laa...tau2 je bola tu dah masuk celah2 tangan keeper tu ( aku x ingat nama mamat tu hehe )....aku rase cam best giler...geng2 aku sume panggil aku 'star' laa ape laa..tapi aku biase2 jek hehe....bila dah gol tu semangat pun dah naik laa...dah nak abis game tu, aku dapat satu lagi gol..ijan punye assist memang cantik..aku tinggal tap-in je bola tu....best dowh dapat main ngan playmaker macam ijan tu hehe...

tu laa 'debut' aku kat setapak indah tu..sejak hari tu, aku selalu je main bola dengan dorang2 tu kat padang bola tu...tiap2 hari dowh aku main bola..hehe best2....

lepas ni aku nak cerita pasal 1 game ni yang aku xkan lupa sampai bila haha...aku dapat 5 gol dalam game tu, pastu ada kawan2 aku shoot bola kena orang tua naik motor...sorang lagi shoot sampai bolat u termasuk dalam bas sekolah yang kebetulan lalu depan padang tu..haha bapak best giler...nanti2 aku cerita ye..hehe assalamualaikum =)

aku main bolaaaaaaaa!!!! part 1

aku suka sangat main bola..x kira laa main bola padang ke, futsal ke..semua aku main..aku ni memang gila bola laa hehe..hmm aku nak cerita macam mana aku boleh minat nak bermain bolani sebenarnye hehe...

aku ingat lagi masa aku darjah 1...aku masa tu sekolah kat SK pintas puding, kt parit raja, johor sana tu...huhu mase tu kitoran kan budak2 kecik lagi, so mane laa ade but bola lagi kan..aku ingat lagi kitorang selalu main bola dekat area parking untuk kereta2 cikgu hehe..bukan pakai bola pun, tapi pakai botol mineral yg kosong, tu laa jadi bola nye haha..tapi mase tu memang best..tiap2 hari masa rehat je, kitorang x makan pun, terus gi main bola..sepak2 botol tu..kejar2 botol tu..hahaha lawak2..cikgu banyak kali marah2 kitorang tapi pedulik ape kitorang kan..haha mase tu laa aku mula blajar cara main bola...

hehe..masa aku mula2 main bola, aku main defend je..ye laa nak jadi striker , x reti nak gol lagi aha..tapi bila darjah 2 je, aku cuba2 laa main striker..aku ingat lagi mase waktu PJ, kitorang main bola kat padang skolah laa...hari yang berejarah buat aku..sebab aku dapat jaringkan gol buat kali pertama dalam hidup aku hahahaha..gol tu pun nasib giler kot...aku ingat lagi si azhar ( mana ntah dia sekarang ) sepak corner kick, bola tu masuk dalam kotak penalti, pastu bola tu terkena betis aku..aku xtau pape pun, tengok2 bola tu dah masuk gol..aku pun jerit2 laa celebrate macam yang player2 luar negara buat tu haha..kawan2 lain pun kejar2 aku haha..best giler mase tu...

so aku pun terus laa bermain bola..hampir setiap hari laa aku main bola...masa rehat je kt sekolah, aku makan sikit je pastu aku terus gi main bola kat padang sekolah dengna geng2 aku tu...tapi aku nak cakap laa yang sebenarnya aku ni xlaa pandai sangat main bola pun..biase2 je..sepak pun melalut2 je hahaha..tapi semangat gak nak main jadi striker tu hahah...ade laa gak aku dapat gol mase tu..tapi kalau nak main jadi wakil sekolah memang x dapat laa..sebab aku memang x terer pun hahaha...

masa aku darjah 6, ade satu hari tu..skolah aku tu buat pertandingan bola sepak..lawan antara kelas2..kelas aku 6 mawar pun masuk gak..aku pun join laa team kelas aku ni...1st game lawan kelas 6 dahlia...mula2 aku x dapat main pun..jadi substitute je hehe..masa dah 2nd half tu ( dulu kitorang main setiap half 10 minit je ) dah 1-1 dah...pastu cikgu PJ kitorang tu suruh aku masuk ganti sorang kawan aku tu...aku pun gi laa main ngn penuh semangat nyer haha..pastu aku dapat 1 peluang nak gol tau..aku dah lari ke arah golkeeper dorang..tinggal aku dengna budak keeper tu je..aku x pandai nak wat skill ape pun, so aku rembat laa bola tu..pangg kena kepala keeper tu..pengsan budak tu..haha mesti kuat giler aku sepak bola tu..dah game tu dihentikan sebab nak gi rawat budak tu..kesian lak kat dia..last2 dia kena tukar ngan keeper substitute..last2 game tu seri 1-1...huhu lepas tu team kitorang seri sekali & kalah sekali..terus terkeluar dari pertandingan tu, sebab kitorang dapat nombor 3 je dalam kumpulan tu..huhu sedih2...

bila aku dah masuk sekolah menengah ni ( SMK sri gading ), aku macam stop main bola..cam x aktif sangat laa..ntah laa mase tu minat nak main bola cam xde lak..huhu tapi bila aku pindah masuk SMK Subang mase form 2...tiba2 aku rase nak main bola balik..so aku try laa join main bola sama2 dengan budak2 kat taman perumahan tempat family aku tinggal tu ( Taman Subang Perdana klau x silap aku laa )....mase aku join dorang tu, ye laa sebab x kenal lagi budak2 ni...mase main tu pun dorang x bagi bola sangat kat aku..last2 aku dapat jugak peluang nak gol tu..aku rembat laa bola tu ( dah tu xkan nak pegang bola tu lak kan hahaha )...mak aii terus masuk gol..aku pun lari2 laa celebrate macam orang gila..budak2 tu tengok je aku..haha macam kelakar lak mase tu..tapi dah lame2 tu aku kawan laa ngn semua budak2 tu...best main bola dengan dorang...hehe..mase aku kat situ, aku dapat ramai kawan..tapi aku paling kamceng dengan Ezareen..dia laa yang ajar aku macam mana nak main jadi striker..dia memang terer main bola..wakil sekolah lak tu..hehe...lama2 aku dengan dia selalu main bola sama2..kitorang jadi strike partner yangmantap..kadang2 aku pass bola kat dia pastu dia gol..lepas tu dia lak pass bola kat aku, aku lak yang gol..perghh memang best laa mase tu...bila main je, budak2 dari team lain mesti kata " kena jaga 2 orang nih!" haha....punye laa cuak dorang nak lawan team kitorang sebab ade aku ngan ezareen tu..hehe.....tapi aku duduk situ x lama..3 bulan je..family aku kena pindah lagi ke sarawak lak..sedih aku kena tinggalkan dorang semua..tinggalkan ezareen, my best friend & strike partner....nangis aku tau huhu...aku xkan lupakan semua kenangan aku main bola kat taman subang perdana ( april- julai 2003 ) huhu....

aku akan sambung balik cerita aku ni dalam post yang akan datang..tunggu sambungannye ok hehe..k chow dulu..assalamualaikum ;)

Aston Villa 1 Liverpool 0 ( English Premier League, 22 May 2011 )

Liverpool's Joe Cole ( in white ) challenging Aston Villa rightback Kyle Walker for the ball






Aston Villa duo Stewart Downing and Ashley Young have been on Liverpool's radar for some time and manager Kenny Dalglish witnessed first-hand their qualities as his side slipped to the defeat which ended their Europa League hopes.

Liverpool rarely troubled their hosts on an afternoon when Villa's two wingers provided the main attacking thrust.

Downing produced the one moment of quality with a deft touch and brilliant finish to decide the match in the first half as Dalglish's players appeared to run out of steam after a season which for some of them began in July in the Europa League.

It means Liverpool have failed to qualify for Europe for the first time since 1999, although many will see that as a blessing as it will give Dalglish a chance to concentrate on strengthening his squad and making a challenge to get back in the Champions League next season.

Dalglish appeared to already have one eye on the future by naming a bench which, the 31-year-old Christian Poulsen apart, had an average age of just over 19.

He also gave Joe Cole a chance to impress with his first start for two months but the England international failed to take it and he faces an uncertain future after just one season at Anfield in which he has failed to deliver.

Injured Reds captain Steven Gerrard was sat among the travelling supporters but he will have been less than impressed by a first half which was almost entirely devoid of quality or incident.

In fact, Downing's 33rd-minute goal aside it was difficult to single out anything else worthy of a mention.

Virtually substitute Marc Albrighton's first involvement having replaced Fabian Delph was to provide the right-wing cross which sailed over the defence to the unmarked Downing who took a touch before smashing a narrow-angle shot past Jose Reina via the underside of the crossbar.

Either side of that the story of the half was of niggling fouls, injuries and scrappy play.

Liverpool lost Jay Spearing barely 10 minutes into the game having been fouled moments earlier by Nigel Reo-Coker, who was booked, and was replaced by Jonjo Shelvey.

Jamie Carragher temporarily had to leave the field to have stitches in a head wound after a clash with Lucas Leiva, who came closest to scoring for the Reds with a shot from a Raul Meireles corner cleared off the line by Ashley Young.

Cole had a chance to atone for an anonymous opening 45 minutes when Lucas' lofted ball picked him out in the penalty area but he ballooned a shot well over.

The England international's disappointing afternoon was eventually ended in the 67th minute when he was replaced by David Ngog.

Just prior to that Raul Meireles should have done better when Luis Suarez's cut-back took out the sliding Kyle Walker and James Collins but former Liverpool goalkeeper Brad Friedel clawed out his shot.

Collins, substitute Gabriel Agbonlahor and Stiliyan Petrov all had chances to put the result beyond doubt as the hosts finished the stronger, with only Fabio Aurelio and Luis Suarez coming anywhere close for Liverpool.

Ashley Young's withdrawal minutes from the end saw the player, entering the last year of his contract, applaud all four sides of the ground in what looked like a farewell.

But even the prospect of losing one of their major stars could not dampen the delight of the home crowd, who could not decide whether they were happier at a first Villa Park win over the Reds since February 1998 or the demise of city rivals Birmingham.

Meanwhile Dalglish, heading into his first summer transfer window, has plenty to ponder after back-to-back defeats to end the season.

Big decisions need to be taken on some big names as he looks to revitalise his playing staff.

He may well have seen the future at Villa Park.

Aston Villa (1) 1 Liverpool (0) 0

Aston Villa Friedel, Walker, Collins, Dunne, Luke Young,Downing, Reo-Coker (Agbonlahor 68), Delph (Albrighton 28),Petrov, Ashley Young (Bradley 89), Bent.

Subs Not Used: Marshall, Pires, Heskey, Clark.

Booked: Reo-Coker, Walker.

Goals: Downing 33.

Liverpool Reina, Flanagan, Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio,Meireles, Spearing (Shelvey 12), Lucas, Cole (Ngog 68), Suarez,Kuyt.

Subs Not Used: Gulacsi, Wilson, Poulsen, Wisdom, Robinson.

Booked: Meireles, Cole.

Att: 42,785

Liverpool 0 Tottenham Hotspurs 2 ( English Premier League, 15 May 2011 )

Tottenham midfielder Sandro bringing the ball under control




Tottenham seized the advantage in the race for the final Europa League spot as Liverpool's first match since the appointment of Kenny Dalglish as permanent manager ended in defeat.

However, referee Howard Webb could have been accused of having a helping hand in deciding the outcome with a series of questionable decisions which culminated in the award of a very favourable penalty for the visitors' second.

Rafael van der Vaart's volley had given Harry Redknapp's side an early lead only for Liverpool to wrest back control of the game until 11 minutes after the interval when Webb controversially pointed to the spot and Luka Modric converted.

Spurs moved a point ahead of their rivals into fifth place as they inflicted a first home defeat for Dalglish, who signed a three-year contract on Thursday, since he replaced Roy Hodgson in early January.

That formidable home record - 20 points from eight matches prior to this encounter - counted for little as the visitors took the early initiative on their way to their first Anfield victory in 19 games stretching back to 1986.

Injury robbed Dalglish of midfielder Raul Meireles, which meant he had to break up the recent successful partnership of Luis Suarez and Dirk Kuyt and bring in fit-again club record signing Andy Carroll.

It undoubtedly had a detrimental effect as the £35million England international lacks the mobility and energy of Kuyt in a front two and denied the Reds the high pressing game they have employed of late.

Spurs enjoyed their extra time on the ball and put it to good use in the early stages, dominating possession.

Van der Vaart fired well wide early on but the next time he did not disappoint with his ninth-minute shooting opportunity.

When Modric's right-wing corner skimmed off the head of Martin Skrtel he brought the ball under control with his first touch and with his second volleyed it over the crowd - helped by a deflection off Glen Johnson - past Jose Reina's left hand and into the far corner of the net.

In recent weeks everything had gone right for the Reds, unbeaten in five with 17 goals scored, but the opposite was true on this occasion.

Tottenham's closing down and tight marking prevented the hosts producing the flowing pass-and-move football which has returned under Dalglish.

The only stroke of fortune they enjoyed was the leniency of referee Howard Webb, who chose to only book Suarez for his petulant kick at Michael Dawson while he was on the floor having been angered by the defender's apparent dive to win a free-kick.

Having been brilliant in front of goal in the last month the knack appeared to have deserted Liverpool as Carroll slashed wildly at Maxi Rodriguez's pass and failed to connect properly while midfielder Jay Spearing bundled a shot wide with his weaker left foot.

The same should not have been expected of Carroll though, who wastefully headed over from six yards from Skrtel's cross.

Suarez was closer with a free-kick which flashed just wide on the stroke of half-time but the Reds needed a change as distinctive as Dalglish swapping his tracksuit for jacket and tie at the interval .

Van der Vaart lasted just five minutes into the second half before limping off to be replaced by Jermain Defoe.

Anger at Webb's officiating reached a peak in the 55th minute when he penalised John Flanagan for a foul on Pienaar when the offence appeared to be both outside the penalty area and in favour of the home side.

Modric struck home the spot-kick to give Tottenham a two-goal cushion they barely deserved.

Liverpool surged forward, enraged at the perceived injustice, and Suarez fired over from Flanagan's low cross while substitute Jonjo Shelvey was narrowly off target with a long-range effort.

Chasing the game Dalglish sent on David Ngog for Rodriguez, giving his side every opportunity to score with four strikers on the pitch.

Carroll's ineffectual display meant he was lucky to still be on when he managed his first shot on target in the 87th minute but Carlo Cudicini held it comfortably and the target man immediately replaced by Joe Cole.

Having missed out on the Champions League the Europa League may be of some consolation for Tottenham, if they can better Liverpool's result next week.

There has been an argument put forward that both sides would prefer to miss out on Europe's second-tier competition to concentrate on their league form next season.

Having tasted his first home defeat, and only the fourth of his second spell in charge, Dalglish is unlikely to be in agreement.

Teams

Liverpool Reina, Flanagan, Carragher, Skrtel, Johnson, Kuyt, Lucas, Spearing (Shelvey 64), Maxi (Ngog 75), Suarez, Carroll (Cole 88).

Subs Not Used: Gulacsi, Kyrgiakos, Poulsen, Robinson.

Booked: Suarez, Flanagan.

Tottenham Cudicini, Kaboul, Dawson, King, Rose (Bassong 82), Lennon, Modric, Sandro, Pienaar (Kranjcar 90), Van der Vaart (Defoe 53), Crouch.

Subs Not Used: Pletikosa, Pavlyuchenko, Livermore, Bostock.

Booked: Sandro.

Goals: Van der Vaart 9, Modric 56 pen.

Att: 44,893

Fulham 2 Liverpool 5 ( English Premier League, 9 May 2011 )

Liverpool's Maxi Rodriguez ( number 17 ) shooting home the first goal after just 31 seconds




Liverpool may be about to be knocked off their perch by Manchester United, but they showed at Craven Cottage they might just mount a serious challenge for a 19th league title of their own next season by destroying Fulham.

The Reds made it 13 goals in their last three games and Maxi Rodriguez completed his second hat-trick over the same period, with Dirk Kuyt making it 12 goals in his last 13 matches for club and country and Luis Suarez wrapping up the rout.

The win moved Liverpool back above Tottenham into fifth place in the Premier League and left Fulham stunned as they paid the price for a horrible first 16 minutes which saw them 3-0 down.

The Cottagers threatened a comeback when Mousa Dembele pulled a goal back but they were 5-1 down before Steve Sidwell fired a late consolation.

If Jamie Carragher was worried his 666th appearance for Liverpool - moving him second on the all-time list - was a bad omen, he was in for a pleasant surprise.

It was Fulham who must have thought they were cursed as they endured calamity after calamity right from kick-off.

The first blunder came from Aaron Hughes, whose slip let in Suarez, with Carlos Salcido and Mark Schwarzer making a hash of the striker's left-wing cross and allowing Maxi to thread the ball home.

The shocking defending continued in the seventh minute as Chris Baird played Glen Johnson onside and the full-back crossed for Maxi to volley in from close range at the far post.

Liverpool were rampant, to the glee of the large travelling contingent, and Suarez saw a penalty appeal turned down before a absolute howler from Schwarzer made it 3-0.

There was little power in Kuyt's shot from just inside the penalty area but the goalkeeper allowed the ball to squirm underneath him at the near post, all but killing the game as a contest.

Suarez wasted a glorious chance to pull the ball back for Raul Meireles to make it 4-0 and Maxi volleyed over the top as Fulham's defending in wide areas continued to be non-existent.

Fulham - whose only threat had been a Dembele air shot - finally got going and Dempsey saw his half-volley from Simon Davies' corner cleared off the line by Johnson.

Home boss Mark Hughes threw on Bobby Zamora for Davies at the break and Liverpool suffered a blow when Raul Meireles appeared to pull a hamstring and was replaced by Jonjo Shelvey.

That came after a Fulham free-kick, which Zamora flicked on dangerously moments before Dempsey fired just over the crossbar.

Eidur Gudjohnsen also dragged wide as the home side created more in five minutes than they had in the opening 45.

And they deservedly pulled a goal back in the 57th minute when Martin Skrtel gave Zamora the chance to lay the ball off to Dembele, who curled home beautifully beyond Jose Reina.

The keeper was furious, belting the ball into the stands and earning himself a yellow card.

Hughes would have been cursing himself for not starting with Zamora.

Liverpool remained a threat on the break, particularly through the outstanding Suarez.

But it was Maxi who killed off any hope of a Fulham fightback with 20 minutes remaining, completing his hat-trick with a stunning 25-yard drive into the top corner.

Suarez made it another five-star performance for Kenny Dalglish's men when he raced onto Shelvey's through-ball and brilliantly rounded Schwarzer to prod home the goal his performance deserved.

The Uruguayan beat the offside trap again moments later only to blaze over the top.

Dembele was replaced by Gael Kakuta before Maxi left the field to a standing ovation, with Joe Cole coming on.

Fulham kept going and, with just under five minutes left, Sidwell pounced on a loose clearance and cracked a lovely 20-yard half-volley into the top corner.

Schwarzer saved brilliantly from Shelvey, Spearing had a shot cleared off the line and Kuyt's point-blank shot was blocked by Baird in stoppage-time.

Teams

Fulham Schwarzer, Baird, Hughes, Hangeland, Salcido,Davies (Zamora 46), Murphy, Gudjohnsen (Johnson 67), Sidwell,Dempsey, Dembele (Kakuta 76).

Subs Not Used: Stockdale, Senderos, Etuhu, Greening.

Booked: Murphy, Dempsey, Salcido, Sidwell, Baird.

Goals: Dembele 57, Sidwell 86.

Liverpool Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Flanagan,Maxi (Cole 82), Spearing, Lucas, Meireles (Shelvey 48), Suarez,Kuyt.

Subs Not Used: Gulacsi, Kyrgiakos, Wilson, Poulsen, Robinson.

Booked: Reina, Skrtel.

Goals: Maxi 1, 7, Kuyt 16, Maxi 70, Suarez 75.

Att: 25,693

Liverpool 3 Newcastle United 0 ( English Premier League, 1 May 2011 )

Liverpool midfielder Maxi Rodriguez ( in red ) volleyig in the first goal for Liverpool



Goals continue to flow at Anfield under Kenny Dalglish as Liverpool strengthened their claim for European football next season with a 3-0 victory over Newcastle.

The Reds, who have scored 14 in their last three home matches, moved above Tottenham into fifth place having rarely been troubled by the Magpies.

Dirk Kuyt's eighth in his last seven Barclays Premier League matches was sandwiched between another for Maxi Rodriguez, who hit a hat-trick in the 5-0 win over Birmingham last week, and one for the impressive Luis Suarez.

Only a goal for Andy Carroll, the subject of incessant abuse from the travelling fans, against his former club would have capped off the performance.

The £35million striker came on for the final 20 minutes but made little impact save for increasing the vitriol from the large away contingent.

Their anger at the way Carroll left them in January, with the club claiming he handed in a transfer request when made aware of Liverpool's interest, was understandable but he was never going to be a major player in this game having missed last week's victory with a knee injury.

The man who was the main reason Newcastle's record of just two wins at Anfield in their last 39 visits was not improved was Suarez.

Carroll's fellow deadline-day signing has made a much greater impression and his inventiveness and workrate were a constant problem to the Magpies.

But it took even him a long while to get things going as, having played their best football of the season in demolishing Birmingham, the first half failed to reach anywhere near those heights despite taking a 10th-minute lead.

Raul Meireles had already bundled a shot wide from a cross by Glen Johnson, returning at left-back after a three-match absence with a hamstring injury, before the hosts went ahead.

Even then they required a slice of luck. Teenager John Flanagan's deep cross was only half headed clear by Mike Williamson and Rodriguez's follow-up volley took a big deflection off Danny Simpson.

It went downhill from there for Dalglish's side as they conceded too much territory to their opponents, who enjoyed a sustained period of possession without really threatening.

It was briefly broken by Jay Spearing's dipping shot, which Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul claimed at the second attempt with Meireles bearing down on him.

The home side were fortunate, however, that for all their time on the ball Newcastle struggled to carve out a decent opportunity.

Liverpool-born midfielder Joey Barton was the Magpies' main culprit as his delivery from set-pieces was poor.

The one time he did put a free-kick into a dangerous area Johnson headed behind for a corner, from which Kevin Nolan subsequently ballooned a shot over.

Liverpool's only other chance of the half saw Lucas Leiva's looping header easily caught by Krul, while Newcastle left-back Jose Enrique, a summer target for the Reds, had the final opportunity with a free-kick deflected behind off the wall.

For the second half Liverpool's full-backs switched sides, with Flanagan having been given a difficult time by Jonas Gutierrez.

But the youngster was almost caught napping within seconds of the restart as Nolan's low cross was side-footed wide by Barton at the far post.

Luck was certainly on Liverpool's side as Suarez almost scored with a deflected shot which hit the side netting and Rodriguez hit the crossbar as he tried to centre from the left.

There was a hint of fortune about Liverpool's 59th-minute second when Suarez isolated Williamson wide on the left from Jose Reina's kick and was sent tumbling by the defender right on the edge of the penalty area close to the byline.

Referee Peter Walton, who had frustrated the home crowd with a number of decisions, had no hesitation in pointing to the spot to allow Kuyt to score.

The Holland international should have doubled his tally with a free header seven yards out minutes later but missed the target.

Suarez made no such mistake in the 65th minute when he exchanged passes with Kuyt to sidefoot under Krul from 10 yards.

With the game safe Dalglish sent on Carroll for Rodriguez with 20 minutes to go, just before Meireles' diving header was deflected behind by Fabricio Coloccini.

Carroll barely touched the ball as his side ran out comfortable winners and, despite having played one match more than Tottenham, Liverpool are strong contenders to take the Europa League berth.

Teams

Liverpool Reina, Flanagan (Shelvey 81), Carragher, Skrtel, Johnson, Meireles, Lucas, Spearing, Maxi (Carroll 69), Suarez (Cole 87), Kuyt.

Subs Not Used: Gulacsi, Kyrgiakos, Ngog, Robinson.

Booked: Flanagan.

Goals: Maxi 10, Kuyt 59 pen, Suarez 65.

Newcastle Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Jose Enrique (Ferguson 90), Barton, Nolan, Tiote, Gutierrez, Lovenkrands (Ranger 73), Ameobi (Kuqi 82).

Subs Not Used: Harper, Ryan Taylor, Steven Taylor, Tavernier.

Booked: Tiote, Williamson.

Att: 44,923

Liverpool 5 Birmingham City 0 ( English Premier League, 23 April 2011 )

Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt ( 2nd from left ) striking home the 2nd goal of the game for Liverpool





A Maxi Rodriguez hat-trick inspired Liverpool to their biggest win of the season and further prove, if anyone was still in doubt, that Kenny Dalglish is the man to lead the club forward.

The little Argentinian was not necessarily brilliant but just put himself in the right places to capitalise on some impressive team play by a side brimming with the confidence instilled by the 60-year-old Scot.

There were positives all over the field with Dirk Kuyt scoring his seventh goal in six league matches while even substitute Joe Cole, who has endured a disappointing maiden season, got among the goals with a late deflected effort.

Five goals and all this achieved without £35million record signing Andy Carroll, who was unavailable due to an injury sustained in last Sunday's draw at Arsenal which allowed Kuyt to move back up front.

Adaptability was the name of the game as the Reds adopted a midfield diamond formation to get the best out of Raul Meireles' attacking intent.

Crucial to making it work, however, were the superb Lucas Leiva at its base and Rodriguez and Jay Spearing.

Rodriguez is becoming something of a lucky charm for the side he joined in January 2010 as although his goals are few and far between - just seven in 49 matches - they have all coincided with victories.

He is more suited to the midfield set-up which Kenny Dalglish went with at the start but it also brought the best out of Spearing, who had a hand in the opening goal - although not as much as Foster in the seventh minute.

Kuyt's lay-off saw the 22-year-old midfielder fire in a swerving shot which the Birmingham goalkeeper spilled into the path of Rodriguez who made no mistake from close range for his first goal since December 3.

Birmingham briefly responded, without really threatening, before they were caught by a classic Liverpool counter-attack in the 23rd minute.

Jose Reina intentionally picked out Meireles just over the halfway line and he flicked on into the path of Luis Suarez who did well to hold off the challenge of Martin Jiranek.

Foster may have been at fault for the first but he saved well from the Uruguay international and again from Kuyt's follow-up but he could do nothing to prevent the Holland international getting up to slot home the rebound.

The England goalkeeper injured himself in the process and was replaced 10 minutes later by Colin Doyle, who watched one Kuyt header sail across goal and wide of the far post before gratefully clasping Suarez's shot to his chest just before the end of the half.

Almost unnoticed in all the pass-and-move mayhem Liverpool were creating was the performance of the Reds' teenage full-backs, 18-year-old John Flanagan on the right and Jack Robinson, a year younger.

The latter certainly did not look like a youngster making his first start after two substitute appearances 11 months apart when, in the opening minutes, he coolly dispossessed the far more experienced Alexander Hleb as Birmingham threatened an early attack having swept through the inside-left channel.

Having moved into a comfortable 2-0 lead Dalglish almost immediately reverted to more orthodox 4-4-2 formation to ensure Blues were afforded no way back.

Alex McLeish's side provided more of a challenge in the second half but were always chasing the game and their cause became a lost one in the 66th minute when Rodriguez scored his second.

Suarez was played onside by Carr, trailing slightly behind his defensive colleagues, and the forward raced onto Martin Skrtel's pass and crossed to the far post where Rodriguez side-footed home.

Rodriguez saved his best goal for last, collecting Suarez's 73rd-minute pass and shooting low at Doyle who half-saved his effort only for Meireles to force the ball back into the danger area for Rodriguez to convert.

There have not been many instances since his arrival when Suarez has been outshone and as if to remind people of his talents the Uruguay international produced an audacious behind-the-leg shot which would have really rubbed salt in Birmingham's wounds.

That honour was left to Cole who, within seconds of replacing Meireles, cut in from the right to hit a deflected shot past Doyle for the fifth.

While this result was a barometer of the confidence at Anfield it will have done little for spirits within the Birmingham camp, with the club still looking over their shoulders five points above the relegation zone.

Arsenal 1 Liverpool 1 ( English Premier League, 17 April 2011 )

Liverpool striker Andy Carroll ( in black ) pressuring Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny







Arsenal saw their Barclays Premier League title hopes all but extinguished after Dirk Kuyt secured a point for Liverpool with a last-gasp penalty just moments after Robin van Persie's own spot-kick had looked enough for victory.

The Gunners - now six point points behind leaders Manchester United having played the same number of games - had plenty of possession and hit the bar in the first half through Laurent Koscielny, but were unable to make their dominance count until deep into eight minutes of stoppage time when van Persie crashed home a spot-kick.

However, Liverpool - who had earlier seen captain Jamie Carragher carried off following a nasty clash of heads - snatched a point with the final kick of the match after Emmanuel Eboue had pushed Lucas Leiva.

While the match ended in high drama, before kick-off there was a minute's silence in memory of late Arsenal director Danny Fiszman, who passed away following a battle against cancer and also remembering the 96 Liverpool supporters who died 22 years ago this week in the Hillsborough tragedy.

The sale of Fiszman's holding in the Gunners' parent company led to American Stan Kroenke crossing the takeover threshold, but it remains to be seen whether the Denver-based entrepreneur will be able to complete his proposed £730millon buyout.

When the action got under way, Arsenal - unbeaten in 14 matches and yet to lose in 2011 - started well, with Abou Diaby glancing a header wide from Samir Nasri's curling free-kick.

Arsenal were careless in possession far too often, with Liverpool quick to capitalise on the break.

The hosts sparked into life, though, after 12 minutes when Theo Walcott stung Pepe Reina with a fierce 25-yard drive which the Reds keeper spilled and van Persie hooked the loose ball back across an open goal, which was headed behind.

From van Persie's right-wing corner, Laurent Koscielny got up above the Liverpool defence and in front of Reina to crash a header against the bar.

Liverpool were forced into a change on 21 minutes when full-back Fabio Aurelio limped off with a recurrence of his hamstring problem, replaced by 17-year-old Jack Robinson for a second senior appearance.

Luis Suarez's slip allowed van Persie and Cesc Fabregas to open up the Liverpool defence, but the Arsenal skipper drilled his 20-yard shot wide.

Liverpool were being pegged back, with Walcott firing a low ball in from the right which was booted behind.

It continued to be one-way traffic with Liverpool defending deep, but Arsenal could not find a telling pass in the final third.

In first-half stoppage time, Eboue's angled drive at the near post was deflected across the face of goal and away.

It was again a bright opening by Liverpool after the restart. Suarez created space for himself at the edge of the Arsenal penalty area, but dragged his shot wide.

There was a scare for the visitors when Andy Carroll went down after twisting his knee and ankle when challenging for a loose ball in the box. After some treatment, though, the £35million England man was back in the action.

Reds skipper Carragher then appeared to have been knocked unconscious after a clash of heads with John Flanagan, sparking more anxious scenes on the visitors bench as the medical staff from both teams attended.

The former England defender was eventually carried off on a stretcher, his neck in a brace and given oxygen. Sotirios Kyrgiakos came on as a substitute.

With 20 minutes left, Carroll was replaced by Jonjo Shelvey before Arsenal made a double change when Jack Wilshere and Walcott were replaced by Nicklas Bendtner and Andrey Arshavin, the Russian making his 100th appearance for the Gunners.

Wojciech Szczesny got down well to beat away an angled shot from Suarez as Liverpool looked to snatch all three points.

Reina made a decent block when van Persie was played into the left side of the Liverpool area, before at the other end, Suarez spooned his shot high and wide in space at the near post.

Because of the injury to Carragher, there were some eight minutes of stoppage time, and just when that seemed to be running out, Fabregas went tumbling over Jay Spearing's leg and this time, the referee pointed to the spot.

Van Persie stepped up to send Reina the wrong way and seemingly keep Arsenal in the title hunt.

However, there was more late drama after Alex Song tripped Lucas right on the edge of the area.

Suarez's free-kick went into the wall, but Eboue then pushed over Lucas to conceded another stoppage-time spot-kick which Kuyt dispatched.

It proved the last action of an amazing end to the game, which leaves Arsenal all but out of the title race and left a dejected Arsene Wenger confronting the officials - and opposite number Kenny Dalglish as they walked off.

Teams:

Arsenal Szczesny, Eboue, Koscielny, Djourou, Clichy, Diaby (Song 81), Wilshere (Bendtner 72), Walcott (Arshavin 72), Fabregas, Nasri, van Persie.

Subs Not Used: Lehmann, Squillaci, Gibbs, Chamakh.

Booked: Eboue, van Persie.

Goals: van Persie 90 pen.

Liverpool Reina, Flanagan, Carragher (Kyrgiakos 62), Skrtel, Aurelio (Robinson 21), Kuyt, Spearing, Lucas, Meireles, Suarez, Carroll (Shelvey 70).

Subs Not Used: Gulacsi, Cole, Maxi, Ngog.

Booked: Flanagan, Skrtel, Shelvey, Lucas.

Goals: Kuyt 90 pen.

Att: 60,029

Ref: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).

Liverpool 3 Manchester City 0 ( English Premier League, 11 April 2011 )

Manchester City winger Adam Johnson ( in blue ) trying to get past Liverpool leftback Fabio Aurelio








Andy Carroll repaid the first chunk of that massive £35million price tag as he scored two of the goals that helped Liverpool condemn Manchester City to their worst possible preparation for Saturday's FA Cup semi-final.

A disastrous evening for the Blues that put their top-four hopes in the balance was made worse as Carlos Tevez suffered a hamstring injury that seems certain to rule him out of the Wembley showdown with old club Manchester United.

None of this will bother Carroll.

Signed as the replacement for Fernando Torres, the 22-year-old has got his name on the scoresheet before the Spaniard has netted for his new club Chelsea.

In a superb all-round performance, he dominated City defender Vincent Kompany in a manner the Belgian has not experienced all season, lashed home a first in quite brilliant fashion after only 12 minutes and added another when Aleksandar Kolarov's header bounced off the Geordie and into the net.

Between those two, Dirk Kuyt also struck leaving City beaten, bruised and wondering what fate has in store for them against their neighbours at the weekend.

With a favourable run to the end of the season, the Blues must have felt as if a decent result on Merseyside would have allowed them to confidently look ahead to Champions League combat next season.

Not in their worst nightmares could they have imagined what was about to unfold.

With Torres in Manchester ahead of Chelsea's Champions League clash with United at Old Trafford and Edin Dzeko in Roberto Mancini's starting line-up, three players who cost a combined fee of £112million during the January transfer window were within a 35-mile radius.

That they had not scored a combined Premier League goal between them has been a subject of intense debate.

By half-time, Carroll had two.

The first was a beauty.

Luis Suarez had already seen a shot touched onto the post by Joe Hart when Raul Meireles let fly with a long-range shot that crashed into Kompany.

The ball ricocheted straight to Carroll, whose first-time effort was hit with far too much power for Hart to keep it out.

Anfield erupted. Yet it was only the start.

When Kompany got himself in the way of a Fabio Aurelio effort, he could only divert the ball across the area, straight into the path of Kuyt, who sent a precise finish into the bottom corner.

As a shellshocked City struggled to clear their heads, Liverpool struck again.

This time Meireles swept a cross to the far post after young full-back Dedryck Boyata had lost possession deep inside his own half.

Kolarov won the aerial duel with Carroll but it was a measure of City's evening that the Serb merely headed the ball against the man he was marking, from where it looped into the net.

For City boss Roberto Mancini, it must have felt like the sky had fallen in as, just for good measure, it started chucking it down too before half-time.

Yet potentially, the worst moment of all came in the minutes after Carroll's opener when Tevez pulled up with what he indicated was a hamstring injury.

The South American gave the signal for a pull as he made his way off the field. Mario Balotelli was immediately introduced. City's stunned fans could only hope it was a precautionary move. The reality seems certain to be rather more depressing.

Kuyt came agonisingly close to twisting the knife a little bit deeper when he flicked a header narrowly wide of the City goal at the start of the second period.

Given they were in the process of amassing 13 points against the current top four, it did beg the question why Liverpool have been performing quite so badly against the Premier League's lesser lights.

That was a reflective point though.

Mancini is the one who needs to find answers quickly as he enters the most important spell of his short Eastlands tenure.

James Milner, normally one of the most level-headed players, reacted with obvious anger when he was replaced by David Silva with less than an hour gone.

Not that there was any noticeable improvement from the Blues, with Balotelli producing a typically enigmatic display before suffering the ignominy of becoming a substituted substitute as Nigel de Jong was introduced.

Yaya Toure brought a decent save out of Pepe Reina with a 35-yard thunderbolt.

Carroll almost had the last word when he looped a header onto the roof of the net before departing to a standing ovation just before the end.

Teams

Liverpool Reina, Flanagan, Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio, Kuyt,Lucas, Spearing, Meireles, Suarez, Carroll (Ngog 90).

Subs Not Used: Gulacsi, Cole, Maxi, Wilson, Shelvey, Robinson.

Booked: Aurelio.

Goals: Carroll 13, Kuyt 34, Carroll 35.

Man City Hart, Boyata, Kompany, Lescott, Kolarov, Barry,Toure Yaya, Milner (Silva 59), Tevez (Balotelli 16),Adam Johnson, Dzeko, Balotelli (De Jong 83).

Subs Not Used: Taylor, Zabaleta, Wright-Phillips, McGivern.

Att: 44,776

Ref: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).

West Bromwich Albion 2 Liverpool 1 ( English Premier League, 2 April 2011 )

Liverpool atriker Luis Suarez ( in red ) being pressured by West Brom's Paul Scharner







Chris Brunt's second-half penalty double enabled West Brom to win the battle of Liverpool managers past and present at The Hawthorns.

Current Reds manager Kenny Dalglish saw Martin Skrtel head his side in front five minutes into the second half.

But his predecessor, Roy Hodgson, was indebted to Brunt for initially levelling matters from the spot and then scoring the 88th-minute winner.

Albion were worthy of their victory and are now unbeaten in five games under Hodgson.

They had the game's most potent attacker in Peter Odemwingie while Youssouf Mulumbu anchored the midfield effectively.

Luis Suarez again showed flashes of his quality for the Reds but Andy Carroll had a quiet game after scoring his first England goal in midweek against Ghana.

Liverpool were the first to settle and almost went ahead after two minutes.

Carroll won a header from a Raul Meireles corner and the ball fell to Dirk Kuyt whose close-range effort was blocked by Scott Carson.

Kuyt was first to react to the rebound and his shot clipped the top of the bar.

Carroll appealed in vain for a penalty after a challenge by Baggies central defender Jonas Olsson.

Liverpool suffered a setback after six minutes when Glen Johnson pulled up with a hamstring injury when trying to close down Brunt.

He was replaced by Sotirios Kyrgiakos who went into the middle of the back four with Daniel Agger replacing Johnson at left-back.

Kuyt dragged a low shot wide after Suarez had turned the ball into his path.

Brunt tried to catch Jose Reina out with a low 35-yard free-kick but the keeper was alert to the situation.

Liverpool received another injury blow after 25 minutes when Agger hobbled off with what appeared to be a knee setback to be replaced by Danny Wilson in a straight swap at left-back.

Paul Scharner became the first player to be yellow carded after 27 minutes for a foul on Jay Spearing.

Carroll followed him into Martin Atkinson's notebook late after a challenge on Steven Reid inside the Baggies box.

Reina was brought into meaningful action for the first time to cling on to a Reid header from Brunt's deep free-kick.

Wilson was yellow carded after bringing down Odemwingie two minutes before the interval.

Albion began the second half brightly and Reina parried away a well-struck drive from Cox.

But Liverpool broke the deadlock after 50 minutes through Skrtel's second goal of the season.

Carroll won a corner after his shot on the turn was tipped over by Carson at full stretch but he was well beaten by Skrtel's header from the resulting cross by Meireles after he had outjumped Scharner.

Carson then had to be alert to block a swerving shot from Kuyt after he had ran unopposed into the Albion box.

The home side tried to regroup and Reina went down to hold Brunt's left-footed shot.

Then after 62 minutes Brunt brought Albion level from the penalty spot.

Kyrgiakos was adjudged to have brought down the impressive Odemwingie inside the box and Brunt sent Reina the wrong way from the spot.

It was the third goal of the campaign for the Northern Ireland international.

Odemwingie was a constant menace to Liverpool and Reina did well to turn aside a fierce drive.

Hodgson made his first substitution after 74 minutes with Marc-Antoine Fortune replacing Cox.

Liverpool skipper Jamie Carragher made a crucial block on Odemwingie's powerful shot.

Then Odemwingie flashed a shot across the face of goal after being found in space by Fortune.

A minute late Brunt put the Baggies ahead with his second penalty of the game.

Odemwingie shook off the challenge of Kyrgiakos and then was brought by Reina.

Up stepped Brunt to hammer the spot-kick past Reina.

In injury-time Nicky Shorey headed off the line from Suarez.

Teams:

West Brom: Carson, Reid, Meite, Olsson, Shorey, Scharner, Mulumbu, Brunt, Cox (Fortune 74), Thomas (Jara 90), Odemwingie.

Subs Not Used: Myhill, Cech, Pablo, Vela, Zuiverloon.

Booked: Scharner, Thomas.

Goals: Brunt 62 pen, 88 pen.

Liverpool: Reina, Carragher, Skrtel, Agger (Wilson 24), Johnson (Kyrgiakos 8), Kuyt (Cole 87), Spearing, Lucas, Meireles, Carroll, Suarez.

Subs Not Used: Gulacsi, Maxi, Ngog, Poulsen.

Booked: Carroll, Wilson, Reina.

Goals: Skrtel 50.

Att: 26,196

Ref: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).

Sunderland 0 Liverpool 2 ( English Premier League , 20 March 2011 )

Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt ( in black ) with Sunderland's Phil Bardsley chasing him from behind


Dirk Kuyt and Luis Suarez fired Liverpool to victory at Sunderland as the Reds made amends for their beachball disaster on Wearside last season.

Kuyt set the visitors on their way with 33 minutes gone when he converted a hotly-disputed penalty, and Suarez completed the job with 13 minutes remaining.

But the Black Cats trudged off the pitch on the final whistle hugely aggrieved at the penalty decision with defender John Mensah, who was later shown a straight red card for a professional foul on Suarez, appearing to trip Jay Spearing outside the box.

However, while they may have had reason to feel hard done by, Steve Bruce's men were rarely a threat despite enjoying the greater share of possession, and Reds goalkeeper Pepe Reina did not have a save worthy of note to make until he plucked substitute Lee Cattermole's long-range effort out of the air four minutes from time.

Liverpool were much more effective despite £35million man Andy Carroll enduring a quiet afternoon on his league debut for the club, and home goalkeeper Simon Mignolet had to pull off good saves from Kuyt, Suarez and Spearing to keep the scoreline respectable in front of a sell-out crowd of 47,207.

Sunderland went into the game having ended a run of four consecutive league defeats with a hard-earned point at Arsenal a fortnight ago, and with Danny Welbeck back in the starting line-up and skipper Cattermole on the bench after injury, there was genuine optimism on Wearside for a repeat of last season's victory over the Reds.

That day, of course, they enjoyed the most outrageous slice of good fortune when Darren Bent's shot found its way into the back of the net with the help of a deflection off a beachball.

This time around, they had plenty of luck, but all of it bad.

By the time 22 minutes had elapsed, Bruce had been forced to use two of his three substitutes as first Sulley Muntari and then Kieran Richardson limped off.

To their credit, the home side were not unduly affected as Cattermole, playing for the first time since December 28, and Steed Malbranque were drafted in and Stephane Sessegnon and Welbeck were particularly lively.

However, despite enjoying the better of the possession, the Black Cats created little of note before the break with Welbeck's 17th-minute cross from the left which just eluded Richardson as close as they came to troubling Reina.

By contrast, the visitors struggled to get the ball anywhere near Carroll and Suarez, the latter of whom spent much of his time wide on the right, where he was largely effectively shackled by full-back Phil Bardsley.

However, it was they who created the better opportunities with Kuyt the main beneficiary.

Keeper Simon Mignolet bravely blocked the Dutchman's fifth-minute shot at point-blank range after Carroll had headed down Raul Meireles' corner, and Kuyt headed over from the resulting set-piece.

It was he who eventually broke the deadlock, but he did so in controversial circumstances.

Mensah's poor control allowed Spearing to burst towards the penalty area, and the Ghana international brought him down in his efforts to make amends.

Replays suggested the contact had taken place outside the area and referee Kevin Friend pointed to the spot on the advice of his assistant.

Kuyt sent Mignolet the wrong way to give the visitors the lead, and it might have been 2-0 before the break had the Belgian not got down well to palm away Suarez's well-struck 37th-minute effort.

Malbranque miskicked when presented with a 48th-minute half-chance after Jordan Henderson had worked a short corner move with Anton Ferdinand as Sunderland started the second half brightly.

However, the game might have been over three minutes later had Cattermole not managed to block Carroll's header on the line with his knee after the striker had been allowed to meet a Meireles corner unmarked.

The same pair could have put the result beyond doubt with 54 minutes gone when, after Mr Friend had allowed play to continue when Titus Bramble felled the striker, the midfielder fired over the top.

There was fury inside the Stadium of Light when the official then awarded the free-kick, which Suarez curled just wide.

Substitute Ahmed Elmohamady saw a header and then a follow-up shot blocked from Jordan Henderson's 65th-minute corner, but the points were safe with 13 minutes when Suarez squeezed his way into the box and blasted past Mignolet from a seemingly impossible angle.

A bad day for the Wearsiders took a further turn for the worse with 81 minutes gone when last man Mensah hauled Suarez down and was promptly shown a straight red card.

Teams

Sunderland Mignolet, Ferdinand, Bramble, Mensah, Bardsley, Sessegnon, Henderson, Muntari (Cattermole 19), Richardson (Malbranque 22), Welbeck (Elmohamady 60), Gyan.

Subs Not Used: Gordon, Zenden, Colback, Onuoha.

Sent Off: Mensah (82).

Booked: Mensah, Cattermole, Bramble.

Liverpool Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Agger, Kuyt, Meireles (Maxi 84), Lucas, Spearing, Carroll (Ngog 72), Suarez (Cole 89).

Subs Not Used: Gulacsi, Kyrgiakos, Poulsen, Wilson.

Booked: Lucas, Kuyt, Suarez.

Goals: Kuyt 34 pen, Suarez 77.

Att: 47,207

Liverpool 0 Sporting Braga 0 ( Europa League 3rd round 2nd leg, 17 March 2011 )

Liverpool striker Andy Carroll ( in red ) tussling with Braga's Paulao


Liverpool exited the Europa League with a whimper after a goalless draw at home to Braga, dealing a blow to their hopes of returning to the competition next season.

Trailing 1-0 from the first leg of their last-16 tie, even a first start for record signing Andy Carroll could not turn things around as the visitors employed every trick in the book to hang on to their advantage.

The Reds have not failed to qualify for Europe since 1999 but having lost the chance of entering as defending Europa League champions, they must now look to their domestic form.

However, they trail fifth-placed Tottenham by six points and have played one match more, and it will take an impressive run of results for them to reel in the Londoners.

With Liverpool low on creativity and even shorter on chances, the watching Reds owner John Henry, who sanctioned the £35million January purchase of Carroll, must have left wondering just how much it costs to buy a goal at this level.

The 22-year-old striker had his moments but very few were in areas in which he could utilise his talent.

Liverpool's defence looked for him at every available opportunity - although sometimes he was not necessarily the best option - and his aerial prowess was soon in evidence.

An early flick-on put Joe Cole through on the left of the area and his shot was parried by Artur back into the path of the former Newcastle striker but his shot was deflected behind.

Carroll headed behind Raul Meireles' corner and it was only set-pieces which really presented him with anything approaching a chance.

Too often the England international was asked to win long diagonal balls 30 yards out with his back to goal.

Liverpool's supposed wide players - in truth the Reds have lacked genuine width for a long time - Cole and Maxi Rodriguez never got themselves into what could be described as threatening positions in which to deliver crosses for Carroll to attack.

The big front man soon discovered everything would not go his way, though, as he was penalised when Paulo Cesar pushed him into Miguel Garcia at another Meireles corner.

Danny Wilson's unfamiliarity at left-back was often exploited by Alan, the goalscorer in Portugal last week, but aside from Rodrigo Lima's drilled 35-yard shot straight at Jose Reina, making his 300th appearance, they were content to soak up the pressure.

However, the methods the Portuguese side used to frustrate their opponents, rolling around on the floor to waste time, required a firm hand and Italian referee Gianluca Rocchi was found desperately wanting as he allowed the game to get away from him before half-time.

Rocchi had no option but to get his cards out soon after the interval when Carroll, frustrated by Paulao's attempts to shepherd the ball out of play, swung a wild tackle at the defender and both players were booked.

Liverpool's first chance of the second half fell to Meireles when Dirk Kuyt crossed to the penalty spot but the Portugal international looped his header well over.

Tension was beginning to grow inside Anfield and the impact of Carroll, watched by England manager Fabio Capello who had arrived from watching Manchester City exit the competition earlier in the evening, was starting to wane.

As the match entered its last quarter Glen Johnson finally put in a dangerous cross but Meireles was just short of reaching it.

One late Carroll header appeared destined to find the net from a Meireles corner only for Kuyt to get in the way in the six-yard area.

That just about summed up his - and Liverpool's - night as they went out of the competition despite not losing a home match in Europe all season.

Teams

Liverpool Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Wilson, Maxi (Spearing 76), Lucas, Meireles, Cole (Ngog 75), Carroll,Kuyt.

Subs Not Used: Gulacsi, Pacheco, Kyrgiakos, Poulsen, Flanagan.

Booked: Carroll, Skrtel, Meireles.

Braga Artur Moraes, Miguel Garcia, Paulao, Rodriguez, Silvio, Alan, Leandro Salino (Mossoro 89), Vandinho (Kaka 73), Hugo Viana, Paulo Cesar, Lima (Meyong 84).

Subs Not Used: Cristiano, Helder Barbosa, Dani, Peterson.

Booked: Paulao, Vandinho.

Att: 37,494

Sporting Braga 1 Liverpool 0 ( Europa League 3rd round 1st leg , 10 March 2011 )

Liverpool's Joe Cole ( in black ) with Braga's Salino







Liverpool failed in their attempts to equal a club record 14-match unbeaten run in Europe with a 1-0 defeat against Braga in their last-16, first-leg Europa League tie in Portugal.

The location of the AXA Stadium is no stranger to displays of hard labour, having been carved into the face of the former Monte Castro quarry.

But Kenny Dalglish's side were so devoid of movement at times they appeared to be taking inspiration from the huge chunks of rock still visible at one end of the unique ground.

They lacked pace and creativity without injured captain Steven Gerrard and the ineligible livewire forward Luis Suarez, who was instrumental in terrorising Manchester United in Sunday's 3-1 victory.

Even a European debut for £35million record signing Andy Carroll after half-time could not turn things around after Brazilian Alan had converted a 17th-minute penalty.

The omens were there from the start with a side featuring three defensive midfielders - albeit with Jay Spearing patrolling the right side of a 4-2-3-1 - which still never looked comfortable or particularly solid.

They spent much of the opening quarter of an hour chasing possession, although the hosts never came close to threatening Jose Reina's goal.

They were just getting into their stride, however, and in the 17th minute when Mossoro raced onto a through-ball to the right of the penalty area he was brought down by Sotirios Krygiakos' mis-timed tackle.

The spot-kick was expertly slotted away by the Brazilian, who must have one of the least exotically-sounding names of all his countrymen.

Raul Meireles was given a hard time by Braga fans on his return to his homeland, having moved to Anfield from nearby Porto.

He had a rare shooting opportunity from a 25-yard free-kick but drilled his effort into the wall.

Pressure was growing on Liverpool though and centre-back Kaka, almost lived up to the reputation of his more illustrious namesake when he attempted a cheeky shot from a narrow angle after taking a corner but drilled the ball into the side-netting.

Left-back Silvio went even closer with a thunderous 35-yard volley which beat Reina but rattled back off the crossbar.

The visitors were crying out for some creativity and pace to be injected and to that end all seven substitutes were sent out to warm-up during the interval.

Ten minutes after the restart Carroll was sent on for Christian Poulsen, with Spearing dropping back into central midfield and Meireles moving to the right.

His early involvement saw him head over Meireles' corner, although he was adjudged to have committed a foul in the act, and then had a shot deflected for a corner.

Carroll's arrival certainly livened things up, with Braga unable to handle his aerial power; Liverpool's problem was they were not proving him with decent enough crosses to threaten the hosts' goal.

When Meireles did whip one in from the right it was Dirk Kuyt who controlled it and volleyed over the crossbar.

The closing stages became increasingly scrappy as the Reds pushed for an equaliser.

Carroll continued to win headers with confident regularity but they were mostly in non-threatening positions from Reina's long punts up field, with absolutely no service coming from either flank with Cole cutting a particularly inconsequential figure.

Braga by no means look like a side who will pose a significant danger at Anfield in a week's time but Liverpool's greatest problems are of their own making.

They have scored once in five away matches in Europe this season. Their home record is much better, and they need it to be if they are to turn things around.

Teams

Braga Artur Moraes, Miguel Garcia, Kaka, Rodriguez, Silvio,Leandro Salino, Hugo Viana, Alan, Mossoro (Paulao 69),Paulo Cesar (Helder Barbosa 90), Lima (Meyong 77).

Subs Not Used: Cristiano, Dani, Peterson, Anibal.

Booked: Kaka.

Goals: Alan 18 pen.

Liverpool Reina, Carragher, Skrtel, Kyrgiakos, Johnson,Poulsen (Carroll 57), Lucas, Spearing, Meireles, Cole, Kuyt.

Subs Not Used: Gulacsi, Pacheco, Maxi, Wilson, Ngog, Flanagan.

Booked: Poulsen.

Att: 12,991

Liverpool 3 Manchester United 1 ( English Premier League, 6 March 2011 )

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez ( in red ) running away from Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes










Liverpool's fully deserved 3-1 victory over Manchester United at Anfield may not ultimately prevent their arch-rivals surpassing the Reds' 18 league titles at the end of the season.

It has, however, dented Sir Alex Ferguson's side's hopes of a straightforward run-in and at the same time restored some pride for the Reds after two defeats at Old Trafford already this campaign.

Dirk Kuyt grabbed the headlines with a first Liverpool hat-trick against United since Peter Beardsley's in September 1990, before Javier Hernandez headed an injury-time consolation - but there were many more who deserved the plaudits.

Tireless livewire Luis Suarez had a hand in all three goals while Lucas Leiva and Raul Meireles produced impressive midfield performances.

The afternoon was capped off with a long-awaited debut for £35million record signing Andy Carroll after more than two months on the sidelines with a thigh injury.

For United their second-choice central defensive partnership of Wes Brown and Chris Smalling, deputising for the suspended Nemanja Vidic and injured Rio Ferdinand, never looked comfortable on an afternoon when very few of visiting team reached anywhere near the exacting standards Ferguson demands.

They still remain top of the table, and it is difficult to bet against them being in that position come May, but two defeats in five days - having lost at Chelsea in midweek - leave plenty of questions to be answered.

While Carroll had claimed all the adulation prior to kick-off, when the action got going it was his fellow January arrival Suarez who had an effect where it mattered most.

The Uruguay international, a £22.7million transfer from Ajax, had one early effort prodded at Edwin van der Sar but that was merely a precursor to a piece of brilliance to set up the opener.

When he collected the ball on the left of the penalty area his route to goal was blocked by a number of opponents but his quick feet saw him weave past Rafael, Michael Carrick and Wes Brown on his way to the byline.

From there he squared the ball through Van der Sar's legs to present Kuyt with a tap-in from just inches.

Suarez could claim to have had a hand in the next one too - but the main credit had to go to Nani, who had a defensive aberration.

The Portugal international inexplicably headed the Uruguayan's cross back into his own six-yard area where Kuyt gleefully nodded in.

Liverpool's lead was fully deserved but it had been United who had come closest to scoring prior to Kuyt's 34th-minute strike.

Dimitar Berbatov, scorer of a match-winning hat-trick in their Old Trafford league encounter, volleyed Wayne Rooney's knockdown against the outside of Jose Reina's right-hand post.

The rivalry between the teams, England's dominant pairing over the last four decades, was evident in the closing stages of the first half.

Jamie Carragher, switched to right-back after Fabio Aurelio went off injured, was lucky to escape with just a booking after a reckless shin-high tackle on Nani.

After the ensuing melee Nani departed on a stretcher, replaced by Javier Hernandez, and Van der Sar was cautioned.

Rafael also benefited from referee Phil Dowd's leniency after a high challenge on Lucas Leiva earned him, and Martin Skrtel for his retaliation, a booking.

The second half began with United, not unexpectedly, having their best spell and for 20 minutes it appeared a goal was imminent.

Ryan Giggs, breaking Sir Bobby Charlton's record of 606 league appearances, met Rooney's cross with a first-time shot which whistled just over the crossbar to serve as a warning that the game was far from finished.

Meireles had to clear off the line for the second time in the match to prevent Berbatov's close-range header going in while Giggs curled an 18-yard free-kick over.

More gaps were appearing in the visitors' defence, though, and when Kuyt put Meireles clean through Van der Sar came to the rescue by palming his angled shot away.

The Dutchman was at fault in the 65th minute, however, when he spilled Suarez's free-kick and his compatriot knocked in the rebound.

Carroll's long-awaited debut arrived in the 74th minute when he replaced Meireles to a rapturous reception and his first touch was a goalbound header.

Kuyt's supreme confidence saw him attempt a 25-yard volley which screamed wide while Gerrard twice hit low shots either side of each post.

Hernandez scored a late headed consolation from Giggs' cross in added time but it hardly raised a cheer among the visiting fans.

West Ham United 3 Liverpool 1 ( English Premier League, 27 February 2011

Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva ( in white ) tackled by West Ham's Mark Noble






West Ham produced arguably their best display of the season to haul themselves back off the bottom of the Premier League and all but end Liverpool's faint Champions League hopes.

Goals from Scott Parker, Demba Ba - rapidly developing into one of the signings of the January transfer window - and Carlton Cole secured a 3-1 win at Upton Park and kept the pressure on the Hammers' relegation rivals.

Glen Johnson pulled one back for Liverpool but their late rally was in vain as their revival under Kenny Dalglish suffered its first major setback.

The defeat left the Reds eight points behind fourth-placed Tottenham having played a game more, while Avram Grant was able to celebrate a result that moved the Hammers level on points with fourth-bottom Wolves.

The hosts certainly did not lack for confidence in the opening moments, Thomas Hitzlsperger - making his Premier League debut for the club - unleashing an outrageous 40-yard volley that flew into the arms of Jose Reina.

A minute later, Raul Meireles looped a header wide from the fit-again Steven Gerrard's pinpoint 50-yard ball before Martin Skrtel was booked for tripping Frederic Piquionne in full flight.

Meireles also fired straight at Robert Green, Gary O'Neil's shot hit a Liverpool defender and Glen Johnson saw a header from a corner blocked before the game settled down.

A Hitzlsperger rocket was again too close to Reina before Parker showed the kind of precision his team-mate had been lacking to give West Ham a 22nd-minute lead.

He and Hitzlsperger played a neat one-two on the edge of the box and Parker floated a delightful finish right into the far corner with the outside of his foot.

Dirk Kuyt hit the side netting from 20 yards following a lightning Liverpool break when team-mates were arguably better placed.

The recalled Piquionne then sent a wicked ball across the six-yard box, which just evaded Ba.

Liverpool struggled to respond, Luis Suarez repeatedly coming off second best in his personal battle with the impressive James Tomkins.

Right-back Martin Kelly's low drive was too close to Green as the interval approached, while Mark Noble curled a free-kick wide at the other end.

Liverpool suffered another blow when Kelly pulled a hamstring and was replaced by Joe Cole, Dalglish switching his formation from 5-3-2 to 4-4-2.

That was not the end of their woes, with the unmarked Ba powering home a header on the stroke of half-time from O'Neil's cross.

Liverpool began the second half on top but nevertheless made a quick change when David Ngog came on for Meireles.

With Wolves having won 4-0 yesterday, West Ham needed another goal to climb out of the drop zone and Ba almost provided it when he drilled inches wide from 25 yards.

Tomkins, Piquionne and Ba were all close to connecting with a corner as the home side hit back.

But they had Green to thank for preserving their two-goal lead when Suarez finally beat Tomkins with a quick turn and unleashed a rising drive which the goalkeeper tipped behind.

Piquionne missed a glorious chance to kill the game when he glanced Noble's corner wide midway through the half but West Ham's commitment was summed up when Parker threw himself in front of a goalbound Gerrard shot.

Gerrard was making his presence felt and Green tipped a dipping volley over the bar from the England star.

Reina had to be equally alert to beat Ba to the ball from a Hammers break but he almost produced an absolute howler when he spilt Piquionne's shot goalwards before recovering.

It was all Liverpool at this stage and Grant responded by withdrawing Piquionne for Jonathan Spector after Cole had mishit a volley for the visitors.

But the Reds' pressure paid off six minutes from time when Suarez crossed for Johnson to tap into an unguarded net.

West Ham ran down the clock by bringing on Cole for Ba - although time-wasting was the last thing on the substitute's mind as he left Skrtel in a heap and drilled home at Reina's near post in stoppage-time.

There was still time for Suarez to test Green again but the points had already been lost.


Teams


West Ham Green, Jacobsen, Tomkins, Upson, Bridge, O'Neil, Parker, Noble, Hitzlsperger, Ba (Cole 88), Piquionne (Spector 82).


Subs Not Used: Boffin, Reid, Boa Morte, da Costa, Hines.


Goals: Parker 22, Ba 45, Cole 90.


Liverpool Reina, Kelly (Cole 43), Carragher, Skrtel, Wilson, Lucas, Meireles (Ngog 49), Johnson, Gerrard, Kuyt, Suarez.


Subs Not Used: Gulacsi, Kyrgiakos, Maxi, Spearing, Poulsen.


Booked: Skrtel.


Goals: Johnson 84.


Att: 34,941

Liverpool 1 Sparta Prague 0 ( Europa League last-32, 2nd leg ), 24 February 2011

Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt ( in red ) vying for the ball





Dirk Kuyt headed a late winner to snatch a 1-0 victory in Kenny Dalglish's first European tie as Liverpool manager.

Kuyt finally broke the resistance of a determined Sparta Prague side with the only goal of a testing Europa League affair five minutes from the end of the second leg at Anfield.

Both sides had squandered numerous chances in a scrappy round of 32 encounter but Liverpool's superior quality was eventually rewarded by the hard-working Kuyt.

David Ngog, Joe Cole and Raul Meireles had also gone close in front of a sell-out 42,949 crowd which further underlined the gathering momentum of Dalglish's new regime.

Sparta, backed by 3,000 of their own raucous fans, contributed fully to an eventful, if low-quality, clash but were eventually undone as Kuyt profited from a late corner.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, absent for the two previous games with a groin injury, was not risked and his dynamism and precision was missed throughout.

Christian Poulsen, whose partner had a baby earlier in the week, made little impact in a central role while Cole, starting for the first time under Dalglish was quiet on the left.

The former Chelsea midfielder looked determined to kickstart his faltering Reds career, however, and broke clear early on to send over a looping cross which clipped the bar.

The opening stages were lively and suggested the game, which ultimately lacked quality, would be far more eventful than the drab first leg.

Liverpool appealed for a penalty in the second minute when a Meireles free-kick bounced and caught Manuel Pamic on the hand but nothing was given.

At the other end Libor Sionko headed over from a Kamil Vacek cross and a dipping shot from Vaclav Kadlec narrowly missed the target.

Both goalkeepers were tested by headers, Jose Reina first claiming a firm effort from Sinoko.

Sotirios Kyrgiakos then went close to handing Liverpool the lead when he rose to meet a Meireles corner but Jaromir Blazek saved well to his right.

Reina had a scare when he failed to claim a corner but Sionko was unable to take advantage and Meireles missed a good chance when he scooped a cross from the rampaging Martin Kelly over.

Blazek had an uncomfortable moment when he spilled a long-range shot from Cole, who had cut in from the left, but Liverpool could not capitalise.

Ngog tried his luck from distance as the ball dropped invitingly but miskicked as he turned to shoot.

The Frenchman had a better chance moments later as Kuyt cut inside to tee him up but the Frenchman chipped tamely at Blazek, who almost gifted a rebound opportunity to Cole but recovered.

Lucas also saw a 25-yard shot drift narrowly wide just before the interval.

Liverpool were forced to withdraw one of the first half's better players in Kelly at the start of the second period, but were able to replace the right-back with the experienced Jamie Carragher.

The hosts started brightly after the restart with Meireles volleying narrowly wide and then creating another attack with a superb long ball for Kuyt.

Kuyt raced on into the area and pulled back for Ngog but the lone striker again fluffed his shot.

Sparta also continued to threaten but Reina got down well to cut out a cross from Ondrej Kusnir.

Liverpool met more frustration as they tried to prise an opening with Kuyt having a shot blocked and Cole heading wide midway through the second half.

The Reds pressed further with Meireles playing in Ngog but Blazek denied him.

Kyrgiakos was forced off for treatment after a clash of heads with Tomas Repka left him with a nasty cut above the eye.

He returned just as defensive partner Daniel Agger was forced off with injury and replaced by Martin Skrtel.

Kuyt, along with Meireles, had been one of Liverpool's most forthright players in the second half and his efforts were rewarded with his winner.

The Dutchman jumped above the defence five minutes from time to head firmly past Blazek and put the Reds into the last 16.

Cole should have added a second when he raced through on goal in injury time but sliced his shot wide.


Teams


Liverpool Reina, Kelly (Carragher 46), Kyrgiakos, Agger (Skrtel 85), Wilson, Poulsen (Spearing 65), Lucas, Kuyt, Meireles, Cole, Ngog.


Subs Not Used: Gulacsi, Pacheco, Jovanovic, Maxi.


Booked: Kelly, Poulsen, Carragher, Lucas.


Goals: Kuyt 86.


Sparta Prague Blazek, Kusnir, Repka, Brabec, Pamic (Keric 90), Vacek, Sionko (Podany 73), Matejovsky, Abena (Pekhart 78), Kadlec, Kweuke.


Subs Not Used: Zitka, Kladrubsky, Zeman, Husek.


Booked: Pamic, Matejovsky, Kweuke.


Att: 42,949

Sparta Prague 0 Liverpool 0 ( Europa League last-32, 1st leg ) , 17 February 2011

Liverpool's Glen Johnson 9 (in white) trying to clip in a cross







Kenny Dalglish waited 9,394 days to get the chance to manage Liverpool in Europe but after a turgid Europa League goalless draw against Sparta Prague he must have wondered why he looked forward to it so much.

The 59-year-old missed out on continental competition in his first spell as Reds boss because of the ban on English clubs after the Heysel disaster.

Despite the significance of his debut, this last-32 first-leg match in the Czech Republic is unlikely to live long in Dalglish's or anyone else's memory.

Goalkeeper Jose Reina was Liverpool's best - and busiest - player with a few good saves, but even then he was not severely tested.

The visitors' play was disjointed and lacked a cutting edge but crucially they kept a clean sheet and Dalglish will be hopeful next week's home leg, when captain Steven Gerrard should be available after a groin problem, will provide greater satisfaction.

In the biting cold of the Generali Arena the game never really got going and although Liverpool tried to gain control by holding on to possession they never managed to make any ground by doing so.

In fact, it was Sparta who created the few chances, most of which were created from wide positions as full-backs Ondrej Kusnir, on the right, and the particularly effective Manuel Pamic advanced at regular intervals.

That was in contrast to Liverpool's two wide defenders, with Glen Johnson, back in his more familiar right-sided role, and Danny Wilson, a centre-back playing on the left, rarely getting the opportunity to go forward.

Pamic gave Johnson problems in the first half and almost capitalised to great effect in the 17th minute.

Martin Abena slid a pass inside the England defender and Pamic raced into the penalty area to drill a low shot from a narrow angle which Reina parried to safety.

Even the normally unflappable Spain international was not immune to the general untidiness which littered Liverpool's play and when he could only parry Kusnir's deep cross into the path of Pamic he was relived to see the defender blaze over with his weaker right foot.

Sotirios Kyrgiakos was next to the Reds' rescue, putting in a diving block to halt former Reading midfielder Marek Matejovsky's shot as it travelled goalwards.

With a lack of central midfielders, having left Gerrard and expectant father Christian Poulsen at home, the last thing Dalglish needed was to see Fabio Aurelio forced off with an injury in the first half.

It prompted a reshuffle with Raul Meireles withdrawn from his advanced role, from where he had scored five goals in six previous matches, to allow Joe Cole to come on.

The second half was little different from what had gone before except for Liverpool enjoying slightly more possession.

But the successful passing game which had been so evident in their six-match unbeaten Barclays Premier League run never really got going.

Sparta continued to pose the greater threat, however, and Leony Kweuke headed just wide from range on the hour.

Liverpool's best chance came with 20 minutes to go when Lucas Leiva's lofted pass picked out Johnson on the right of the penalty area.

He weaved inside but instead of shooting with his left foot - with which he has scored some screamers from range - he opted for the outside of his right and poked the ball past the far post.

The match was held up for a couple of minutes after a flare let off by Sparta fans behind Reina's goal clouded the pitch in thick smoke and there would have been few complaints had it blanked out the rest of the game.

When play did resume Reina had to be alert to stop Kweuke's shot on the turn from a corner, while Matejovsky's 25-yard effort curled just wide of the goalkeeper's right-hand post.

Dalglish switched to a back three for the last six minutes, with Slovakian Martin Skrtel receiving a predictably hostile welcome from the Czech crowd when he replaced Ngog.

Kamil Vacek almost snatched a winner with a long-range strike which whistled past the upright but Liverpool held on for a clean sheet which makes life slightly easier for them in a week's time.

Teams:

Sparta Prague Blazek, Kusnir, Repka, Brabec, Pamic, Keric (Sionko 73), Vacek, Kadlec (Zeman 89),Matejovsky (Pekhart 90), Abena, Kweuke.

Subs Not Used: Zitka, Podany, Bondoa, Husek.

Booked: Repka.

Liverpool Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Kyrgiakos, Wilson, Kuyt, Lucas, Maxi, Aurelio (Cole 38), Ngog (Skrtel 84), Meireles.

Subs Not Used: Gulacsi, Pacheco, Jovanovic, Kelly, Coady.

Booked: Ngog, Cole.

Att: 17,564

Liverpool 1 Wigan Athletic 1 ( English Premier League, 12 February 2011 )

Liverpool's Raul Meireles ( in red ) firing home the first goal


Liverpool's ambitions of staging a late charge for Champions League qualification suffered an untimely blow as bogey side Wigan ended their four-match winning run in a draw at Anfield.

A fifth successive victory would have put the Reds within four points of fourth-placed Chelsea but despite dominating two-thirds of the game they failed to press home their advantage.

Raul Meireles impressed once again, extending his remarkable goalscoring spree to five in his last six matches, but at the other end Jose Reina's goal was breached for the first time in 463 minutes when Steve Gohouri prodded home from close range.

However, another positive note for Reds boss Kenny Dalglish was January signing Luis Suarez, on his first start since joining from Ajax.

He showed why the Merseysiders parted with £22.8million with a display full of energy, invention and determination.

Had the Uruguay international enjoyed more fortune his side would have won the game, having had a shot to make it 2-0 rebound off a post before the interval and a second-half free-kick cannon back off the crossbar.

Wigan, to give them credit, enjoyed a good spell after the interval which culminated in their goal and ensured Liverpool's record against them now stands at just two victories in their last seven meetings.

Suarez was into the action early, having a fourth-minute shout for a penalty turned down after a quick counter-attack from a corner and combining well down the right with Dirk Kuyt, who himself had a shot from the edge of the penalty area which had Ali Al Habsi grasping to hang on at the second attempt.

But the Wigan goalkeeper could do nothing about Liverpool's opener in the 24th minute as Meireles continued his scoring run.

Fabio Aurelio's cross from the left byline was partially deflected by the head of Gohouri but only as far as the Portugal international 16 yards out and he smashed home a right-foot volley .

Three minutes later Suarez almost doubled the lead with a manoeuvre reminiscent of the now-departed Fernando Torres.

He wriggled his way into the left edge of the penalty area before opening his body to shoot right-footed past Al Habsi only to see the ball rebound off the far post.

The Uruguayan was a willing outlet for Liverpool and Gohouri was booked on the half-hour for clattering into the back of him.

Wigan were in danger of being overwhelmed as Meireles continued to find space in and around their penalty area, blazing over from range on one occasion.

The closest the Latics came to producing a response was when winger Charles N'Zogbia fired in a low free-kick which Reina claimed easily late in the first half.

Meireles was replaced by David Ngog four minutes into the second half, with the Portugal midfielder heading straight down the tunnel to receive treatment.

But Suarez showed no signs of fading in only his second match since December 8 and Antolin Alcaraz had to resort to a foul to prevent him racing into the penalty area, for which he was booked.

But Liverpool's inability to seize complete control of the game and score a second gave the visitors hope and the threat of an equaliser turned into a reality in the 65th minute.

N'Zogbia curled an inswinging left-footed cross from the right which found its way to Gohouri who stabbed home from two yards out at the far post.

There was a suspicion of offside but it was only relevant if Alcaraz had got the slightest of touches on the way through and it was impossible to tell.

That was the first goal Reina had conceded in five matches and it threatened to undermine all Liverpool's previous hard work in putting together a run of four successive victories.

Suarez continued to impress and when Caldwell fouled him on the edge of the area in the 77th minute he picked himself up to curl a shot over the wall but onto the crossbar.

The Uruguayan, seemingly almost single-handedly at times, tried desperately to find the winner but found Latics captain Caldwell in particularly resolute form.

Aurelio fired a shot just over, which was followed by Martin Skrtel's header in added time as the hosts failed to find a way through.

The result put a check, for now, on lofty ambitions to break back into the top four but despite dropping points Dalglish will still harbour hopes they can still pose a challenge later in the season.

Unfortunately for Wigan, they remain in the bottom three.

Teams:

Liverpool Reina, Kelly, Carragher, Skrtel, Johnson, Maxi, Lucas, Meireles (Ngog 54), Aurelio, Suarez, Kuyt (Jovanovic 73).

Subs Not Used: Gulacsi, Pacheco, Kyrgiakos, Wilson, Poulsen.

Booked: Carragher.

Goals: Meireles 24.

Wigan Al Habsi, Gohouri, Gary Caldwell, Alcaraz, Figueroa, N'Zogbia, Watson (McArthur 72), McCarthy, Diame, Moses (Cleverley 67), Rodallega.

Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Di Santo, Steven Caldwell, Gomez, Stam.

Booked: Gohouri, Alcaraz, Gary Caldwell.

Goals: Gohouri 65.

Att: 44,609