Steven Gerrard scored two first half goals after Hull had taken a quick 2-0 lead to ensure the reds got at least a point from this game, another draw at Anfield that should have been all three points.
Robbie Keane found himself back on the bench, and Dossena kept his place over Insua. Hyypia returned to the back line in place of Agger. The reds once again opting for a 4-2-3-1 formation after the mid-week attacking adventure of 4-4-2.
Far be it for little old me to be critical of this, but at home – against weaker opposition – we have already seen countless times this season that this formation is nowhere near adventurous enough. The substitutions were baffling – no throwing caution to the wind. Babel replacing Riera who had been very effective, and a last minute change of Lucas for Mascherano. Bizarre stuff.
But back to the game.
Hull are a decent attacking side and it was refreshing to see a side coming to Anfield and making a game of it. It wasn’t refreshing seeing them go ahead with a header after they out-jumped Dossena and then doubling their lead when Dossena was turned by Mendy, allowing a cross right across the face of our goal which Carragher promptly put in to his own net.
As is usual, the reds suddenly decided they were in a game and it was Gerrard who scored two quick goals to pull the reds back in to the game. A Kuyt cross landed for Gerrard who fired in from inside the penalty box. Minutes later and Benayoun turned a pass Gerrard’s way who fired the equaliser home.
Liverpool had opportunites to get the third before half time but some stout defending from Hull kept the reds at bay.
The reds dominated the second half from start to finish but the quality up front was notably absent. Keane warmed up and down the touchline but El Zhar, Babel and even Lucas we’re sent on in his place.
It wasn’t to be and time ran out from Liverpool who dropped another 2 points in the title race. The reds are still top – but are unlikely to be by the end of the weekend.
Post Match Reaction
Rafa Benitez
“We showed character to come back and scored some good goals. But we couldn’t play the final pass properly and the game was too open.
“The game was a little bit too frenetic and you have to be able to control things a lot more in these games.
“I was really pleased with the first few minutes. But we conceded two goals and everybody was a little bit nervous after that.
“It can make a massive difference when you score first, but the reaction of the team was very good when we went two goals down.
“They were a threat playing on the counter-attack. We know that teams like this will try to be organised and play in this way.
“We made too many mistakes. These are the kind of games that you have to win. We are disappointed, but we cannot change anything.”
Teams
Liverpool: Reina, Dossena, Hyypia, Carragher, Arbeloa, Riera (Babel 82), Alonso, Mascherano (Leiva 87), Benayoun (El Zhar 75), Gerrard (captain), Kuyt,
Subs not used: Agger, Ngog, Cavalieri, Keane
Goalscorers: Gerrard (24, 32)
Yellow Cards: Hyypia, El Zhar, Alonso
Hull City: Myhill, McShane (Marney 25), Turner, Zayette, Ricketts, Barmby (Windass 77), Ashbee (captain), Boateng (Halmosi 67), Mendy, King.
Subs not used: Warner, Garcia, Cousin, Stelios
Goalscorers: McShane (12) Carragher OG (22)
Yellow Cards: McShane, Marney
Referee: A Wiley
Watch the goals here
Match Thread and post match discussion here
Match Stats
Liverpool Possession: 67%. Shots: 27 (On target = 5 ). 435 accurate passes. 67 bad passes.
Hull Possession: 33% Shots: 11 (On target = 3). 156 accurate passes. 39 bad passes.
Updated League Season Comparison
It’s frustrating that we drew another supposed silly game at home, but in fairness we absolutely annihilated Hull at times during this game and could have easily been 4-2 up at half time. I can see the argument for starting or at least bringing on Keane, but to be honest 4 goals in all comps is harldy a good return on £20m worth of striker. In addition, the man that played in the position where Keane would have played ended up scoring both of our goals (half of Keane’s tally for the season). The only other position Keane could have occupied was that of Kuyt and he had a hand in both goals. Lets face it, Robbie Keane is not good enough for Liverpool. We can talk and talk about his movement, and willingness to run and work hard, but lets face it, if you were playing for Liverpool would you give anything less than your own blood, sweat and tears? I always get nervous when fans start saying ‘we’ve got the new Dalglish’. Harry Kewell was the last one and I don’t need to tell you how that one ended up. We need to drop our obsession with journeymen and start buying some quality. Crouch, Pennant, Keane, Bellamy. They’ve all got a few things in common. They’ve all had more clubs than Nick Faldo and they’ve all failed miserably when they’ve had to step up at Liverpool. Do we really want Emile Heskey back?
Ok everybody says why rafa hesitate to use 20mil Keane I am abslutely agree with the idea but my question to Rafa is why he dont want to use Bable as a stiker and also how he can show his potential with only 10min left on the field. If i were on Rafas position,on saturday’s game with Hull city, i will substitute Benayoun by Bable then switch Kuyt to the righ and let Bable play at the front. You know why i said that on our final champions league game(with chelsea 2007/2008) he scored a magnifiesent goal on Peter Chec at that game he substituted,i think Torres, He showed he is good at front and also on carlling cup games too….. Please dont let him go RAFA. Let him play the place that he wants to.
It beggars belief that we are still in the title race after Chelsea slipping up again.
Questions must be asked over Rafa’s team selection again, indeed questions also have to be asked over Rafa’s ability to take this team forward.
I cannot believe the team he started against Hull.
Were was Insua (had a very good game against Blackburn)
Playing with one out & out forward at home??? (Kuyt only)
Technically playing with two holding midfielders against Hull (Alonso & Mascherano)
Insisting on playing Gerrard behing a lone stricker??? Went Torres is not playing, we should forget this and play with two up front and Gerrard out right.
Arbeloa is not the answer at right full, time to give Stephen Darby a game, especially in the home games against poor teams.
The subs were a joke also. Reira had his best 10 minutes of the game before been hauled off. Babel should have replacing Benni and Keane replacing Kuyt with at least half an hour to go.
In summary i am seriously worries that Rafa has not the foresight to deliver and will always fall short in these games.
What about this for a starting team???
Reina
Darby
Insua
Hyppia
Carragher
Gerrard (RM)
Reira (LM)
Alonso (DM)
Babel (CM)
Keane (S)
Kuyt (F)
I agree with what most are saying here, Keane should have been on from the start, he had a great game against PSV, Ok he didnt score but the passing, holding one, two`s, he was man of the match, he needed to be on this weekend for his own confidence as much as anything else, not even getting a run out must have set him right back again, He is a good player, better than Benayoun and Ngog, I often wonder what on earth is Rafa thinking, He should have hung on to Crouch
Robbie Keane would have scored at least one given the same chances Kuyt had and also benayoun had chances that Keane would have put away?
Cumon Rafa lets have a go we can see it why cant you!
i am so disappointed.how can we loose these games?what should we do if chelsea win the game today?
I give up…….
No quality when it came to finishing,kuyt and benayoun well below par.where was ngog?
Why spend nearly £20 million on keane and not use him?
Why is rafa so stubborn thats 4 points out of 12 at home,stoke fulham west ham and now hull city..
Without spurs and boro doing us a favour yesterday ! and you know chelski will do the business today
Well another point at home – it is really difficult to remain so positive – as we are top of the league (by two points now) but what is wrong with Rafa? We have a £20 mil striker on the bench but will bring on Lucas – a holding midfielder!!!
My opinion (and thank god I am not a manager) would to have brought on Keane for Benayoun (who all of a sudden is playing after his spat at the press about wanting to leave – let him go ffs) switch Kuyt to the right and push Gerrard between the midfield and strikers – honestly does that seem silly?
We see scores like Villa getting 4 – I cant ever even begin to imagine us ever scoring 4 against would should be easy teams…fulham, stoke, west ham and hull included.
I am not sure that Keane was a good purchase for us but a striker he is, so why not play him? Babel wants to go (hope he doesnt) and Benayoun wants to go (let him) – but sometimes seems Rafa has a fixed set of subs he wants to use and he seems un-dynamic…Look at Kuyt for instance – a very (sorry to say – dumb footballer) – he knows two routes – one to try and take on the player and the other is to hit backwards – there doesnt seem to be any intelligence there – a floating ball for instance, a hold and run towards goal, a one-two…have recently read Carra’s book and feel the same as he does – not enough players who would give everything for the shirt.
Very frustrating but still pleased to be top – and the best has not even started yet for us – the Chelsea games was the best by far.
We wait on awe of the Gerrard and Torres link up.
Oh no not again possession galore, defensive lapses – with good subs we could have nailed this. N’Gog should have come on as sub he has pace and a smart game – see how he threaded that ball through the keepers legs the last game.