Source: SKY_Sports
Missing the point
Hull 1-3 LiverpoolSoccer Saturday analysis[LNB] Matt Le Tissier could not fault Hull for spirit but told Soccer Saturday Liverpool fully deserved to triumph at the KC Stadium.[LNB]A Dirk Kuyt double helped the Reds to a 3-1 victory as the relegation-threatened Tigers worked hard for a point but came up short.[LNB]The home side's cause was undermined by a controversial Xabi Alonso goal and Caleb Folan's second-half sending off, but Le Tissier never doubted Rafael Benitez's men would come through despite Deiberson Geovanni's 72nd minute strike.[LNB]"I would say Liverpool were in control for the majority of the game," said Le Tissier, "but they were a little bit fortunate to take the lead just before half-time because the free-kick that referee Martin Atkinson awarded was never a free-kick.[LNB]"Javier Mascherano tripped over his own legs, threw himself to the ground, the referee's fallen for it, up steps Alonso, and the game changes in that moment.[LNB]"Liverpool had good chances up to that point while Hull had probably only created a couple of half-chances and didn't really threaten too much.[LNB]"In fact, the only time they really threatened was after they went 2-0 down and down to 10-men. They got the goal back and then they really piled everyone forward.[LNB]"It was a bit like watching Stoke for 10 minutes because they were throwing everything into the box and Liverpool eventually broke away. On the whole Liverpool deserved the three points."[LNB]AliveLe Tissier singled out Kuyt, who now has 13 goals in all competitions this season, and Yossi Benayoun for special praise after the final whistle.[LNB]"Martin Skrtel had a shot from the edge of the box; he hit it into the ground and the ball bounce up but Kuyt was alert and alive to the fact.[LNB]"It was going wide but he's gambled and got in there and nodded it down and then in the last minute there was a shot that rebounded back off the goalkeeper and again he was sharp in the box and kept his composure well. He did very well again."[LNB]He added: "Benayoun was very influential, especially early on in the game. His feet are brilliant, he looks a lad full of confidence at the moment and he is going to be a pivotal player for Liverpool if they are going to go the rest of the season unbeaten."[LNB]SwipeHull appeared to have little hope of salvaging anything from the game when Folan saw red just after the hour mark - a dismissal Le Tissier felt was justified.[LNB]"He could have no complaints; he might suggest that Skrtel deliberately obstructed him from chasing the ball down but once he had got in his way, Forlan pushed him to the ground and then just taken a swipe at him.[LNB]"The referee was left with no other option and a red card was exactly the right thing to do.[LNB]"I couldn't question Hull's spirit; they worked their socks off in the first-half, especially, and closed down Liverpool very quickly. There was not a great deal of quality, it has to be said, in terms of creating chances, but in terms of spirit then they will have a chance of staying up."[LNB]
