Blackpool 2 Liverpool 1: King Kenny is all at sea after diving DJ Campell sinks Reds

13 January 2011 13:06
After one wave ofthe magic wand thatKenny Dalglish saysis in the possessionof Fernando Torres,Liverpool appeared to beback.[LNB]It was as if a light had beenswitched on, a Blackpool illuminationyou might say, and it produceda goal of sheer brilliance after threeminutes here at Bloomfield Road. [LNB]A trademark strike from Torres anda goal that suggested the once-sensationalSpaniard would do for Dalglishwhat he had not done for RoyHodgson. It was only his secondgoal away from home all season. [LNB]Nowwatch highlights of the action at Bloomfield RoadLevel-headed: Gary Taylor-Fletcher scores Blackpool's equaliser[LNB]Then, however, came the realitycheck. Then came the kind ofnonsense that cost Hodgson hisjob and will make this a tough fewmonths for the man who hopesto turn his temporary appointmentas Liverpool managerinto a permanent one.[LNB]If his side continue to defendlike this, it will take more than amagic wand to keep Dalglish in ajob although, if they continue todefend like this he might just beglad to return to a more leisurelyexistence with wife Marina.[LNB]Dive bomb: Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina is beaten by diving header from DJ Campbell[LNB]He would not have enjoyed this.Not when his side contrived tosurrender their advantage withinnine minutes with an equaliser fromGary Taylor-Fletcher before aformer forklift truck drivercondemned them to their second loss of the season to a side thatcontinues to impress under theguidance of Ian Holloway.[LNB]To remind DJ Campbell of the jobhe did when he wasn't scoring cupgoals for Yeading is a little unfair,given how successfully he hasadapted to the demands of theBarclays Premier League.[LNB]But for Dalglish it remains ameasure of how far Liverpool havefallen. They deserved to suffer theirfirst defeat here since 1954, and to aclub that was in the old fourthdivision when Dalglish walked awayfrom the then English champions20 years ago. [LNB]Peace sign: Gary Taylor-Fletcher marks goal with tribute to Richard Butcher, the popular Macclesfield midfielder who died this week[LNB]And while Dalglish can take somecomfort in the knowledge that itwill be better when Steven Gerrardand Jamie Carragher are not watchingfrom the stands, he will bealarmed to realise just how littlequality there is in his squad beyondthe senior Scousers, even if Liverpooldid have a reasonable claimfor a late penalty when Craig Cathcartappeared to handle the ball. [LNB]Against Charlie Adam, DavidVaughan and Taylor-Fletcher, outstandingonce again for Blackpool,players like Christian Poulsen,Milan Jovanovic, Raul Meireles and Lucas were embarrassed and wouldhave been more so had Pepe Reinanot made some excellent saves.[LNB]It all began so well for Dalglish.Even the decision to leave MartinKelly at right back and deploy GlenJohnson on the opposite flanklooked like a masterstroke. With hisnew assistant, Steve Clarke, alongsidehim, Dalglish must have beenfeeling pretty pleased with himself. [LNB]Hot shot: Fernando Torres scores Liverpool's first goal[LNB]It was Kelly who timed his deliveryto perfection in the third minuteand so allowed Torres to burst intoBlackpool's penalty area with onlyRichard Kingson to beat.[LNB] It was awonderful finish, given how tight anangle he left himself, but the Spaniardowed much to the weight ofKelly's pass.Off the bench with arms aloft,Dalglish celebrated as though hehad scored it himself. [LNB]Sadly, however,the sense of elation did notlast long, the equaliser coming asmuch because of Liverpool's recklessness as Blackpool'sflair and tenacity.It started with a loose pass fromMeireles that went straight toVaughan and continued when DanielAgger failed miserably to stopthe advancing Taylor-Fletcher afterthe Blackpool winger had seized onVaughan's pass. [LNB]Work to do: New Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish and his No 2 Steve Clarke[LNB]Mindful, perhaps,of the penalty he was so unfortunateto concede at Old Trafford onSunday, Agger was far too hesitantin making a challenge and before heknew it his opponent had guided aneat finish beyond Reina. [LNB]Taylor-Fletcher used the goal to paytribute to Richard Butcher, theMacclesfield player and a formerteam-mate who died at the weekend,with a message on a T-shirt. [LNB]But it provided the catalyst foranother towering performance fromBlackpool, better even, in Holloway'smind, than their 2-1 win atAnfield in October.[LNB] 'That was thebest of the lot,' he said.In contrast, Liverpool were beingforced to resort to desperate measures. [LNB]Jovanovic receiving a booking for aMaradona-style handball musthave been particularly depressingfor Dalglish, as would the long ballsand long-range shots. [LNB]Dalglish no doubt delivered arousing speech during the intervalbut to no avail. The momentumremained with Blackpool and hadit not been for Reina there wouldhave been goals for Adam andVaughan.[LNB]Thanks to yet more quite awfuldefending, there was nothing Reinacould do to deny Campbell his 69th minutewinner. [LNB] After Martin Skrtelhad failed to challenge Ian Evattfor the ball that was floated in byNeal Eardley, Campbell struck witha terrific diving header.It amounted to a great comebackfor Blackpool, but a greater one isnow required from Dalglish.[LNB]  Kenny Dalglish lines up Blackpool star Charlie Adam in bid to reignite troubled season at AnfieldIan Holloway blames transfer window for surge in managerial sackingsBlackpool v Liverpool: The action as it happenedAll the latest Blackpool news, features and opinionAll the latest Liverpool news, features and opinion[LNB]  Explore more:People: Fernando Torres, Ian Holloway, Christian Poulsen, Charlie Adam Places: Liverpool

Source: Daily_Mail