Source: Daily_Mail
Middlesbrough 2 Liverpool 0: Benitez must face reality in race for the Premier League title
Rafa Benitez must be questioning the significance of his victory in the Liverpool[LNB]boardroom following this disastrous defeat to a side that hadn't won since November. [LNB]So much for the exit of chief executive Rick Parry - what of the Liverpool manager's future at the club after this? In his analysis of a three-match programme which culminates in the visit to Manchester United on March 14, Benitez arrogantly dismissed yesterday's match and next Tuesday's Anfield visit of Sunderland as almost insignificant as he talked up Liverpool's title ambitions. [LNB]He will now be wishing his team had provided him with the ammunition to back up such lofty aspirations against lowly Middlesbrough[LNB]. Entertainment provided by Stevie Wonder last week enraptured Barack Obama; the return of Liverpool's own Stevie 'Wonder' provided less of a memory in the North-East yesterday. [LNB]But even fully fit, Liverpool captain Gerrard would have found it difficult to provide inspiration to a side who, it must be said, lack genuine championship quality. Put simply, they are just not good enough to challenge Manchester United. In fairness, Benitez's pre-match confidence was backed up by some startling statistics. [LNB] [LNB][LNB] Turkish terminator: Tuncay Sanli (left) lines up to take the plaudits[LNB] Middlesbrough v Liverpool: How the game unfolded[LNB]MIDDLESBROUGH NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB[LNB]LIVERPOOL NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB[LNB]Everton 2 West Brom 0[LNB]Arsenal 0 Fulham 0[LNB]Chelsea 2 Wigan 1[LNB] Middlesbrough, mildly boosted by a midweek FA Cup triumph over West Ham that will only clutter their remaining fixture schedule, started the game looking for their first league win since November 9 and they were without a goal for almost 500 minutes of league football. [LNB]Indeed, they should have been lambs ready to be slaughtered by such imperious opposition. Such are the vagaries of football. This performance resembled the script only in flashes; like when Brad Jones made a couple of early saves, one in particular from Nabil El Zhar in the eighth minute. [LNB]Benitez favoured a formation which had Dirk Kuyt playing as the lone striker, backed up by a brigade of midfielders whose intent was to surge forward in numbers and overpower a fragile home defence.[LNB]It did not quite work out that way and a superb save by Pepe Reina from Gary O'Neil in the 11th minute demonstrated that Boro had the nerve, character and technique to cause problems of their own. [LNB]They also had more than their share of good fortune, a blessing never more vividly underlined than in the 31st minute when a corner from the inspirational Stewart Downing struck Xabi Alonso on the thigh and the ball bounced past goalkeeper Reina for the opening goal. [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] [LNB][LNB][LNB] Grey day: Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard hobbled off[LNB]Was this just a blip, we wondered, a hurdle that would merely kickstart a Liverpool machine which in midweek had vanquished the mighty Real Madrid? No, the confidence gushing around the Riverside Stadium - packed to the rafters for the first time this season - belonged to those in the Boro line-up rather than their illustrious visitors. [LNB]Yes, the home side rode their luck at times but they defended as a team, with tenacity and purpose. The well-organised red ranks manned the barriers in and around the penalty area to such effect that Liverpool, playing in their away grey kit, grew more desperate. And as their conviction dwindled, so Benitez's gambling increased. He changed his options to such an extent that 'Mr Reliable' Jamie Carragher was sacrificed in defence for forward Yossi Benayoun. [LNB]By then Boro had gone further ahead courtesy of a goal that was straight out of Liverpool's manual of thrusting counter-attack. [LNB][LNB][LNB] Heads we win: Liverpool's Sami Hyypia (centre) comes off worst in a challenge with Robert Huth[LNB]O'Neil and Jeremie Aliadiere linked up down the right and the Frenchman's run was timed to the split-second to beat the visitors' offside trap. Aliadiere cut the ball back for Tuncay who then sent a crossshot beyond Reina's reach. [LNB]It was a result that pushes Liverpool's title hopes to the limits of fantasy and provides a priceless lift for Middlesbrough's chances of avoiding relegation. After a string of poor results on the back of mediocre performances, this could not have been better timed for the home team. 'It's been a good week for us,' said Boro manager Gareth Southgate. [LNB]'I was pleased we matched our performance against West Ham with more of the same here. 'This was a victory for our effort and endeavour. Now we must build on it in the remaining matches. The crowd and the players came together when it mattered most.' [LNB][LNB] [LNB] Rough for Rafa: Liverpool boss Benitez wonders where it all went wrong[LNB] Middlesbrough v Liverpool: How the game unfolded[LNB]MIDDLESBROUGH NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB[LNB]LIVERPOOL NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB[LNB]Everton 2 West Brom 0[LNB]Arsenal 0 Fulham 0[LNB]Chelsea 2 Wigan 1[LNB] [LNB]
