Besiktas 2 - 1 Liverpool

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Wednesday Oct 24 2007 07:45

Liverpool remain winless and bottom of Champions League Group A after a shock 2-1 defeat by Besiktas in Istanbul.

The Reds started well, with efforts from Ryan Babel and Dirk Kuyt blocked and deflected wide, while a sliced clearance following a corner forced a desperate hack off the home goal-line.

Neither side found much rhythm and chances came in a rather ugly fashion, culminating in a comical opening goal.Jamie Carragher won a tackle inside his own box before kicking the ball against the body of Steve Finnan, giving Serdar Ozkan a free shot on goal, which deflected off Sami Hyypia and past Jose Reina.Steven Gerrard and John Arne Riise had good shots saved soon after as Liverpool looked eager to end any thought of an unexpected loss.

Soon the chances dried up for Liverpool and by half-time their football had become sloppy, strewn with misplaced passes and lacklustre general play.

Only the touch and vision of Kuyt through the middle and the skill and effort of Jermaine Pennant on the right had caused problems for the home defence.

Perhaps it was spelt out to them at half-time, a loss would leave them bottom of the group and facing a struggle to even qualify for the UEFA Cup.

Whatever was said, Rafa Benitez's side came out after the break more relaxed and with a sense of purpose that was missing for most of the first period.

Another deft flick from Kuyt sent Pennant clear after 56 minutes, but the winger hesitated, unable to set himself up for a shot before he was closed down.

Two minutes later Gerrard, poor for most of the game but driving forward as time ticked on, fired a trademark 20-yard volley just wide of the goal.

Liverpool continued to look the better side, having a Yossi Benayoun strike correctly ruled out for offside, but the pressure from the clock began to tell on the visitors' defence.

Bobo found one of these eight minutes from time, flicking the ball past the woeful Hyypia and sliding a shot between the legs of the advancing Reina.

Gerrard headed in a superb effort three minutes later, but Besiktas' deep defending and strong counter-attack proved too much and the final whistle condemned the Reds to another damaging defeat.

Live Commentary

90
BESIKTAS 2-1 LIVERPOOL: There is no comeback for Liverpool even with more possession, shots and chances. A famous victory for the Turkish side

90
A cross almost turns into a shot as Arikan is forced to parry the ball away

90
Another corner but time is running out

90
Crouch with a flicked header that was almost deflected into the top corner. Corner to Liverpool but it's cleared

90
Besiktas almost broke through on goal but Liverpool regain possession, with Finnan on the right

90
A Benayoun shot is deflected for a corner but still Liverpool can't force a chance

90
Liverpool take the ball back but Babel gives it away again. Besiktas remain in the Liverpool half

89
Besiktas are beginning to take their time as the clock ticks down. They've won a corner and it will be held up there for as long as they can

87
Liverpool continue to look clueless at times, making passes that aren't there and wasting good positions. They will see a lot of the ball in these last few minutes though so the chances will be there

86
Lamine Diatta is coming on for goalscorer Bobo

85
BESIKTAS 2-1 LIVERPOOL: Game on! GERRARD with a stunning goal, running onto a looping ball and powering a header into the top corner from 15 yards out

84
A good save, low to his right, from Reina saves a third goal

83
Attacking sub for Liverpool as defender Hyypia goes off and big striker Peter Crouch comes on

82
BESIKTAS 2-0 LIVERPOOL: This time BOBO doesn't miss! He was put clean through again, flicking the ball past Hyypia with ease then sliding his shot through Reina's legs to double the Turkish side's lead

81
Liverpool have appeared flat out of ideas at times, too often shooting from distance

80
Another over-hit pass from Liverpool and time is running out fast for the English side.

78
Almost 2-0 to Besiktas. Bobo somehow managed to miss an open goal as Liverpool begin to leave large gaps in their defence

76
Two chances for Liverpool in quick succession, as first Benayoun tried to dribble his way to goal rather than shoot, then Riise completely miss-kicked a shot from the resulting corner

76
Lucas Leiva is on, Javier Mascherano off

75
Reina rescues Liverpool as Higuain was put clean through onto the Spaniard but the keeper closed down the forward quickly and saved well

74
Babel continues to get the ball in space but too often overruns his dribble or walks straight into trouble. This must be frustrating viewing for Liverpool fans

72
Gerrard and Benayoun combine on the edge of the Besiktas box but the Liverpool captain couldn't free the ball from under his feet and Arikan scrambled off his line to block the eventual shot

70
A deep cross almost found Kuyt at the back post but the defender got in front of the Dutchman, clearing the ball away for a corner

68
Benayoun scores but the ref had blown for offside - Voronin was lazy in coming back onside and was a couple of feet off when the pass came through

67
Liverpool have been pushed back a little in the last few minutes before Babel breaks down the left, winning a corner fortuitously

65
Besiktas's best move of the half ends in offside, but their quick passing and movement around the box was dangerous

63
Federico Martin Higuain comes on for Delgado, who has looked dangerous in spells

62
Besiktas thought they had their first corner of the half but the assistant ref had other ideas

60
Liverpool are starting to find their passing boots, exchanging quick, one-touch passes around the penalty box but still no shot comes in until Babel makes a weak effort from 20 yards

59
Pennant hobbles off which is a blow, he has caused trouble. Yossi Benayoun is on instead

58
A classic Gerrard volley from the edge of the box shaped just wide of the left side upright - the closest Liverpool have come

56
Liverpool continue to be happy keeping the ball although another stunning Kuyt flick found Pennant through on goal but he hesitated and Besiktas came back to mop up

54
Some good pressure from Liverpool but Gerrard either over-hit a pass or hit a wayward shot out for a goal kick

53
Liverpool have continued to concentrate down the right side where Pennant caused problem in the first half

52
Babel had a chance inside the opposition penalty box soon after but was crowded out before he got a shot off

51
Besiktas broke well through the middle but Carragher's sliding tackle relieved the danger

49
It's Besiktas who force the first moment of pressure with a free-kick 40 yards from goal that is hacked clear

48
Liverpool have come out looking relaxed but if a goal doesn't come soon this game could become the end of their Champion's League adventure this season

46
Besiktas kick the second half off, passing all the way back to Arikan who slices a clearance out for a throw

45
BESIKTAS 1-0 LIVERPOOL: An extended injury time period can't bring any joy to a poor Liverpool performance and they go in at the break trailing by one goal

45
Voronin the culprit this time as more poor passing costs Liverpool in the dying seconds of this half

45
Gerrard's cross is dangerous but Besiktas head the ball out for a corner. Pennant takes that but Kuyt heads well wide

45
Pennant wins a free kick on the right side, near the penalty box. A good chance this for Liverpool

43
Besiktas looked to have broken through on the left but Rodrigo Alvaro Tello's cross is far too heavy and Liverpool are let off the hook

42
Mustafa Koray Avci is coming on for Serdar Kurtulus who looks to have picked up a knock

40
Liverpool pressure in the far left corner but all this territory has come to nothing and this move breaks down when Riise gives the ball away

38
Babel is trying to match Pennant's work rate on the other flank but his cross comes to nothing and Besiktas regain possession

36
A deep corner finds its way to Edouard Cisse who volleys well towards goal but it's a little too high

35
Pressure again on the right causes some panic in the Besiktas box for the first time in a while but Gerrard's eventual shot is well blocked and cleared

33
Pennant this time fails to get a cross past the left-back and Kuyt's cross from the resulting throw is too long

33
Pennant creates some space on the right wing but Finnan can't get a cross over and Ibrahim Uzulmez cleans up

31
Another long range effort from Liverpool but at least Babel goes close. He cut in from the left and struck a sweet drive but it rose just over the bar

29
Still Liverpool are failing to get the ball down and play their way forward. The Besiktas defence is very deep inside their half and long balls are having no effect

27
Another poor, long pass from Liverpool - Gerrard the culprit this time. Surely the Reds haven't ran out of ideas already?

26
Delgado skipped past two Liverpool players but Serdar Kurtulus is offside on the right of the pitch as Delgado plays the ball through

25
Andriy Voronin has a 20 yard effort on goal which trickles wide to the left of goal. Too many long shots from both sides early on

24
Another miss-placed pass forces a hurried clearance from the Reds' defence. It's not come together yet for any period of time for Liverpool

23
A poor header from Finnan gave Besiktas possession 30 yards from goal but Matias Emilio Delgado's shot is saved well by Reina

22
Another deft touch from Kuyt opens play up down the right but Liverpool can't create an opening this time

20
Huge chance for Gerrard as Kuyt flicks through a stunning pass which Gerrard hammers at goal but Arikan gets a strong right hand to the shot and parries the ball away

19
The English side are keeping the ball well and working their way down the right, winning a deep throw

17
They almost do as John Arne Riise lets rip with a 20 yard drive which is tipped over by Arikan

15
Liverpool are rightly stunned by that goal and need to get straight back into this

13
BESIKTAS 1-0 LIVERPOOL: Own goal by SAMI HYYPIA! disaster for Liverpool as Carragher's cleared the ball against Finnan, giving Serdar Ozkan a free shot on goal which deflected off Hyypia and past Jose Manuel Reina

12
Slick passing down Liverpool's left wing but the initial cross in blocked before play is spread out to the right where a headed pass is scrambled out for a corner

10
Dirk Kuyt found himself some space 30 yards out but his scuffed shot went well wide of Hakan Arikan's left side post

9
Some early chances from both sides but the game has since broken down with sharp tackling and poor passing

7
Panic in the home penalty area as a poor attempted clearance forces a goal line hack away from the Besiktas defence

6
Finally Liverpool move forward with Ryan Babel, whose shot is deflected out for a corner

6
Liverpool finally earn some possession, but Besiktas do well to press them back inside their own half

4
Besiktas get into the Liverpool area again and, despite a partial clearance from Steve Finnan, a shot came in from distance which was deflected just over the crossbar

2
Early corner for Besiktas which presented a half-chance but the bouncing ball outside the area was sliced out towards the corner flag

1
Steven Gerrard gets the first shot of the match off, blasting the ball over his shoulder and over the bar from 25 yards out

1
The game is under way in Turkey, Liverpool kicking off

0
Besiktas are second in the Turkish Super League while Liverpool are fourth in the Premiership. Recognise Edouard Cisse? He played 25 times for West Ham during their doomed 2002/3 Premiership season

0
Besiktas have failed to win either of their Group A games so far, losing 2-0 to group leaders Marseille and 1-0 to Porto. Goalkeeper Hakan Arikan makes a surprise return to the side following a stomach injury

0
Goal king Fernando Torres remains out with a thigh injury and Xabi Alonso's metatarsal has cost him a place in the starting 11

0
Liverpool are looking for their first win in the Champions League this season, as well as their first ever win away to a Turkish side

Statistics

Besiktas

Shots on target	4
Shots off target	7
Shots off bar/post	0
Fouls	3
Offsides	4
Corners	4

Liverpool

Shots on target	8
Shots off target	13
Shots off bar/post	0
Fouls	7
Offsides	3
Corners	11

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