“?Liverpool put in a superb performance to beat the 10-man Premier League newcomers Hull City 5-1.
Liverpool came into the fixture off the back of a 2-1 league win against Chelsea and were hoping to close the gap at the top of the table, whilst Hull would have wanted to get their third win of the season.
Less than five minutes in and Hull’s tactics were clear, they were willing to let Liverpool have the ball so they could soak up pressure and counter attack.
From the off, it was all Liverpool. The first chance of the game fell to Joel Matip, as he rose highest to meet a corner but the ball flew over the bar from close range.
Coutinho should have put his side ahead on 10 minutes when he received the ball in the six-yard box from Sadio Mane, but he could only slice his effort into the path of Ahmed Elmohamady.
Adam Lallana did get the breakthrough though shortly after due to good work from Coutinho. The Brazilian skipped past two Hull players and found Lallana who dug the ball out from his feet to put the ball in the bottom corner for his third league goal of the season.
Things went from bad to worse only ten minutes later when Liverpool won a penalty for an Elmohamady handball. Mane found Coutinho on the edge of the area, and the midfielder was set to score, but Elmohamady blocked the shot with his arm. Referee Andre Marriner showed the Hull player a straight red card before Milner stroked the ball home.
Mane got his name on the score sheet not long after. The Senegal International received the ball in the area and kept his calm to pick out the bottom left-hand corner.
Hull had a mountain to climb when the went into the dressing room for the break and Mike Phelan would have been thinking about damage control.
The second half started as it finished, with pressure from Liverpool, but Hull scored against the run of play. Hull won their first corner of the game and when Liverpool failed to clear, the ball fell nicely for David Meyler who smashed it into the back of the net.
Comeback talk was short-lived however, as Liverpool’s magician Coutinho, puts his side in the clear with a sensational strike. He picked the ball up and after beating a player, unleashed a 20-yard shot into the far corner.
More Liverpool chances went begging but they were eventually able to extend their league with their second penalty of the game. Sturridge, who just came on, danced with the ball in the area causing Robertson to commit a clumsy foul, leaving referee Marriner with no option but to point to the spot. Milner scored Liverpool’s last with an identical strike to his first goal.
Anfield would have been delighted to see their team move up to second with an emphatic win whilst it was an afternoon to forget for Phelan’s team.
Leave a Reply