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 Posted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 2:08 am Post subject: Blackburn 1 Liverpool 0 |
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December 26, 2006
KEEPER Brad Friedel sent his former side Liverpool crashing out of the top four as Benni McCarthy's 10th goal of the season stole victory for Blackburn.
Peter Crouch was the worst culprit as the Reds missed regular chances.
And Rovers climbed four points clear of the drop zone thanks to McCarthy instinctively finishing off Morten Gamst Pedersen's 49th minute cross.
Friedel, though, was the real hero - especially when Liverpool hunted an equaliser.
The American finger-tipped away a late Xabi Alonso drive, while the Spanish playmaker and Craig Bellamy hit the bar.
Rafael Benitez's men maintained a virtual barrage, starting with Crouch's wasteful header straight at Friedel after just 30 seconds.
Friedel soon denied a John Arne Riise screamer.
But Rovers struck hugely against the tide of play.
Tugay's brilliantly incisive ball into the left side of the Liverpool box for Pedersen, whose precise centre enabled McCarthy to sweep home from close range.
Bellamy clattered a Steve Finnan cross off the bar, before being booked for deliberate handball.
Dirk Kuyt's low shot was somehow kept out by Friedel, then Alonso's vicious right-footer smashed off the bar on 76 minutes.
And, as Liverpool upped their bombardment, Friedel twice denied Alonso an equaliser that was the least the visitors deserved.
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