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Reina grabs point for Liverpool
Source: Agencies |
September 14, 2010, Tuesday
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LIVERPOOL had goalkeeper Pepe Reina to thank for earning his side a point in a goalless draw at Birmingham in the Premier League on Sunday.
The Spain international produced two superb saves in the first half to deny Cameron Jerome and Craig Gardner as Birmingham, which remains unbeaten after four games, and had the better of a drab match which was short of clear-cut chances.
"He was outstanding," Birmingham midfielder Barry Ferguson said of Reina.
"We deserved to win the game and he was the only reason we didn't."
Liverpool lacked bite up front, with Fernando Torres marshalled well by the Birmingham center backs Roger Johnson and Scott Dann, and was restricted to efforts from long range which failed to seriously test goalkeeper Ben Foster.
Liverpool moves onto five points while Birmingham, which extended its unbeaten run at St Andrew's to 17 matches, climbs into the top five on six points.
"It was a good performance from the Birmingham team but I'm not that disappointed with our performance either," Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson said.
"This is a tough place to come and play. My expectations were not that high anyway - I'd have been disappointed to lose the game but I'm certainly not disappointed to draw it.
"I thought they were two magnificent crosses that created the headed opportunities and when they made such good contact, I feared the worst but that's why you have goalkeepers of Pepe Reina's class," Hodgson said.
Hodgson, who gave Paul Konchesky his debut after the left back's recent move from Fulham, watched his defense put under heavy pressure by Birmingham in the first half, particularly from set pieces and balls into the box.
Reina had to be at his most alert to tip around the post a header by Jerome in the 22nd minute before he turned aside a diving header from Gardner eight minutes before halftime as Liverpool's defense failed to deal with another cross, this time by Stephen Carr.
Liverpool's only effort in the opening period came through a long-range Steven Gerrard volley that flew over. The England captain drew an easy save out of goalkeeper Ben Foster a minute after the break.
Dann should have done better at the other end 11 minutes later, the center back's header from a whipped freekick directed into the ground and bouncing over the bar.
The Spain international produced two superb saves in the first half to deny Cameron Jerome and Craig Gardner as Birmingham, which remains unbeaten after four games, and had the better of a drab match which was short of clear-cut chances.
"He was outstanding," Birmingham midfielder Barry Ferguson said of Reina.
"We deserved to win the game and he was the only reason we didn't."
Liverpool lacked bite up front, with Fernando Torres marshalled well by the Birmingham center backs Roger Johnson and Scott Dann, and was restricted to efforts from long range which failed to seriously test goalkeeper Ben Foster.
Liverpool moves onto five points while Birmingham, which extended its unbeaten run at St Andrew's to 17 matches, climbs into the top five on six points.
"It was a good performance from the Birmingham team but I'm not that disappointed with our performance either," Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson said.
"This is a tough place to come and play. My expectations were not that high anyway - I'd have been disappointed to lose the game but I'm certainly not disappointed to draw it.
"I thought they were two magnificent crosses that created the headed opportunities and when they made such good contact, I feared the worst but that's why you have goalkeepers of Pepe Reina's class," Hodgson said.
Hodgson, who gave Paul Konchesky his debut after the left back's recent move from Fulham, watched his defense put under heavy pressure by Birmingham in the first half, particularly from set pieces and balls into the box.
Reina had to be at his most alert to tip around the post a header by Jerome in the 22nd minute before he turned aside a diving header from Gardner eight minutes before halftime as Liverpool's defense failed to deal with another cross, this time by Stephen Carr.
Liverpool's only effort in the opening period came through a long-range Steven Gerrard volley that flew over. The England captain drew an easy save out of goalkeeper Ben Foster a minute after the break.
Dann should have done better at the other end 11 minutes later, the center back's header from a whipped freekick directed into the ground and bouncing over the bar.
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