EPL News: Liverpool versus Sunderland 2 – 2 draw; Analysis and Future Predictions (Part 2)
Liverpool was granted one goal on luck but they were able to create some themselves too, however again favours were owned to their inspiring captain who only momentarily dragged them out of patchiness.
Torres also performed his part early on but cut an ever more frustrated figure as Liverpool seemed to go the wrong way on the track.
Just two minutes in Torres had the ball inside the wood work after controlling impeccably on Gerrard's free kick with bouncing it on his chest and volleying it on only to be deprived of the magnificent attempt by a very trivial
offside decision.
His next involvement came three minutes later which had far more importance, although he had the blessings of referee Attwell on this one.
When Sunderland were compensated with a free kick 10 yards within their half Turner passed the ball back towards Simon Mignolet, most likely intending for the goalkeeper to take it.
Torres did check Attwell’s reaction, who was the man in charge when Reading “scored” at Watford on September 20th, 2008; in spite of the ball going yards away from the net, but the referee instantaneously carried on
play.
Mignolet looked bewildered as he complained from the edge of his penalty area. Mignolet while protesting with a raised arm, Torres was merciless in his onslaught as he charged without pity and in the end passed it out to Kuyt.
The Dutchman made no mistakes in slotting the ball in the back of the net; it seemed that he had recovered back quite well from his shoulder injury.
Later on Turner challenged the Spaniard El Nino during the 17thminute. It could have concluded in a penalty but apparently taking into account his earlier decision, the 27 year old Attwell didn’t even reckon twice the
appeals from Anfield and Liverpool players.
Liverpool seemed to be heavily favoured, which despite their lack lustrous performance has been a factual case this start of the season. Nevertheless what has let them down is their ability to axe of their own feet by making careless
mistakes.
Gerrard had made mistakes too. His powerless header back to his own goal posts could have allowed Bent to score had not Reina made a spectacular save to avoid the calamity.
It was a caution to tighten up the Liverpool defence though it was not heeded. Proof of that was given soon enough by Attwell in the 25th minute when Sunderland had a stroke of luck just because of inattention by Liverpool
players. It was a clear-cut cross that could have led nowhere from Ahmed Elmohamady but Christian Poulsen strode inside in hero style and flailed his arm at the ball to gift a penalty.
Reina was again on to the ball but Bent had too much power on the ball therefore it passed just under the weight of Reina's body.
Matters went for the worst as newly acquired defender Paul Konchesky had been decided to be brought off. Instead, the adjusting as a left back, Daniel Agger was added to the field before the game was halved. Sunderland took advantage
of that and took the lead after the break.
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