Liverpool extended their unbeaten run at home this season with a highly entertaining 3-2 win over Turkish giants Galatasaray.
The Reds started convincingly with an impressive six attempts on goal in the first ten minutes.
Peter Crouch opened the scoring on his return to the starting line-up in the eighth minute after a pinpoint cross form Brazilian Fabio Aurelio on the left side. Crouch stole in and tapped in on the volley from six yards.
Just six minutes later Luis Garcia added a second after great work from Jermaine Pennant followed by a great cross to Garcia who powerfully headed in behind the Anfield Road end.
Galatasaray had a few rare moments in the first half with a great chance from Hakan Sukur in an acute angle but the shot struck off Pepe Reina and luckily there was no-one in the box for a tap-in.
Steven Gerrard seemed to be the most unluckiest man in Anfield as the captain couldn’t find the net after numerous chances. The closest came on the 38 mins as he found space to let off a cracker which spun in the air but unknowingly hit off the Turk’s goalkeeper.
Liverpool were fortunate not to concede early in the second half when half-time substitute Hasan Sas’s through ball was overhit which could have led to a simple strike from Gala’s left-winger.
But the highlight of the night came when Mr. Reliable Steve Finnan swung in a fantastic cross from the right to Crouch who acrobatically volleyed the ball past the motionless ‘˜keeper. Mandragon was hapless to stop Crouch’s overhead kick which went back from where the cross came from and into the bottom corner at the Kop end. Another fantastic goal for the Reds this season.
Galatasaray started to pile on the pressure half way through the second and managed to pull a goal back on the fifty-eight minute as Sabri’s cross found Umit Karan’s head who pulled it back to 3-1.
Just six minutes later another Sabri cross and another Karan header saw Galatasaray pull the defecit to just one goal and finish the game 3-2.
Liverpool have now won three on the bounce now with plenty of goals but unfortunately Reina couldn’t keep another clean sheet. We have yet to see Liverpool lose at Anfield this season and let’s hope the boys can continue their unbeaten run to four with a win against Bolton on Saturday.
Match report by forum member ‘Eire-Dearg’
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