REDS SLUMP TO ESPANYOL
DEFEAT
<!-- START SYNOPSIS -->Liverpool were unable to
spoil Espanyol's party atmosphere as the Reds were condemned to a
3-0 defeat in Spain. <!-- END SYNOPSIS -->
<!-- START BODY -->Steven Gerrard struck the
frame of the goal twice in the first half, but the visitors fell
behind to a composed finish from Luis Garcia.
Ben Sahar doubled Espanyol's advantage midway through the second
period before claiming a late second as the La Liga outfit marked
the opening of their new brand-new Estadi Cornella-El Prat in
style.
A carnival mood greeted the start of the game as lively
celebrations took place to welcome the official debut of the 40,000
all-seater ground.
The travelling support were not left out either as 'You'll Never
Walk Alone' was given an airing over the PA system in the moments
before kick-off, although it was on a sombre note that the
Liverpool players took to the field sporting black armbands
following the recent passing of English football legend Sir Bobby
Robson.
As the sun began to set in Barcelona, Espanyol created the first
opening of note when Ivan Alonso, who played for Alaves in the 2001
UEFA Cup final, brought a routine stop out of Pepe Reina with his
low drive from the edge of the box.
The home side were in buoyant mood, visibly lifted by a sold-out
crowd who thought their team had taken the lead in the 12th minute
when Jamie Carragher headed a corner narrowly wide of his own
post.
The Periquitos' tails were up, but the Reds almost silenced the
boisterous home faithful when Steven Gerrard rattled the crossbar
of goalkeeper Carlos Kameni with a trademark effort from 25
yards.
However, Espanyol opened the scoring just seconds later as Luis
Garcia - no connection to the former Reds star - pounced on a ball
into the box and steered a low shot beyond Reina from close-range
on 19 minutes.
Gerrard again struck the woodwork just before the half hour mark.
This time his curling effort from a free-kick struck the inside of
the right post after Fernando Torres had been cynically prevented
from going through on goal by Daniel Jarque.
Liverpool had responded well to falling behind and a goal mouth
scramble almost saw the ball deflected off Yossi Benayoun and over
the line.
Espanyol thought they had extended their lead when Raul Tamudu
escaped the attentions of Mikel San Jose and fired past Reina, but
the striker had his effort ruled out for offside to ensure the home
team went into the break with just a solitary goal advantage.
Verdu forced Reina to tip a swerving shot over the bar as the
second half resumed, while at the other end substitute Philipp
Degen saw a goal bound strike from six yards deflected behind by
Nico Pareja after Gerrard's centre had broken kindly for the Swiss
full-back.
A flurry of substitutions followed and it was Espanyol who profited
as former Chelsea forward Ben Sahar evaded the Liverpool offside
trap and burst into the area prior to coolly slotting through the
legs of Reina with 25 minutes remaining.
The goal prompted Rafa Benitez into withdrawing the likes of
Gerrard and Torres, with Albert Riera introduced to the action
against his former club.
Liverpool struggled to muster a reply to falling further behind,
although Ryan Babel's powerful strike from 10 yards struck the legs
of David Ngog before Sahar wriggled his way through the Reds
defence only to be thwarted by Reina.
The Spain goalkeeper could do little about Espanyol's third as
Sahar was on hand to tap home after the Reds custodian had repelled
an effort from Verdu.
The Spaniard's Israel striker almost completed a hat-trick second
after rounding Reina, however Martin Kelly was on hand to hack the
ball off the goal line, but it did little to spoil Espanyol's
celebrations at the final whistle.
Liverpool: Reina, Insua, Carragher, San Jose Dominguez,
Johnson, Benayoun, Mascherano, Leiva, Kuyt, Gerrard (captain),
Torres. Subs - Alonso, Plessis, Kelly, Cavalieri, Dossena, Ngog,
Riera, Degen, Babel, Voronin, Spearing
Espanyol: Kameni, Garcia, Pareja, Gonzalez (captain), Pillud,
Garcia, De La Pena, Hurtado Perez, Nakamura, Tamudu, Alonso
Vallejo. Subs - Alvarez, Chica Torres, Corominas, Callejon, Ruiz,
Roncaglia, Verdu, Marquez, Sahar, Lola Smijlanic, Rossello
Referee: Unknown
Conditions: Fine
Attendance: Unknown
Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Steven Gerrard <!-- END BODY
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