Kuyt Goal At The Death Completes Dramatic Reds Comeback

October 5, 2008

A brace from Fernando Torres and an injury-time winner by Dirk Kuyt completed an amazing comeback for Rafael Benitez’ men, coming back from a two-goal deficit against Mark Hughes’ Man City side at Eastlands to secure that they remain at the top of the table alongside Chelsea as we head into an international break.

It was always going to be a tough fixture for the Reds, after all they were up against one of the richest clubs in the world, who had one of the most expensive players ever in the form of Robinho, and who had recently hit Portsmouth for six at home.

Liverpool started the game brightly, with Riera creating chances on the left wing early on. However it was Man City who gained the early advantage. Shaun Wright Phillips, embarking on one of his trademark mazy runs, cut the ball back to Brazilian Jo, whose blocked shot fell kindly to Stephen Ireland. His shot was going nowhere but the back of the net, and Man City were one goal to the good.

Man City doubled their lead just before half-time, much to Benitez’ frustration, with a superbly taken free-kick by Javier Garrido, which flew into the top corner; Reina had no chance.

The Reds needed something special in the second half; with news of Chelsea comfortably leading at Stamford Bridge, they risked surrendering the top of the table and dropping three points in the process. But there’s one thing you must always remember about Benitez’ men, especially after the 2005 Champions League Final against AC Milan and the 2006 FA Cup Final against West Ham; NEVER write them off.

Torres kick-started the Liverpool comeback with ten minutes of the first half gone, pouncing on an Alvaro Arbeloa cross to score his fourth goal of the season. Things began going from bad to worse for Hughes’ men after Zabaleta saw red in the 67th minute, an awful lunging tackle on Xabi Alonso meriting the sending off.

It seemed as if fate was on Liverpool’s side from then on, as Fernando Torres headed home his second of the game 5 minutes later, connecting with Steven Gerrard’s brilliant corner. The Spaniard’s brace brought Liverpool back on level terms with City, and completed a brilliant comeback from two goals down at half time. Rafael Benitez would have been more than happy to leave Eastlands with a point; after all, it looked as if he would leave empty-handed at half time. But he didn’t leave with a just a point. He left with all three.

A nasty injury to Martin Skrtel with 5 minutes to spare meant that Liverpool had to finish the game with 10 men as well, as they has used all of their substitutes. That, however, did not stop Dirk Kuyt being the hero by firing home from 5 yards in the second minute of injury-time, after Torres saw his shot blocked by his strike partner Robbie Keane. Cue the celebrations for Benitez and his men; a precious away win against a confident Man City side will do their title aspirations this season no harm at all.

Gruffudd Owen

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