STOKE 0, LIVERPOOL 0

HOW DID THAT HAPPEN? - Stoke's Dave Kitson rues a miss

Rafa will be cursing Liverpool's slip-up

I DON'T BELIEVE IT - Steven Gerrard

From CHRIS BASCOMBE, 10/01/2009

IF Liverpool were hoping to throw down the gauntlet to Manchester United last night, they must have dropped it on their way to Stoke.

Rafa Benitez may yet outwit Sir Alex Ferguson in the title race — but today he is cursing at failing to overcome Potters boss Tony Pulis in two attempts this season.

And it can't have been made easier by the fact that the Liverpool boss will go back to hospital this week for another operation on his kidney stone problem.

The Kop boss spoke a belligerent pre-match game but could only watch in frustration as his Liverpool players failed to echo the passion he had shown 24 hours earlier. More worrying for the Merseysiders is that Pulis will be disappointed he did not collect a valiant victory.

Only a late Steven Gerrard surge, clipping the woodwork twice in the last six minutes, threatened to undo a resilient Stoke defence.

But the crossbar also denied Rory Delap a winner and Dave Kitson missed two sitters as the Liverpool defence was often given a torrid time.

The result means United will go top if they win their three games in hand, which may leave Fergie thinking he need not bother becoming further embroiled in a head-to-head with Rafa.

There is a taunt favoured by bullies in the less savoury schoolyards of Britain’s inner cities: “You can have the first punch but you better make it a good one.”

You can imagine Govan bruiser Ferguson communicating this message to Benitez.

The Liverpool boss delivered the fiercest verbal right hook he could muster but it will count for nothing if his players deliver many more timid blows as this. A battle at the Britannia should have been the ideal venue for Liverpool to prove they have the stomach for the fight.

Boxer

No doubt Rafa would prefer to be seen as a matador rather than a boxer. This result will spark a debate as to whether he has adopted the role of red rag or bull in the title scrap.

Not even a disappointing performance could make him back down as he revived his attack on Ferguson after the stalemate.

Benitez said: “In 20 years, people have thought what I said but never said it. I’ve no regrets.

“Our staff has received messages saying at last someone has said this. If Mr Ferguson stops talking about Liverpool it will be good for us.

“He has spoken about us too much. I have a lot of respect for him but he should stop talking about us.

“We could have won or lost this game but we’re still in a fantastic position. A draw between United and Chelsea will be good for us. I will sit at home and enjoy it on TV.”

GUTTED - Dirk Kuyt

Liverpool once prided themselves on being the club which went quietly about business, keeping their head while others’ exploded.

Legendary ex-chairman John Smith, who guided the club through their golden period, thought he defined Anfield ethics when he said: “We don’t talk here, we just win.”

It’s a different era now. Time will tell if Liverpool are right to dispense with the pleasantries which have got them nowhere in the title race since 1990. If Benitez wins the title, the end will justify the means and he will be collecting apologies from the doubters as well as trophies.

Lest we forget, it is not United and Chelsea who have caused Liverpool most problems this season but Stoke and Hull.

Benitez resisted the temptation to recall Fernando Torres or persist with Robbie Keane, who both started on the bench. With Argentina coach Diego Maradona watching, Javier Mascherano was paired in midfield with Lucas but the classy Xabi Alonso was badly missed.

Stoke hustled and harried all over the pitch and were outstanding in every department.

The home side thought they had taken the lead on 12 minutes when Rory Delap crashed a close range shot against the underside of the bar.

And they were the more dangerous until the closing stages.

Kitson will be wondering how he was not the match-winner after finding the side-netting with the goal at his mercy and heading another easy chance over from close range in the second half.

Stoke No 2 Dave Kemp said: “We could get greedy and we’re a bit disappointed but we’re also happy with the point.

MISSED CHANCE - keeper Tommy Sorensen watches the ball go by

“No one gets an easy game here. We proved that against Manchester United a few weeks ago.”

Debutant Matthew Etherington was named the sponsors’ Man of the Match — and the former West Ham midfielder saw enough to convince him he will not be heading into the Championship next season.

He insisted: “We deserved at least the point. They didn’t create a lot and we had the better chances. I’ve seen more than enough to think we’ll stay up. Teams don’t like coming here. The fans here are unbelievable and it’s something special to hear them.”

Not even the arrival of Torres for the last 30 minutes could provide the necessary attacking impetus for Benitez.

Ironiocally, considering Stoke’s expertise from dead-ball situations, set-pieces were also Liverpool’s most likely avenue of success. Lucas missed a glorious opportunity to head his side into a 67th minute lead following a Gerrard free-kick.

And the Kop skipper also clipped the bar with another set-play before hitting the post as he stretched for an injury-time winner.

That would have been undeserved. But, ever the optimist, Benitez took comfort from an extension to his Premier League leadership — even if it may only be temporary.

Your comments

This article has 41 comments

Tommy P. You have it all wrong about the Arsenal result, yes we had a man extra but it was a striker who was sent off. Not a defender, which meant they were still as strong as ever in defence.
And Isaidso, Fat Rafa? by the looks of things fergie could cut down on the pies too.

and i have to admit. United may win the league by around 20 points this season.. Liverpool dont have the depth to keep up with them. And chelski are underperforming

By Adam LFC. Posted 1? 15 2009 at 4:36 ??.

hope stoke stay up, there fans were amazing last night, we were outsang and out fought, lucas was terrible.

By craig lees. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 8:41 ??.

At the start of the season I thought it was going to be our year. All was going well everytime we slipped up so did Chelsea. But the 3 draws at home to the likes of West Ham, Hull and Fulham. Then a draw against 10 man Arsenal, the game was there for the taking bu the tactics were negative. And the final nail in the coffin was Stoke away 0 - 0. We are top of the table and we should not be affraid of any team. But we were, we went there with 2 defensive midfielders in Lucas and Masch, and £40 million worth of strikeforce on the bench, outcome 2 points dropped (no disrespect to Stoke cus they played well) but yet again Benitez got the starting line so so wrong. Fingers crossed we will the title but I think Benitez has blown it yet again

By Tommy P. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 8:41 ??.

By Tommy P. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 8:39 ??.

Villa will finish above Liverpool. Why do you guys think you are good enough with the average players you have. Liverpool will never win the league with only two worldclass players (Gerrard & Torres) in their side. Perhaps you could do better if Rafa played his players in their correct position, what next? Kuyt in goal?

By maddy. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 6:31 ??.

Liverpool better win stoke because that my sisters team and Liverpool is my team

By rebeccca griffiths. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 5:34 ??.

I have and will always maintain that unless Banitez changes his mentality and tactics,he will never win the Premmiership. He should have to get rid of the deadwood first.People like,Kuyt,Arbeloa,Auleleo,Lukas and...... Kuyt was bought as a striker and not running arround like a headless chicken.Why get rid of Crouch and waste the whole 20 million on Kean who has found it hard to fit in Bnitezi's/ Liverpool's style of play?. Crouch was bought as a support striker but had netted more goals than Kuyt.Nothing personal with any of these guys as i had nothing personal with John an Riise.Long Live LFC

By s christopher. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 3:31 ??.

Benitez acting as though he is top dog and Liverpool fans singing Were top of the League.
They really have become a small time club.
What a SHAME.

By Fred Johnson. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 3:00 ??.

Why is everybody moaning about Rafa? Give Stoke the credit they deserve for snuffing out Liverpool's threat and outplaying them most of the match!

By bexhillpotter. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 1:49 ??.

Dissapointing draw, we should be beating teams like stoke if we are going to win the league. Stoke were really good so they deserve the draw. I cant see man utd beating chesea both teams aint playing good so it`ll be a draw. And utd HAVE to win the games in hand to get anywhere near liverpool. If were still top after chelsea at home on feb 1st we have a good run of games until we meet man utd and those games should deside if we are going to win the league.

By jason bates. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 12:48 ??.

poor poor poor, thats all i say what a dissapointment stoke played so much better than us. kuyt, benayoun and lucas make me sick, they are not good enough, i have more pace than kuyt and im 14 stone. he luks a nice guy but we are destroying keane over kuyt.BENAYOUN is a reserve player and thats being nice. aurelio is poor and just there to make the numbers up, Babel is a star in the making and he doesnt play. can you imagine hime at the GOONERS? he wud be like Henry. But man utd i hate to say will win it as they know we arent up to it. Benitez we love u but if it goes wrong this season do the right thing and leave. Let King Kenny win it back for us if your too stubborn to realise the team last night was poor

By Hassan Qureshi. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 12:32 ??.

Man u still jealous of Liverpools history and success.
Sorry Man u you might be the richest club,but that
doesn,t mean a thing,it must be hard for the woolyback fans to know they will never reach the heights L,ppol have achieved.
O.k there was the Busby babes,what did they win?
Does is it still peave all at Man u that there icon manager Matt Busby once played for Liverpool.

By b kennedy. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 12:25 ??.

Im becoming just a little concerned with Rafas team selections at such a critical time of the season.Three points clear an a chance to go six points clear if only for a day and he chose not to play torres an keane .Lucas is no replacement for alonso so i puzzled that gerrard was not in midfield and 40 million pounds worth of talent was not unleashed on stokes defence .Keane is a great footballer but what does he have to do to get into the team.Come on Rafa we all want the same thing ,pick our best and lets just see what happens .

By Ray Marshalleck . Posted 1? 11 2009 at 12:17 ??.

We, as fan of Liverpool, very disappointed upon the selection of player in Stoke City match. According to this situation, I strongly beleive that Liverpool cannot win Premier Title under Rafa because his choose of player is really questionable. He should understand, actually everybody understand that the two players in attacking and one player in midfield in Stock match are Premier League level. I am really not understand why he omitted the two strikers Torres and Keane. He should use these two players and Gerrard should play in midfield.

By H A Lynn. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 12:01 ??.

I was embrassed by the team rafa put out yesterday and why leave torres and keane on the bench?I have followed the reds all over the world but rafa wake up lucas and beny are not good enough not for LFC.The team yesterday were poor and not championship winners.

By tony. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 11:48 ??.

Spot on Brendan. Its Rafa's stubborn streak that's the problem. He is so bitter at not getting Barry he his dropping Keane, and he is determined to prove players like Benyoun, kuyt and Dossenna are a good buy. The guys a fool, and were it not for him losing the plot every now and again, we would be 9 points clear.

By Damo. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 11:39 ??.

as a liverpool fan of 33yrs, yesterdays game was appauling. 20 million pound of excellent stricker on the bench????? Sack rafa we have no chance of ever winning anything under him!!!! At the start of the season we were brilliant but as usual rafa has gone back to the dreaded rotating!!!!

By tracey. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 11:19 ??.

oh dear rafa lmao, that was a slap in the face eh, thought you could pick a nice easy game to slag fergie off and then get a win to bloster your fight for the title. I have said this before and im saying it again. liverpool are not top because they are the best team. they are only top because arsenil chelsea and man upvc have been playing well below their usual standard, look at the title teams of late and you will see none have dropped as many points as liverfool already have, they are not the top team, they just got lucky, but look at the results for them of late and you can see the luck has run out, you cant be classed as champions if you cant beat a team like stoke at home or away ffs !
mind you this is liverfool, they thought they was the best team in europe even though they didnt even qualify for it and finished some 38 points behind their domestic champs the year they won the cl....so you gotta laugh eh, we been hearing how they are gona win the title and dominate again every year for the last 18 years....theres nothing new now, they will fade and die like they always do ! scousers see, no bottle or back bone, cowards to the core.

By Paul. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 11:16 ??.

looks like Benetiz tried to copy David Moyes tactics of no strikers and packing the midfield to beat teams, big mistake a) you have to have to have the right players to do it, he hasnt, b) Moyes does it out of necessity and because he has players with an incredible mentality, Benetiz doesnt. Finally what idiot leaves £45m worth of striking talent on the bench and then moans that he has not won the game?

By Darrel. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 11:00 ??.

i am a liverpool fan and could not believe the team selection against stoke , yet i believe rafa has the strentgh and team passion to bring the title to anfield,forget fergie and lets get on with the teams football. like it or not mam-u rafa will come up on top .

By karl woods. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 10:44 ??.

I'd rather walk alone.

By koch. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 10:32 ??.

For those who say Benitez cant handle the pressure, you do realize he managed in Spain and won titles there dont you!

Unlike Keegan he is an experienced manager, watch the footage of his supposed "rant". It was nothing like Keegans, you're all a load of sheep wanting to believe a story that just isn't there!

By M Lovatt. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 10:33 ??.

When Stoke hit the bar they had three players in an off side position.Our defence had done its job as it did all day aprt from the odd lapse.Unfortunately the Ref seem to play them all on side lol!
To Isaidso,maybe we should just sing about Man u for the whole game as they do it for us!

By ian golder. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 10:28 ??.

For a team that hasnt wont the title, saying it's a marathon not a sprint is a bit rich. What would they know? Keep going Rafa, all you have to do is be yourself and UTD will win the title.

By mark. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 10:14 ??.

As a very angry and frustrated red I must ask the following questions: 1 Why was Torres and Keane left out yesterday?? We had a great opportunity toup the pressure on Utd and Chelsea with a win and once again Rafa has decided to drop his best strikers and go with Gerrard and Kuyt. Gerrard should've played midfield yesterday with Masch and Keane and Torres should've been up front. Yossi and Lucas are not up to the standard required by LFC. 2 What must Robbie Keane be thinking today?? He has a very good xmas with 3 goals in 2 games and has since been dropped for the next 2 league games. When we're looking for a goal yesterday we bring on Babel and El Zhar, why!!!Our biggest problem at the club is Rafa's stubborness and his determination to prove everyone wrong. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying he's not good enough but he likes to give two fingers to everyone and says "I'll do it my way and it's the best way!!!" 3 What do the rest of you loyal Reds think?? Am I alone in my opinion or are we about to blow the best chance of winning the title in 20 years because of management team selections. When I saw the team sheet yesterday before the match I just wanted to cry, we gave out all the wrong signals and Stoke players must've got great confidence once they saw our line-up. Great credit has to go to Stoke, they played very well and can feel disapointed not to have won the match. For us Reds it's another disappointing 0-0,but we still walk on with hope in our hearts!

By Brendan. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 9:40 ??.

If United win today they will win the title. Come on Fergie...a legend.

By maddy. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 9:23 ??.

ref biased u say and the ball definately crossed the line against chelsea mmmmmmmm......look we at the top get more decisions than them at the bottom because its easier for the refs to get away with it. its wrong but true fergie as never called another manager only the fa the refs and there boss again wrong but true... for him to come out and say its what people have been thinking and not said for 20 years is disrespectfull to the countries most successeful club manager not shankly fergie...

By steve gill. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 8:27 ??.

Why are people saying Benitez will look a fool now if Liv don't win the title? He wasn't ranting, he wasn't saying they will win it. He was asking for a level playing field for all clubs. Anybody who thinks there is one already is either blind or a ManU fan. Nice to see bullying Mr Ferguson has his apologists all over the press. His behaviour is a disgrace to the knighthood.

By Jan. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 8:26 ??.

i hope fergie takes a piece of paper out of his pocket with the most important fact "18 years" and soon to be 19.....long live the king....

By steve gill. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 8:13 ??.

Why all the talk of rafa losing the plot and fergie winning etc..

1.UTD Still have to play 3 games, you havent won them yet, and you play like the last 4 and chelsea will batter you.

2. It was cold and calculated by RAFA, its not king kev when the guy has prepared notes, it was done on purpose and just adds extra spice to todays clash.

3. Its a marathon not a sprint, we are up there for a reason and will continue to put the points on the board and catch us if you can.

By J. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 8:08 ??.

Why all the talk of rafa losing the plot and fergie winning etc..

1.

By J. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 8:05 ??.

Fergie has again successfully provoked a reaction and added pressure to his title rival! The title will be Man U's or Chelsea's!

By Andy. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 8:04 ??.

Benitez is obviously feeling the pressure just like a certain Newcastle manager did all those years ago!
Sir Alex is a master at the 'mind games', he has only 1 equal, that is Mourinho but he is no longer in British football!
Benitez's Liverpool win NOT win the Prem basically because they rely on 2 players to win games but they are not strong enough to hold onto the lead which they currently have.
Dropping points against the likes of Stoke tells its own story, you have to win those type of games to be champions but anyway, better luck Rafa with your hospital operation this time around because I'm sure you were in a lot of pain last week when you made that anti SAF speech, otherwise you would have nothing!

By Manc Snakebite. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 7:42 ??.

It has taken 20 years for someone to say what Rafa has said about Fergie and it has also taken close to 20years since liverpool last won the title!!! Funny isnt it! Dont joke with Fergie, Rafa has just fallen into the trap and now he has a point to prove and that is where the pressure weighs in and blunders like that of stoke follow. Watch this space Rafas feathers are going to be Raffled at the end of the season.

By Jose Not Mour. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 7:07 ??.

Too many weak players in the team today. Why put a class midfielder up front, leave a class striker on the bench and play a very average Lucas in the middle? The whole point of having strength in depth is to use it when necessary. Alonso out, replace with Gerrard and put Torres,Babel, or Keane up front. Yet again Benitez favours Lucas, Benayoun and Kuyt ahead of much better quality players who are sitting on the bench, or worse not even in the squad. Very poor team selection by Benitez today.

By Mike. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 4:30 ??.

A worryingly bad performance.

Beginning to lose faith in Rafa. The body language from some of the players was shocking today and there was no urgency...no desire to win.

You can see why the bookies still have ManU and Chelsea as favourites.

Not good enough.

By Dave. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 3:08 ??.

Walking in a FERGIE wonderland.

By Steve Smith. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 2:41 ??.

Rafa's nerves are going already. There is a long way to go yet but it seems Liverpool 's luck is starting to run out. There were two strikes against the woodwork near the end of the game. They would have been goals earlier on in the season.

By Paul Hughes. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 1:46 ??.

The refs have been biased for years, you only have to look at Bennetts performance in the final game wigan v united last season game to see how blatant it is.

Chelsea and Liverpool BOTH have players sent off at united last year in the first 35 minutes.

Mascherano berates Bennett and gets a red, Rooney tears strips of ref's and barely qualifies for a yellow.

Ronaldo and Rooney (especially him) get away with off the ball stamps and kicks, guess what, nowt.

Ferguson attacks Hackett and Aktinson, no punishment.

The Premier League need to ensure foreign investment and the darlings they all need to do well is united.

They are all afraid to deal with the government lovey that is ferguson, he wins one European Cup and is knighted. Paisley won three and was ignored.

The sooner Man City sign the worlds best and sink this lot into deserved obscurity the better.

The sooner Rafa wins the league and makes Ferguson retire the better.

The sooner officialdom finally stands up to the years of his abuse the better.

It can't come soon enough.

By Traxler. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 1:44 ??.

Rafa the basher - what a joke. Is he really so deluded and arrogant to believe that he is the only person in 20 years to aim a load of abuse at Fergie?. If so, he must have come from Planet Pluto! Fergie has been in the ring with many better maulers than fat Rafa, and is still up there on top. Fergie is the master blaster - haha.

By Isaidso. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 1:00 ??.

To Liverpool fans : can you sing a song for us, even if it is you'll never walk alone or liverpool,liverpool,liverpool just after you have scored (just like united)

By Ray Daniels. Posted 1? 10 2009 at 11:44 ??.

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