Liverpool 2-1 Cardiff (Report)

Cardiff City matched their more glamorous opponents in the opening period, creating chances of their own to Fowler, Johnson and Parry but the home side probably shaded the first half. However chances for Leto and Babel went unconverted as the sides went in level at the break.


Liverpool started the second half much the brighter and took the lead early on when El Zhar thumped a superb shot from 30 yards for his first Liverpool goal and one to be savoured. Inspirational captain Steven Gerrard nearly added a second soon after but dragged his shot wide.


Cardiff City came back into it with a decent spell and got the all important next goal when Paul Parry swung a corner from the right and Darren Purse did brilliantly to head back across goal and into the net.

However, it was moments later that Liverpool re-took their lead, great work by Benayoun saw the ball squared to Steven Gerrard to finish and put the Reds back in control.


The swift Liverpool reply knocked the wind out of Cardiff and is was the Reds who looked the more dangerous, with Cardiff running out of ideas and missing any real pace. The superior quality of Liverpool`s subs was paying and Oakes saved well from Peter Crouch although Fowler saw a shot on the turn well blocked by Arbeloa.


Time ran out for the Bluebirds as some late pressure saw a Parry shot deflected over after substitute Steve Thompson made a nuisance of himself. It wasn`t to be and Liverpool, despite a few scares, were fairly comfortable in victory. We fought chard and gave a good account of ourselves, hopefully we can build on this and improve the league form.

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