Liverpool Vs Standard, Liveblog.

By: Rob | August 13th, 2008

Its been awful quiet round here recently. I’ve been on holiday, and have my shiny new EPL Blog to play with, and my co-bloggers are oddly silent. Tonight though, to make it up to you, I should be liveblogging the Third Qualifying Round First Leg Match between Standard Leige and Liverpool. I say should, because I have to sort out a few technical issues my end (read, dodgy wireless connection) but it should be fine. I’ve also not ever done a game live before, but it should be fun, no? Come back here about 8pm GMT, and I’ll give you the lo-down.

OK we should be go pretty soon. I should also say that a full roundup of the Quali round will come either after FT or tomorrow morning.

So here we go.

8:00 – Looking forward to this. Liverpool obviously always good in Europe. I had a bit of a run in with the Liverpool Offside last season when i said Steven Gerrard was a bit of a diver, but I would like to say there’s no hard feelings.

8:02 – Adventurus from Rafa, Gerrard not risked, but 442, with both Keane and Torres. Which is quite exciting.

8:05 – We’re on! Woo the season has started!

8:10 – Electricity was lost in my house. Don’t think I missed much though.

8:12 – According to Robbie Earle, ex-Wimbledon and ITV commentator, Robbie Keane is playing the Gerrard role

8:13 – Standard have scored! no wait, it didn’t cross the line! FK came in, free header, came off the inside of the post, and bounces away. Close Shave for Liverpool.

8:16 – Penalty! Cross-shot charged down and handball given, but it looked like it was outside the box.

8:17 – Reina saves the Pen! Liverpool holding on by the skin of thier teeth. Justice done probably.

- Awful pen too by the way.

8:22 – Really lively game, end to end, Standard really holding thier own.

8:24 – Clever ball in for Standard, but Offside called. Liverpool on the ropes.

8: 25 – Liverpool get a FK from what i thought was a good challenge. Cross from Alonso is headed away.

8:27 – Carra beaten in the air again. Confident play from Standard.

8: 28 – Impressed with Dalmat the wideman for Standard. Good player on the ball.

8:29 – Good passing from Standard, eventually intercepted. Good break from Liverpool but Torres and Keane not quite clicking yet.

8:30 – This will give you some idea of how well Standard are playing, Liverpool are just passing the ball around the defence, to slow the game up a bit.

8:40 – My bank just phoned me so i missed the last ten minutes. Hope nothing massive happened.

8:41 – Daniel Agger’s shirt is ripped from something. Possibly not the best Adidas advert ever.

8:43 – Xavi Alonso curled in a FK, but it ends up over the bar.

8:45 – According to ITV’s commentators, Liverpool “came to see Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, but Rambo is showing”. Me either.

8:47 – Clash of heads in the middle of the pitch, looks nasty. Both are ok.

8:49 – Alonso bends in another FK, headed away at the far post.

8:50 – I assume we’ll see Gerrard at some stage 100% or not.

8: 52 – HALF TIME – Liverpool on the ropes really. Loads to think about though, the pen, the goal that nearly was, good call from ITV to have this one.

I’m gonna change to minutes from the time after half time, just to mess you all up. And because it makes more sense.

Looking at the big descions – the ball didn’t cross the line, and the pen was outside the box. Apparently Liverpool had a penalty shout, where it hit the wall, but I’m not sure about that one either.

If your wondering about other games – Dyanmo Kiev beat Spartak Moscow 4-1, Shaktar beat Dynamo Zagreb 2-0, Olympiakos lost 3-0. Shalke are 1-0 at Athletico, Arsenal are 1-0 against Steve McClaren’s Twente, Juve are 3-0 up and Fener are 2-1 down.

45 – Kick off again. Commentators are prematurely comparing Keane and Torres to all the great Liverpool strike pairings of the past.

46 – New tactic for this season. Cross came in from Standard, and Reina came, Agger jumped into him and Reina got the FK as he was impeeded.

49 – Barca have gone 2-0 up against Wisla Krakow

50 – Liverpool undone twice by Standard, a good cut back from the byline, but the strike was poor, then from the clearance, a long ball came in and a skuffed shot lets Liverpool off the hook.

52 – Standard look good but you do feel that they have to score tonight, Liverpool are always better at Anfield.

53 – Cute thru ball from Standard, but Offside.

54 – Liverpool pretty much resorted to long balls to Torres and Keane. They miss Crouchy already. I have Peter Crouch on Facebook.

54 – Galatasaray vs Steaua finished 2-2.

55 – Torres and Keane fail to link up properly, a shame, Liverpool had a good break.

58 – Lots of shots of the crowd. Gives you some idea.

59 – Torres shot from 30 yards. Way Wide.

60 – Arsenal are Two up. Bye bye Steve McClaren.

61 – Venom filled shot, hits Alonso and bounces wide.

63 – Sammy Lee talking with Stevie G. Might see him soon.

64 – Carra looks absolute knackered. Just had to chase down another through ball.

65 – Brilliant chance for Standard! Beatifully floated in ball from Dante and headed just wide. Should have got it on target.

66 – Robbie Keane had a chance, but wouldn’t fall to him.

67 – Gerrard on, Keane off. Not the best day for Robbie Keane. I can’t remember if he ever found a teammate with a pass.

68 – Ball hits Carra in the box, but not given. Pens aren’t ever given against Cara are they
- It was his head though. He thought about handeling it but headed it instead. Good call from the ref.

70 – Long shot from Alonso 5 yards outside the box, wide. Late challenge on him though gives Liverpool a FK. Gerrard can hit these, with his unorthadox style.
- Good effort from Gerrard, just over.

72 – Good defending from Cara from another through ball. Arsenal have finished 2-0 up.
73 – Another super diagonal ball from Dantes, leaves Reina in no mans land, but cleared by Agger.

74 – Alonso down with a bit of a dead leg.

75 – Great ball from Gerrard, Banayoun offside. He wasn’t though.

77 – Standard have created some good stuff, but just lacking that final bit of quality in the box. If Liverpool were playing a top side, they’d be a few down I think.

81 – Game has slowed up a bit

83 – Standard could easily have a penalty there, big push in the box not near the ball.

84 – Oh yeah, Torres is playing! He just got chopped down.

86 – Dante has been the star for Standard, really running the show in midfield.

88 – Standard really could do with a goal to go to Anfield with, otherwise its a bit uphill.

89 – Liverpool have a FK about 30 yards out. Will Gerrard be the hero here?
- Pretty much right at the keeper from Gerrard.

90 – Good cross in from Standard, no one could get on the end of it.

Full Time. All over. 0-0. Standard the better side, but no advantage going into the second leg, but alot of confidence. Hangs in the balance.