LuaLua leveller pegs back Liverpool
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
Article summary
Portsmouth FC's Lomana LuaLua headed an added-time equaliser to deny Liverpool FC three important points.
Article body
Simple chance
Steven Gerrard's powerful strike with 20 minutes left seemed to have given the home side a morale-boosting victory after their 1-0 derby defeat at Everton FC on Saturday. However, goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek's failure to deal with an inswinging cross from Matthew Taylor allowed LuaLua the simplest of headed equalisers.
Gerrard goal
Gerrard, who scored a crucial late goal against Olympiacos CFP last week to put Liverpool into the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League, was again his side's most influential player. The Liverpool captain broke the deadlock in the 70th minute, crashing a rising shot in off the post from 25 metres after Dietmar Hamann rolled a free-kick into his path.
Missed opportunities
Liverpool dominated possession and were guilty of wasting several good chances, with Harry Kewell, Antonio Núñez and Hamann all failing to convert presentable opportunities, and LuaLua's late leveller made Rafael Benítez's side pay. The result moved Liverpool on to 25 points and into sixth place, while Portsmouth remained tenth.
