Besiktas 2, Liverpool 1 - Post match analysis

Oct 25 2007 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

THIS time there was to be no comeback in Istanbul. Now Liverpool are left facing another fightback to keep their Champions League campaign alive.

A repeat of that incredible experience of 2005 is required after Rafael Benitez’s side slumped to a dismal defeat against Besiktas last night that dumped them to the bottom of Group A.

It was a game regarded by the Spaniard as one his team could not afford to lose. Yet Marseille’s draw with Porto in last night’s other group game means Liverpool ’s fate remains more or less in their own hands.

That, though, was only token consolation after an evening which highlighted the present shortcomings of Benitez’s side.

There is no further margin for error, although there is a slight chance wins in all three of their final group games won’t be enough to qualify for the knockout stages. However, the evidence so far of this Champions League suggests Liverpool will struggle to gain the nine points to give themselves a chance of progress; even UEFA Cup qualification is now in jeopardy.

For the second time in four days Sami Hyypia was an unwitting villain, diverting Serder Ozkan’s misdirected shot into his own net.

But the Finn wasn’t the only player to suffer during a listless Liverpool display, a setback that can be no surprise given their indifferent form over the past six weeks.

Brazilian Bobo’s late finish on the counter-attack rubbed salt into the gaping wound for Benitez’s side, and became even more pivotal after Steven Gerrard pulled a goal back with a powerful header from 15 yards with five minutes remaining.

Gerrard, restored to central midfield after spending the derby on the right flank, the left flank and then the bench, was – an impressive late Yossi Benayoun cameo apart – the only Liverpool player to approach his best form.

After the high of Goodison comes this crushing low, a second defeat of the season. Marseille was bad but, given the perceived strength of the opposition, this defeat was much worse. Arsenal will hardly be shaking in their boots at the prospect of visiting Anfield on Sunday.

A late cavalry charge culminating with an insane injury-time period almost snatched a draw for Benitez’s men, but in truth even a point would have been undeserved against a Besiktas team that, while offering some flashes of quality on the night, should have been beaten.

Yes, Liverpool had 28 shots on goal and yes, Besiktas goalkeeper Hakan Arikan was possibly the man of the match. But such failure to convert chances has been a recurring theme this season and one that has shown previous few signs of abating.

Certainly, the return to full fitness of Daniel Agger, Alvaro Arbeloa, Fernando Torres and Xabi Alonso – an unused substitute last night – cannot come soon enough, reinforcements especially required in a defence that has started to creak in alarming fashion.

Benitez had correctly pinpointed that Besiktas’s narrow formation would give Liverpool plenty of room down the flanks, with wingers Ryan Babel and Jermaine Pennant restored to the starting line-up for that reason.

However, too often forward movements would flounder with the final pass, and even when the crosses did arrive, neither Dirk Kuyt nor Andriy Voronin caused the Besiktas defence much concern. You wonder what difference Peter Crouch – oddly benched until Liverpool fell two behind – would have made.

How the locals celebrated this victory. The hardcore ‘Carsi’ section of the Besiktas support created the loudest recorded noise at a football match two years ago when reaching the 132 decibel level in a derby against Fenerbahce – breaking the previous record held by Liverpool fans.

And while the intimate Inonu Stadium wasn’t quite the “Welcome to Hell” of which Istanbul rivals Galatasaray lay claim, a buoyed Besiktas fed off the passionate support of the home crowd.

It contrasted with Liverpool’s following. More than 40,000 fans made the long trip to the Turkish capital for the Champions League final two years, yet barely 500 made the same journey last night.

Given the equally meagre turnout in Porto last month, it begs the question of whether it’s not just the Anfield players who have prioritised the Premier League.

Besiktas, beaten by both Marseille and Porto already in the group, were also seeking the win that would kickstart their European campaign and it ensured a lively opening.

Inside the first seven minutes, Steve Finnan escaped calls for a penalty when the ball bounced up and struck his arm as he shaped to clear a free-kick, Pepe Reina was thankful to see Ozkan’s deflected shot drop on to the roof of the net, Ibrahim Toraman blocked Babel’s goalbound effort after the Dutchman was cleverly sent clear by compatriot Kuyt and Voronin saw an effort cleared off the line by Rodrigo Tello.

But for the third Champions League game in succession Liverpool fell behind, conceding a calamitous, comedy goal in an unlucky 13th minute.

Jamie Carragher executed a textbook challenge inside the area to halt Bobo’s probing run, but the centre-back’s subsequent clearance while prone on the turf bounced invitingly off Finnan to the incoming Ozkan, whose shot then bobbled beyond Reina after striking Hyypia.

Liverpool sought a quick response. Voronin and Babel were off target from range and John Arne Riise forced Arikan to turn the ball over before the Besiktas goalkeeper blocked from Gerrard after the skipper initiating a flowing move involving Voronin and Kuyt.

The boisterous Besiktas support were already celebrating victory with more than half an hour remaining, but a panicked hush descended upon the stadium when Gerrard slashed a volley inches wide from 20 yards after Voronin’s knockdown.

Benayoun, on for the ineffective Pennant, had the ball in the net midway through the second half but Voronin was flagged offside from Mascherano’s header forward.

Gerrard then created an opening by exchanging passes with Benayoun but Arikan raced out to bravely smother and, with the game increasingly stretched, Reina had to make a similar block to deny Federico Higuain.

Benayoun was hounded out at the far post attempting to convert a bulldozing run and cross from Babel down the left, before Bobo posted a contender for the miss of the millennium by somehow contriving to put Ozkan’s cross over from a yard out.

But it was only brief respite for Liverpool, the Brazilian making no mistake by putting the ball through Reina’s legs when put clear with nine minutes remaining.

The tireless Gerrard finally got his goal with a header from 15 yards that floated over Arikan after Crouch caused confusion in the area.

Liverpool besieged the Besiktas goal during stoppage time but Crouch, Benayoun, Kuyt, Gerrard and Carragher all failed to breach Arikan’s goal.

“The Kop Gitulan” – The Kop is history – read a banner in the home end. For this Champions League campaign at least, Liverpool will hope it doesn’t prove prophetic.