ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: Blackpool 2 Liverpool 1: NO ONE ever said it was going to be easy. It was a 2-1 defeat against Blackpool three months ago that first demonstrated the depth of feeling against Roy Hodgson and Liverpool's longing for the return of Kenny Dalglish.
Their saviour is back, but so too is the feeling of despondency against Ian Holloway’s indefatigable side.
That Liverpool could still not lay any legitimate claim of superiority over a club revelling in its debut Premier League season illustrates, once again, how far they have sunk.
To put this into context, Blackpool last recorded a league double over Liverpool in 1946-47. Liverpool have now won only once in 10 league away matches this season and, when DJ Campbell stooped unmarked to head home Ian Evatt’s centre in the 69th minute, they never looked likely to correct that dismal statistic.
Dalglish’s line-up contained a few surprises that, had his predecessor made them, would have opened an inquest before kick off. Christian Poulsen was brought out of hibernation in central midfield. The forgotten Milan Jovanovic returned to the left of the attack and while there was a recall for Glen Johnson, he came in the unaccustomed role of left back as Martin Kelly retained his place following an encouraging display at Old Trafford on Sunday.
There was a vibrancy and balance to the visitors immediately and, with less than three minutes on the clock, Dalglish had also made good on a pre-match promise to rehabilitate Fernando Torres from his prolonged slumber. The Spain international put Liverpool ahead with a superb finish in his first attack.
Kelly, advancing into acres of space from right back, was effectively shown where to place the ball by Blackpool’s disjointed defence and released Torres on the right of the box. Ian Evatt was neither close enough to steer the striker wide or sufficiently advanced for his offside claims, leaving Torres free to stroll forward and find the roof of Richard Kingson’s net from the angle.
Liverpool continued to attack with menace but were never going to monopolise the spirit of adventure against Ian Holloway’s side, who showed 10 changes from the FA Cup defeat at Southampton on Saturday and levelled nine minutes later.
Torres played Raul Meireles into trouble with what should have been a simple lay-off on the halfway line and the stretching Portugal international then turned his pass straight to David Vaughan, who wasted no time in striking at the heart of the Liverpool defence with a pass to Gary Taylor-Fletcher. The forward cut inside Daniel Agger too easily, gave Jose Reina the eyes, and rolled a composed finish into the bottom corner.
Holloway’s team almost took the lead moments later when Campbell completed a game of head tennis inside the Liverpool area with a glancing effort wide. He should have at least made Reina work, as his angst-ridden reaction testified.
Liverpool stuck to their plan of trying to work a way behind the Blackpool full backs but the home side controlled far more of the game after the interval.
In David Vaughan, the €240,000 Wales international, Blackpool had the most composed central midfielder on the pitch while Luke Varney, so often key to his team’s prospects, began to prosper down the left against Kelly.
Reina saved a powerful drive from the sought-after Charlie Adam, and how Blackpool must resist all offers for their influential captain this month regardless of where they come from. He also tipped over Vaughan’s shot from the edge of the area after Taylor-Fletcher nut-megged Johnson and crossed low from the left.
Campbell converted the winner on 69 minutes after Neal Eardley’s deep cross from the right was headed back across goal by Evatt. Though Liverpool had a strong penalty appeal for handball dismissed by the referee Michael Oliver, they rarely threatened an equaliser.
Guardian Service
BLACKPOOL: Kingson; Eardley, Cathcart, Evatt, Crainey, Grandin (Phillips 64), Adam, Vaughan, Taylor-Fletcher (Baptiste 84), Campbell, Varney (Southern 83). Subs not used: Rachubka, Ormerod, Euell, Sylvestre. Booked: Adam.
LIVERPOOL:Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Kelly, Meireles, Poulsen (Ngog 85), Lucas, Jovanovic, Torres, Kuyt (Shelvey 76). Subs not used: Gulacsi, Konchesky, Kyrgiakos, Maxi, Wilson. Booked: Jovanovic, Kelly, Torres. .
Referee:M Oliver (England).
