Charlton 2-0 Liverpool
Liverpool slumped to a fourth Premiership defeat in their last five games, as Charlton became the lastest side to take points off Gerard Houllier's men.
Nine changes were made from the team who played in the Worthington Cup in midweek, with Gerrard and Diouf, both who played the full two hours of that match, the only survivors.
Owen had the game's first chance on 7 minutes, with a strike from over 25 yards out after being played through by Gerrard, but his effort was always drifting wide of the Charlton goal.
As the midway point of the half approached, neither 'keeper had been forced into making a save, though that changed on 22 minutes, as Kirkland was called into action when Paul Konchesky's free kick forced Kirkland into his first save of the afternoon, tipping the ball over the bar to concede the corner.
At the other end, Dean Keily had a save to make just a couple of minutes later, when Michael Owen got a header on target following great work by Diouf, but Owen did well to get his head to the ball and was unable to really get any power behind it, with Keily faced with a rather comfortable stop.
There was a worrying sight for Liverpool fans on 25 minutes though, as Kirkland looked to have picked up a serious injury when sliding out of his goal to claim the ball at the feet of Shaun Bartlett. The England under-21 keeper required almost two minutes of treatment from Dave Galley with Jerzy Dudek warming up on the touchline, but fortunately he was able to continue despite clearly still being in some pain, and Kirkland was forced into another save within a minute of the game's restart when he saved another attempt at goal by Konchesky.
Charlton were certainly enjoying more of the possesion, with the best chances of the game falling to the home side, but Liverpool attempted to change that before the break with a series of attempts on goal themselves.
Hamann was first to try his luck, when he was on the end of a chance created by Diouf, but in trying to place the ball, Hamann put his shor wide. A minute later, Heskey made a chance for himself after unning at the Charlton defence, but his fierce drive was wide, and he limped off injured almost immediately, while John Arne Riise was quick to begin his warm up.
Before Riise could get himself on the pitch though, Charlton took the lead through Jason Euell, who put the ball high into the Liverpool net after an initial shot had been blocked on the line.
Liverpool still had time in the half to find an equaliser though, and a fine cross by Riise was met by the head of Diouf in the area, but Keily made an excellent save to keep the shot out, and Michael Owen hit the rebound well over the bar from close range.
Poor defending by Liverpool could easily have led to a second Charlton goal before the break, as Kevin Lisbie raced behind the Reds' defence and looked likely to add a second for Charlton in first half stoppage time, but Kirkland pulled off another save to keep Liverpool in the match.
One goal was all Charlton needed to remain ahead at the half way stage though, with the Addicks on course for only their second league win over Liverpool in the last 19 matches between the sides.
Liverpool started the second half far better and within the first five minutes of the half, they had three chances to equalise.
Michael Owen had the first of those, but mis-hit a sitter, sending the ball almost 20 yards wide of the goal. Then, a long range shot by Riise flew narrowly over the bar, while Murphy was close to grabbing a goal himself but shooting wide from 20 yards after a good run by the midfielder.
Gerrard and Hamann also had opportunities to put Liverpool level but Dean Keily was keeping out everything which was thrown his way.
Gerard Houllier's second change of the afternoon was to bring on Baros for Djimi Traore shortly after the young left back had recieved a yellow card, as Liverpool continued to dominate the game but still couldn't find the all important equalising goal.
Not until 18 minutes into the half did Chris Kirkland get his first touch of the half, and that was to make yet another save, this time from Kevin Lisbie, who also got his foot to the rebound but couldnt keep the ball on target, instead firing over.
On 66 minutes, Danny Murphy forced Keily into another save, while Kevin Lisbie fired over at the opposite end a minute later.
A goal looked certain in coming for Liverpool, but they somehow failed to convert any of their many many chances, and it was to prove extremely costly once again as Charlton made it 2-0 on 77 minutes.
Shaun Bartlett fired in a shot which saw Kirkland produce a superb save, but Konchesky hooked the ball back over Kirkland and into the net and against the run of play, it was Charlton who were looking almost certain to collect all three points.
Liverpool created nothing of note in the final quarter of an hour, as Charlton held on to record a fourth successive win, the club's longest ever run of Premiership wins.
