Charlton 3-2 Liverpool
Liverpool lost their first away game of the season this afternoon, going down 3-2 at the Valley.
As with Liverpool's previous few games in the league, it was a thrilling game to watch with plenty of chances at each end.
However, it wasn't until almost 15 minutes of the game that the first shot on target arrived, but when it fell to Smicer, he made sure that it was also going to be the first goal of the game. A fantastic 30 yard through ball played behind the defence by Kewell set up Smicer, and the Czech collected the pass well and chipped his shot just over Dean Keily and into the bottom corner.
Liverpool grew in confidence after the goal and passed the ball about extremely well, with one particular move shortly after the goal seeing the Reds complete more than two dozen passes before a ball was played forward to Heskey, but the big forward was unfortunately ruled offside, denying Liverpool from having a chance of scoring a goal which the build up deserved.
While Liverpool's attacking players were looking in good form, so too were the defence during the opening querter of the game, with Biscan and
Hyypia coping well every time Charlton came forward, although Chris Perry did get a shot on goal with a volley direct from a corner after getting a foot just in front of Biscan. Fortunately the shot on that occasion was off targte, but Charlton did draw level 6 minutes later when Kevin Lisbie chipped over Dudek from the edge of the area after Liverpool had been sliced open with an accurate ball by ..., similar to the pass which Kewell had produced to set up the game's opening goal.
Both sides were close to taking the lead within the next five minutes, as firstly Heskey had a goal ruled out due to being narrowly offside, and Jerzy Dudek had to block a shot by Lisbie, who looked certain to put his team ahead after getting past the Reds' defence and being left with just the 'keeper to beat.
Lisbie had an even better chance with 3 minutes of the half remaining, and this time he took the opportunity to give Charlton a half time lead, knocking the ball into the net after Dudek had only managed to parry Shaun Bartlett's initial strike through a crowded penalty area.
Charlton continued to look for goals after the break rather than trying to hold onto their lead, and the second half was another 45 minutes of exciting end to end football, with Liverpool the side who struck the first goal of the half, thanks to another penalty from Michael Owen, awarded after Heskey had been held by Chris Perry.
But that was to be the final goal scored in front of the travelling Liverpool fans with Dean Keily rarely tested. The closest Liverpool came again to scoring was in injury time, when Harry Kewell fired a low volley onto the post via a small deflection. By then it was too late though, due to Kevin Lisbie's third goal of the afternoon on 83 minutes.
The Charlton forward, who had been heavily criticized by supporters during the previous week, ran a full 60 yards of the pitch before curling a low shot into the bottom corner. Dudek, who perhaps should have done better with the second goal, could do nothing, although Hyypia, who was at fault for the first goal, was slow to challenge the Charlton forward.
The defending overall was extremely poor by Liverpool, and with Arsenal the visitors to Anfield next weekend, the Reds cannot afford a second successive poor showing at the back if they are to keep in touch with the league leaders.
LFC-1 Star Man: Harry Kewell
