Liverpool secured another convincing victory on home soil on Saturday afternoon, with a thumping 5-1 win over newly promoted Hull City.
Liverpool 5-1 Hull City
Premier League, Anfield
September 24, 2016
Goals
Lallana 17′ (assist – Coutinho)
Milner 30′ (penalty)
Mane 36′ (assist – Lallana)
Meyler 51′
Coutinho 52′ (assist – Lallana)
Milner 71′ (penalty)
Welcoming Hull to Anfield for only their second home game of the season, Jurgen Klopp‘s Reds looked to continue their fine start to 2016/17.
Klopp named Loris Karius between the sticks for his Premier League debut, behind a back four of Nathaniel Clyne, Joel Matip, Ragnar Klavan and James Milner, with Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum and Adam Lallana in midfield.
Leaving Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi on the bench, the German fielded Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Philippe Coutinho in his three-man attacking line.
In front of a packed crowd at the new-look Anfield, the Reds produced a remarkably dominant display against Mike Phelan’s struggling side.
- Lallana scores third Premier League goal of season on 17 minutes
- Milner’s penalty makes it 2-0, with Elmohamady sent off
- Mane’s persistence rewarded by adding Liverpool’s third
- Meyler claws one back with powerful finish following Hull corner
- Coutinho dampens Hull hopes with long-range strike one minute later
- Sturridge earns another penalty, Milner hammers home
Starting strongly as expected, Liverpool nearly went ahead in just the fifth minute, but Matip headed Milner’s corner over the bar despite finding himself unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box.
Coutinho went even closer minutes later, but was too soft in his attempt to stab home from point-blank range, after some excellent attacking buildup play.
The Brazilian made amends shortly after, however, driving forward from a deeper position in midfield to lay in the ball into the path of Lallana, whose scuffed left-footed shot trickled past David Marshall to give Liverpool the lead.
With Liverpool completely dominant throughout the opening 30 minutes, Hull’s misery continued as Ahmed Elmohamady was sent off for a handball on the line, allowing Milner to convert from the penalty spot.
After hitting the bar with a long-range drive, Mane then made it 3-0 to the Reds, spinning in the box before firing low into the bottom corner.
This gave Klopp’s side an emphatic lead heading into half-time, and the manager will have asked for more of the same at the interval.
Phelan replaced Tom Huddlestone with centre-back Harry Maguire at half-time, moving to a five-man defensive line, giving Liverpool’s attack a new challenge for the final 45 minutes.
It was the Reds’ defence that was tested first after the break, and Hull substitute David Meyler made it count, hammering home following a corner kick.
But the fightback wasn’t to last long, as one minute later Coutinho restored Liverpool’s three-goal lead, driving past Marshall from range after a sweeping ball from Lallana.
Showcasing the embarrassment of riches at his disposal, Klopp brought on Daniel Sturridge for the final 20 minutes, adding another top-level talent to his attacking line alongside Mane, Firmino and Coutinho.
The striker didn’t take long to make an impact, with his fine footwork in the box earning another penalty, which Milner duly converted to make it 5-1.
This saw Liverpool drop off in intensity, playing the contest out to an excellent victory.
TIA Man of the Match: James Milner
Referee: Andre Marriner
Attendance: 53,109
Liverpool: Karius; Clyne, Matip, Klavan, Milner; Henderson (Can 73′), Wijnaldum, Lallana (Sturridge 68′); Mane, Coutinho (Grujic 73′), Firmino
Subs not used: Mignolet, Lucas, Moreno, Origi
Hull City: Marshall; Elmohamady, Livermore, Davies, Robertson; Clucas, Huddlestone (Maguire 46′), Mason (Henriksen 73′), Snodgrass; Hernandez, Diomande (Meyler 32′)
Subs not used: Jakupovic, Maloney, Mbokani, Keane
Next Match: Swansea City (A) – Premier League – October 1
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