Dirk Kuyt scored his first Premier League goal since November to secure a dramatic 3-2 victory for Liverpool at Manchester City.

The Holland striker rattled the ball home in stoppage time to stun 10-man City.

• Benitez hails determination

The home side had raced into a two-goal lead in the first half through Stephen Ireland and Javier Garrido.

Fernando Torres pulled a goal back before City's Pablo Zabaleta was sent off.

The momentum was then with Liverpool with Torres adding a second before Kuyt, who was guilty of a shocking earlier miss, having the final word.

Liverpool almost went ahead as early as the fourth minute when Albert Riera got a good touch and goalkeeper Joe Hart had to look alert to turn his effort around the post.

The visitors kept up the pressure and launched a swift counter-attack in the 15th minute. Javier Mascherano, who was preferred to Robbie Keane tried to send Steven Gerrard clear.

However Shaun Wright-Phillips showed his defensive qualities to get in a crucial challenge.

Three minutes later Kuyt should have put Liverpool ahead only to sky his shot over the top in front of the post after Riera had set up the opening.

City made the breakthrough a minute later thanks to Ireland's third goal of the season.

Wright-Phillips did well to cut the ball back from the by-line but it seemed to get stuck under Robinho's feet.

However it eventually fell to Ireland and the ever-improving midfielder rifled an unstoppable shot into the corner.

Whenever Liverpool did break forward City were defending in numbers from front to back.

Xabi Alonso tried his luck from distance in the 38th minute but Hart was equal to his effort.

City extended their lead three minutes later after Wright-Phillips was bundled over Riera, who had a spell on loan at Eastlands.

Garrido stepped up and sent a superb free-kick over a stunned Reina for his first goal for the club.

However it was game on the 56th minute with Liverpool pulling a goal back through Torres.

England midfielder Steven Gerrard, a subdued figure in the first half, began the move by releasing Alvaro Arbeloa.

He skipped to the byline before delivering a cross into the path of Torres, who scored from close range.

It was the Spain striker's fourth goal of the league campaign and came on the back of his brace in the victory over Everton.

This was now a test of character for City, whose own form in the domestic campaign has been a little bit inconsistent.

However they hit back and Wright-Phillips skipped down the wing in the 65th minute, leaving Liverpool players trailing in his wake.

He picked out Robinho but he was unable to test Reina, his effort going over the bar.

The game took a dramatic twist in the 68th minute when City were reduced to 10 men.

Zabaleta was sent off by referee Peter Walton for what the official deemed as a two-footed lunge on Alonso, who needed brief treatment.

Keane was introduced at the expense of Mascherano in the 72nd minute and a minute later Liverpool were level.

Torres peeled away from his marker as Gerrard swung in the corner and thumped home a header.

He had a chance of completing his hat-trick in the 82nd minute only to send his effort at the back post wide of the target.

Kuyt then secured the points in stoppage time, smashing the ball high into the net after Torres' shot had bobbled off Dunne and into his path.

Benitez hails determination
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez praised his side for the "fantastic'' character that enabled them to stretch their unbeaten run to 12 matches.
Benitez said: "Our character and determination shone through in the second half. It was fantastic. We were made to pay for two mistakes but we went on to show a good mentality to win the game,'' said Benitez.

"The belief of the players was the key to our success. I just told the team at half-time that we just needed one goal to get back in the game. Physically were are in good condition as well and the players are ready for every game.''

Benitez acknowledged the key contribution from Torres who is hitting top form.

"We all know how important Torres is for us,'' said the Liverpool boss. "He is always a threat for defenders. He can score goals and he also gives space to his team-mates. He is a great boy with an excellent mentality.''

Torres sparked the Reds fightback by pulling a goal back before Pablo Zabaleta was sent off for the home side by referee Peter Walton following a challenge on Xabi Alonso. City manager Mark Hughes had no complaints about the sending off after watching TV replays.

He said: "I have seen it in slow motion and he makes contact with the player's standing leg. Pablo has cleared the ball and the man as well. I can see why the referee has given it.

"That made it difficult for us as it is hard enough with 11 men against the top four teams, never mind being a man down.''

Hughes added: "I thought we were excellent in the first half and took the game to Liverpool. We caused them a lot of problems. The disappointing thing from our point of view is we let them back into the game so early in the second half.

"Then, after the sending off, we just tried to get through the game only for Liverpool to get the win when maybe we should have had something to show for our efforts.''

Benitez admits he fears the worst regarding Skrtel's knee injury.

"We have to wait for the scan but we think it could be serious. When a player like Martin is on the ground you know it's serious so we will keep our fingers crossed that it won't be too bad.''

10:28 AM
Categories: EPL result, Fernando Torres, Liverpool, Manchester City. Author: nik

Dirk Kuyt admitted the Liverpool players were hugely frustrated after they were robbed of what seemed like a legitimate goal in Saturday's goalless draw at home to Stoke City.

The Dutch forward felt Steven Gerrard's third minute free-kick was harshly ruled out for offside but was honest enough to suggest the Reds should have made more of the chances they created during a hugely one-sided 90 minutes.

"We thought we'd scored a goal through Stevie but the referee has said he disallowed it for offside," Kuyt told Liverpoolfc.tv. "That's frustrating but we still had time to overcome that disappointment and score another goal.

"We had a lot of possession and created a lot of chances but at the end of the day you have to score goals to win matches."

The stalemate with the Barclays Premier League newcomers means Liverpool's hopes of maintaining a prolonged 'perfect' record at Anfield are already over after just three matches.

It is particularly frustrating for the Reds coming on the back of last weekend's magnificent triumph against Manchester United and Kuyt felt they were unlucky not to take more than a point from a clash they dominated from start to finish.

"You always want to win your home games, especially against opposition like Stoke," he said.

"It was like a game of attack against defence where they had 10 men behind the ball all the time. But it's our job to break them down and although we made a number of openings we weren't able to convert them.

"Sometimes football is like this. You deserve to win but at the end you are unlucky. After beating Manchester United last week it was a good chance to build up some momentum and it's disappointing that we didn't manage to do it.

"But we must look ahead now, go to Everton next week and put this result behind us with a win. We got a good win there last season and I have good memories from that game too, so hopefully it can be the same again."

Kuyt also had words of support for strike duo Fernando Torres and Robbie Keane who have yet to hit top form so far this season.

"The goals will come for Fernando and Robbie," he said. "We have no worries. They will score goals."

11:59 AM
Categories: Dirk Kuyt, EPL result, Liverpool, Stoke City. Author: nik