2008–09 Liverpool F.C. season

Liverpool
2008–09 season
Chairman Tom Hicks and George Gillett
Manager Rafael Benítez
Stadium Anfield
Premier League 2nd
FA Cup Fourth round
League Cup Fourth round
UEFA Champions League Quarter-finals
Top goalscorer League:
Steven Gerrard (16)

All:
Steven Gerrard (24)
Highest home attendance 44,424 vs. Arsenal
(21 April 2009)
Lowest home attendance 28,591 vs. Crewe Alexandra
(23 September 2008)
Average home league attendance 43,611[1]
Home colours
Away colours
Third colours

The 2008–09 season was the 117th season of competitive football played by Liverpool. It began on 1 July 2008 and concluded on 20 June 2009, with competitive matches played between August and May. Liverpool finished the previous season in fourth place behind Manchester United and Chelsea and Arsenal . The club ended the campaign in second place, four points behind Manchester United, with a record of 25 wins, 11 draws and 2 losses. Liverpool fared below par in the cups, eliminated in the fourth round of the FA Cup and Football League Cup by Everton and Tottenham Hotspur respectively. They exited the UEFA Champions League in the quarter-finals to Chelsea.

Liverpool purchased a few players in the transfer market early in the season, with Philipp Degen, Andrea Dossena and Diego Cavalieri arriving in early July. Those arrivals were supplemented with the addition of striker Robbie Keane from Tottenham and midfielder Albert Riera later in the transfer window. Goalkeeper Scott Carson and striker Peter Crouch were sold in the summer transfer window, while six months after arriving Keane was sold back to Tottenham in the winter transfer window.

Liverpool began the season in good form; they won eight of their first ten matches before suffering a loss against Tottenham. They picked up their form after the loss and a 5–1 victory over Newcastle United at the end of 2008, ensured they would be top going into the new year. Three successive draws at the turn of the year meant Manchester United caught Liverpool and a 2–0 loss at the end of February to Midlesbrough dented their hopes of winning the league. After the loss, Liverpool won ten of their final eleven matches, which included a 4–1 victory over Manchester United. The run was not enough to overhaul United and they finished four points behind in second place.

Twenty-six different players represented the club in four competitions, and there were 16 different goalscorers. Liverpool's top goalscorer was Steven Gerrard, who scored 24 goals in 44 matches. Defender Jamie Carragher made the most appearances during the season with 54.

Background

Striker Robbie Keane joined Liverpool in July 2008, but returned to Tottenham Hotspur in January 2009.

The 2007–08 season was unsuccessful for Liverpool. Despite new signing Fernando Torres scoring 33 goals in all competitions, including 24 in the Premier League, Liverpool finished in fourth place, 11 points behind eventual winners Manchester United. The club fared little better in the cup competitions. They exited the FA Cup in the fifth round, losing 2–1 to Championship club Barnsley at Anfield.[2] A 2–0 defeat against Chelsea resulted in the club's exit from the Football League Cup in the quarter-finals.[3] Liverpool fared better in European competition, where they reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League. For the fourth consecutive year in the competition, they faced Chelsea, but lost the tie 4–3 on aggregate.[4]

Liverpool made a number of additions to their squad during the pre-season. Defenders Philipp Degen and Andrea Dossena were the first to arrive from Borussia Dortmund and Udinese respectively.[5][6] Goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri was signed from Brazilian club Palmeiras as backup to Pepe Reina,[7] while French striker David N'Gog joined from Paris Saint-Germain.[8] The biggest signing of the summer transfer window was the purchase of striker Robbie Keane from Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of £19.3 million.[9] Midfielder Albert Riera joined from Spanish club Espanyol at the end of the summer transfer window.[10]

At the end of the 2007–08 season, Liverpool sold a number of players. Defender John Arne Riise was sold to Serie A club Roma after seven years at the club.[11] Forward Anthony Le Tallec was sold to French club Le Mans,[12] while midfielder Harry Kewell joined Turkish club Galatasaray on a free transfer.[13] Later in July, striker Peter Crouch joined his former club, Portsmouth, for £11 million and goalkeeper Scott Carson was sold to West Bromwich Albion.[14][15] Defender Steve Finnan and midfielder Danny Guthrie left the club in August to join Espanyol and Newcastle United respectively.[16][17] During the January transfer window, striker Robbie Keane returned to Tottenham after only six months at the club.[18] Sebastián Leto joined Olympiacos on a two-year loan after his application for a work permit was rejected,[19] while striker Andriy Voronin was loaned to Hertha BSC.[20]

The biggest change going into the new season was Chelsea appointing Brazilian Luiz Felipe Scolari as manager to replace Avram Grant. When asked for his opinion on Scolari, Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez stated, "He is a good manager with a lot of experience and passion. Chelsea are a good team with a strong squad and I thought Avram Grant did a good job for them, and Scolari will want to do the same."[21] Chelsea were regarded as the favourites to challenge champions Manchester United for the title, while Liverpool were expected to struggle initially as their new signings adapted to the squad.[22] The Guardian's Paul Doyle opined, "If they are to sustain a challenge for the title beyond Christmas, Liverpool will have to develop the offensive diversity and unpredictability to turn last season's costly draws against smaller teams into victories."[23]

Transfers

In

No. Position Player Transferred from Fee Date Ref
27 DF Degen, PhilippPhilipp Degen Borussia Dortmund Free 4 July 2008 [5]
2 DF Dossena, AndreaAndrea Dossena Udinese £7,000,000 4 July 2008 [6]
1 GK Cavalieri, DiegoDiego Cavalieri Palmeiras £3,000,000 11 July 2008 [7]
24 FW N'Gog, DavidDavid N'Gog Paris Saint-Germain £1,500,000 24 July 2008 [8]
7 FW Keane, RobbieRobbie Keane Tottenham Hotspur £19,300,000 28 July 2008 [9]
FW Flora, VitorVitor Flora Botafogo Free 1 September 2008 [24]
42 GK Gulácsi, PéterPéter Gulácsi MTK Undisclosed 1 September 2008 [24]
11 MF Riera, AlbertAlbert Riera Espanyol £8,000,000 1 September 2008 [10]

Out

No. Position Player Transferred to Fee Date Ref
6 DF Riise, John ArneJohn Arne Riise Roma £4,000,000 1 July 2008 [11]
FW Le Tallec, AnthonyAnthony Le Tallec Le Mans £1,100,000 5 July 2008 [12]
7 MF Kewell, HarryHarry Kewell Galatasaray Free 5 July 2008 [13]
GK Carson, ScottScott Carson West Bromwich Albion £3,250,000 18 July 2008 [15]
15 FW Crouch, PeterPeter Crouch Portsmouth £11,000,000 11 July 2008 [14]
3 DF Finnan, SteveSteve Finnan Espanyol Undisclosed 1 September 2008 [16]
MF Guthrie, DannyDanny Guthrie Newcastle United £2,250,000 11 July 2008 [17]
7 FW Keane, RobbieRobbie Keane Tottenham Hotspur £12,000,000 2 February 2009 [18]

Loaned out

No. Position Player Loaned to Date Ref
33 MF Leto, SebastiánSebastián Leto Olympiacos 5 August 2008 [19]
10 FW Voronin, AndriyAndriy Voronin Hertha BSC 1 September 2008 [20]

Pre-season matches

DateOpponents VenueResultScoreScorers Attendance
12 July 2008 Tranmere RoversA W1–0Benayoun 43' 15,000
16 July 2008 LucerneA W2–1Lucas 10', Voronin 36' 9,500
19 July 2008 Wisła KrakówA D1–1Voronin 6' 6,000
22 July 2008 Hertha BSCA D0–0 51,684
30 July 2008 VillarrealA D0–0 22,000
2 August 2008 RangersA W4–0Torres 22', N'Gog 56', Benayoun 58', Alonso 70' (pen.) 50,223
5 August 2008 VålerengaA W4–1Alonso 19', Torres 49', Benayoun 60', N'Gog 84' 25,337
8 August 2008 LazioH W1–0Voronin 90+3' 43,062

Source:[25]

Premier League

A total of 20 teams competed in the Premier League in the 2008–09 season. Each team played 38 matches; two against every other team and one match at each club's stadium. Three points were awarded for each win, one point per draw, and none for defeats. At the end of the season the top two teams qualified for the group stages of the UEFA Champions League; teams in third and fourth needed to play a qualifier.[26] The provisional fixture list was released on 16 June 2008, but was subject to change in the event of clashes with other competitions, international football, inclement weather, or matches being selected for television coverage.[27]

August–October

Fernando Torres scored Liverpool's first goal of the season in the Premier League.

Liverpool travelled to Sunderland on the opening weekend of the season. The match was goalless until the 83rd when striker Fernando Torres scored from 25 yards (23 m) to secure a 1–0 victory for the club.[28] The following weekend, Liverpool hosted Middlesbrough at Anfield. The visitors went ahead in the 70th minute when Mido scored. They appeared to be heading for victory, until the 86th minute when Jamie Carragher's shot deflected off Middlesbrough defender Emmanuel Pogatetz into the Middlesbrough goal. In the sixth minute of stoppage time, Steven Gerrard scored from the edge of the penalty area to secure a 2–1 victory for Liverpool.[29] A trip to Villa Park to face Aston Villa was next for Liverpool. Torres was forced off with an injury within the first half hour and both sides failed to capitalise on chances to win, as the match finished 0–0.[30]

Due to international fixtures, Liverpool did not play another game for two weeks. On the resumption of club football, they faced reigning champions Manchester United at home. Liverpool started without Gerrarnd and Torres, who were substitutes following their return from injury. The visitors took the lead in the third minute when Carlos Tevez scored. An own goal by United defender Wes Brown levelled the score in the 27th minute. Liverpool took control of the match following their equaliser, but it was not until the 71st minute that they asserted their dominance, when substitute Ryan Babel scored. United's misery was compounded when defender Nemanja Vidić was sent off in the 90th minute for a second bookable offence. The win marked the first time, Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez had beaten United in the League since his arrival in 2004.[31]

The following weekend, Stoke City were the visitors to Anfield. Liverpool appeared to have taken the lead in the second minute when Gerrard scored from a free-kick, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Despite a number of chances, neither side was able to score and the match finished 0–0.[32] Benítez was adamant Gerrard's goal should not have been disallowed stating: "Nobody knows why the effort was ruled out."[33] Liverpool's next match was against local rivals Everton in the Merseyside derby. Following a goalless first half, Torres scored twice in three minutes to secure a 2–0 win.[34] Torres was confident Liverpool could challenge for the title following the victory: "We know if we can stay near the top of the table in January or February we can win it."[35]

Manchester City were the opposition the following week, as Liverpool travelled to their home ground, the City of Manchester Stadium. A poor first-half saw them go 2–0, following goals from Stephen Ireland and Javier Garrido. However, Liverpool improved in the second half and two goals from Torres levelled the score. A draw appeared likely until Dirk Kuyt scored in the 90th minute to give Liverpool a 3–2 victory.[36] The following weekend, Liverpool faced Wigan Athletic at Anfield. Liverpool went behind when Wigan striker Amr Zaki opened the scoring, Kuyt equalised in the 37th minute, before Zaki scored again in the 45th minute. Liverpool struggled to find an equaliser until the 80th minute when Albert Riera scored. Kuyt scored again in the 85th minute, to secure a 3–2 victory for Liverpool.[37] The following weekend, they travelled to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea. A Xabi Alonso goal in the 10th minute was enough to secure vcitory for Liverpool, as they won the match 1–0, becoming the first team since February 2004 to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League.[38] Three days later, a Gerrard penalty in the 76th minute secured a 1–0 home victory over Portsmouth.[39]

November–December

Liverpool faced Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane, the following weekend. They took the lead in the 3rd minute, when Kuyt scored. However, an own goal by Carragher and a last-minute goal from Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko meant Liverpool suffered their first loss of the season in the Premier League.[40] Liverpool rebounded the following week as they beat West Bromwich Albion 3–0 at Anfield, courtesy of two goals from Robbie Keane and one from Álvaro Arbeloa.[41] They faced Bolton Wanderers the following weekend, at the Reebok Stadium, with goals from Kuyt and Gerrard securing a 2–0 victory.[42] Liverpool hosted Fulham at Anfield the following weekend. They were without injured captain Gerrard for the match, but welcomed back Torres from injury. However, his return did not have the desired impact, as Liverpool failed to score, drawing 0–0. After the match, manager Benítez lamented his side's performance: "It was a bad day, we did not have enough energy and we did not pass the ball well enough."[43]

West Ham United were the next opposition, and the match at Anfield finished with the same scoreline. Despite their inability to convert their chances, Liverpool moved to the top of the table following the draw.[44] Liverpool travelled to Ewood Park to face Blackburn Rovers in their next match and returned to winning ways with a 3–1 victory. Goals from Alonso, Yossi Benayoun and Gerrard secured victory for Liverpool.[45] Liverpool hosted Hull City in their next match, but they fell behind to a goal from defender Paul McShane and an own goal by Carragher. Liverpool recovered through two goals from Gerrard, but were unable to score any further goals, with the match finishing 2–2.[46] Writing in The Observer, Duncan Castles stated the result was "no way to win a title", ridiculing Benítez's claim that the title was 80 per cent Liverpool's if they were top at Christmas.[47] Liverpool travelled to the Emirates Stadium to face Arsenal the following weekend. Arsenal striker Robin van Persie opened the scoring in the 24th minute, but Keane equalised in the 42nd minute. Despite Arsenal striker Emanuel Adebayor being sent off in the 62nd minute, Liverpool were unable to score a winning goal and the match finished 1–1.[48]

Liverpool faced Bolton Wanderers at Anfield on Boxing Day. A first half goal by Riera and two in the second half by Keane secured a 3–0 victory.[49] Two days later, Liverpool travelled to St James' Park to face Newcastle United. Two goals from Gerrard, and one each from Sami Hyypiä, Babel and a penalty from Alonso, gave Liverpool a 5–1 victory.[50] The result meant Liverpool had a four-point lead at the top of the table going into the new year.[51] Following the match, captain Gerrard was arrested over an incident in a bar where it was alleged that he punched a man over a row about music.[52] He was subsequently cleared of the charges in July.[53]

January–February

On 10 January 2009, Liverpool faced Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium. In his pre-match press conference, manager Benítez attacked Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, over observations he had made about upcoming fixtures.[54] Liverpool subsequently drew the match 0–0 with Stoke City. Benítez was content with the result: "It is a game we could win but we could also have lost too, and it was important not to lose. When we play against 10 men and an organised team it is not easy."[55] Nine days later, Liverpool faced local rivals Everton at Anfield. Gerrard scored from 25 yards (23 m) in the 68th minute to give Liverpool the lead. However, they were unable to hold onto the lead as Everton midfielder Tim Cahill scored in the 87th minute to level the score at 1–1.[56]

Liverpool's next match was against Wigan Athletic at the JJB Stadium. Midfielder Benayoun gave Liverpool the lead in the 41st minute, but like the previous two matches, they were unable to hold onto the lead. Midfielder Lucas conceded a penalty for a foul on Jason Koumas, which was converted by striker Mido on his debut in the 83rd minute to level the score at 1–1.[57] The result saw Liverpool drop to third in the table.[58] Liverpool faced Chelsea in their next match at Anfield. Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard was sent off in the 60th minute for a foul on Alonso, but Liverpool struggled to make their numerical advantage count. It was not until the 89th minute, that they did so, when Torres headed in a cross from Fábio Aurélio. Torres scored again a minute later, to give Liverpool a 2–0 victory.[59]

Liverpool travelled to Fratton Park for their next match against Portsmouth. They fell behind in the 62nd minute when David Nugent scored. Aurelio leveled the score with a free-kick before Hermann Hreidarsson gave Portsmouth the lead again. Kuyt equalised with five minutes remaining before Torres scored 'a dramatic late header' to secure a 3–2 win for Liverpool.[60] Liverpool hosted Manchester City once club football resumed following the international break. A 'poor Liverpool' drew the match 1–1 to fall further behind leaders Manchester United after they had beaten Blackburn.[61] Liverpool faced Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium the following weekend. Their 'title ambitions were dealt a severe blow' as Middlesbrough won the match 2–0.[62]

March–May

Sunderland was the opposition at Anfield in a midweek match. Goals from David N'Gog and Benayoun secured a 2–0 victory for Liverpool.[63] Following the resumption of club football after the international break, Liverpool travelled to Old Trafford to face league leaders Manchester United. Liverpool were trailing United by seven points, who had a game in hand, as they went into the match.[64] Liverpool went behind to a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty, before Gerrard and Torres scored to give them a 2–1 lead at half-time. Further goals from Aurelio and Andrea Dossena secured a 4–1 victory for the club, which reduced their deficit to United to four points.[65] Liverpool hosted Aston Villa the following weekend. A win was imperative after rivals Manchester United lost to Fulham. A Gerrard hat-trick with goals from Kuty and Riera secured a 5–0 win, as they moved to one point behind United.[66] Manager Benitez was confident Liverpool could keep the pressure on United: "Clearly we have confidence and the team is playing well. But we must just wait to see what happens next to United, while we must keep going and keep the team playing at this level."[67]

Liverpool travelled to Craven Cottage to face Fulham in their next match. They needed to win to keep the pressure on Manchester United at the top of the table. Liverpool struggled to break down the Fulham defence, with Dossena and Alonso hitting the crossbar, while Torres hit the post with a shot. However, Benayoun secured a 1–0 victory with a 'dramatic injury-time winner.'[68] The following weekend Liverpool hosted Blackburn Rovers. A 4–0 victory was secured courtesy of two goals from Torres and one from Daniel Agger and N'Gog.[69] Ten days later, Liverpool faced Arsenal at Anfield. They went behind to a goal from Andriy Arshavin in the first half, but goals from Torres and Benayoun early in the second half gave them a 2–1 lead. Arshavin scored two goals in three minutes before Torres scored again to level the score at 3–3. Arshavin scored his fourth goal in the last minute, but Benayoun scored in the fifth minute of stoppage time to secure a 4–4 draw.[70]

Liverpool travelled to the KC Stadium four days later to face Hull City. Two goals from Kuyt and one from Babel secured a 3–1 victory for the club.[71] Newcastle United were the opposition the following weekend at Anfield. Goals from Benayoun, Kuyt and Lucas secured a 3–0 victory for Liverpool.[72]

League table

Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1 Manchester United (C) 38 28 6 4 68 24+44 90 2009–10 UEFA Champions League Group stage
2 Liverpool 38 25 11 2 77 27+50 86
3 Chelsea 38 25 8 5 68 24+44 83
4 Arsenal 38 20 12 6 68 37+31 72 2009–10 UEFA Champions League Play-off round

Source: [73]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored
For further information on European qualification see Premier League – Qualification for European competitions.
(C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (E) = Eliminated; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round.
Only applicable when the season is not finished:
(Q) = Qualified to the phase of tournament indicated; (TQ) = Qualified to tournament, but not yet to the particular phase indicated; (RQ) = Qualified to the relegation tournament indicated; (DQ) = Disqualified from tournament.

Results summary

OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
38 25 11 2 77 27  +50 86 12 7 0 41 13  +28 13 4 2 36 14  +22

Source: [73]

Results by round

Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738
GroundAHAHHAAHAHAHAHHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAAH
Result W W D W D W W W W W L W W D D W D D W W D D D W W D L W W W W W D W W W W W
Position 9 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 1 1 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 3 2 2 2 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

Last updated: 2 May 2011.
Source: [73]
Ground: A = Away; H = Home. Result: D = Draw; L = Loss; W = Win; P = Postponed.

Matches

DateOpponents VenueResultScoreScorers Attendance Ref
16 August 2008 SunderlandA W1–0Torres 83' 43,259 [28]
23 August 2008 MiddlesbroughH W2–1Carragher 86', Gerrard 90+4' 43,168 [29]
31 August 2008 Aston VillaA D0–0 41,617 [30]
13 September 2008 Manchester UnitedH W2–1Brown 27' (o.g.), Babel 77' 44,195 [31]
20 September 2008 Stoke CityH D0–0 43,931 [32]
27 September 2008 EvertonA W2–0Torres 59', 62' 39,574 [34]
5 October 2008 Manchester CityA W3–2Torres 55', 73', Kuyt 90' 47,280 [36]
18 October 2008 Wigan AthleticH W3–2Kuyt 37', 85' Riera 80' 43,868 [37]
26 October 2008 ChelseaA W1–0Alonso 10' 41,705 [38]
29 October 2008 PortsmouthH W1–0Gerrard 76' (pen.) 43,378 [39]
1 November 2008 Tottenham HotspurA L1–2Kuyt 3' 36,183 [40]
8 November 2008 West Bromwich AlbionH W3–0Keane 34', 43' Arbeloa 90+3' 43,451 [41]
15 November 2008 Bolton WanderersA W2–0Kuyt 28', Gerrard 73' 24,893 [42]
22 November 2008 FulhamH D0–0 43,589 [43]
1 December 2008 West Ham UnitedH D0–0 41,169 [44]
6 December 2008 Blackburn RoversA W3–1Alonso 69' Benayoun 79' Gerrard 90+4' 26,290 [45]
13 December 2008 Hull CityH D2–2Gerrard 24', 32' 43,835 [46]
21 December 2008 ArsenalA D1–1Keane 42' 60,094 [48]
26 December 2008 Bolton WanderersH W3–0Riera 26' Keane 53', 58' 43,548 [49]
28 December 2008 Newcastle UnitedA W5–1Gerrard 31', 66' Hyypiä 36' Babel 50' Alonso 77' (pen.) 52,114 [50]
10 January 2009 Stoke CityA D0–0 27,500 [55]
19 January 2008 EvertonH D1–1Gerrard 68' 44,382 [56]
28 January 2009 Wigan AthleticA D1–1Benayoun 41' 21,237 [57]
1 February 2009 ChelseaH W2–0Torres 89', 90+4' 44,174 [59]
7 February 2009 PortsmouthA W3–2Aurélio 69' Kuyt 85' Torres 90+2' 20,527 [60]
22 February 2009 Manchester CityH D1–1Kuyt 78' 44,259 [61]
28 February 2009 MiddlesbroughA L0–2 33,724 [62]
2 March 2009 SunderlandH W2–0N'Gog 52' Benayoun 66' 41,587 [63]
14 March 2009 Manchester UnitedA W4–1 Torres 28' Gerrard 44' (pen.) Aurélio 77' Dossena 90+1' 75,569 [65]
22 March 2009 Aston VillaH W5–0Kuyt 8' Riera 33' Gerrard 39' (pen.) 50' 65' (pen.) 44,131 [66]
4 April 2009 FulhamA W1–0Benayoun 90+2' 25,661 [68]
11 April 2009 Blackburn RoversH W4–0Torres 5', 33' Agger 83' N'Gog 90' 43,466 [69]
21 April 2009 ArsenalH D4–4Torres 49', 72' Benayoun 56', 90+4' 44,424 [70]
25 April 2009 Hull CityA W3–1Alonso 45' Kuyt 63', 89' 24,942 [71]
3 May 2009 Newcastle UnitedH W3–0Benayoun 22' Kuyt 28' Lucas 87' 44,121 [72]
9 May 2009 West Ham UnitedA W3–0Gerrard 2', 38 Babel 84' 34,951 [74]
17 May 2009 West Bromwich AlbionA W2–0Gerrard 28' Kuyt 63' 26,138 [75]
24 May 2009 Tottenham HotspurH W3–1Torres 31' Hutton 64' (o.g.) Beanyoun 81' 43,937 [76]

FA Cup

Main article: 2008–09 FA Cup

Liverpool entered the competition in the third round, by virtue of their Premier League status. Their opening match was away against Preston North End. A goal from Albert Riera in the first half and a last minute goal by striker Fernando Torres secured a 2–0 victory for Liverpool at Deepdale.[77]

Liverpool were drawn against local rivals Everton at home in the fourth round. A Joleon Lescott goal in the first half gave Everton the lead, which they held until the 54th minute when Steven Gerrard equalised. Either club was unable to score a winning goal and the match finished 1–1.[78] The tie was replayed at Goodison Park on 4 February 2009. No goals were scored during 90 minutes, so the match went to extra time. With two minutes remaining, Everton midfielder Dan Gosling scored to secure a 1–0 victory.[79]

Round Date Opponents Venue Result Score Scorers Attendance Ref
Third round 3 January 2009 Preston North End A W 2–0 Riera 24' Torres 90+3' 23,046 [80]
Fourth round 25 January 2009 Everton H D 1–1 Gerrard 54' 43,524 [81]
Fourth round replay 4 February 2009 Everton A L 0–1 (a.e.t.) 37,918 [82]

Football League Cup

The Football League Cup is a cup competition open to clubs in the Premier League and Football League. Like the FA Cup it is played on a knockout basis, with the exception of the second round and semi-finals, which are contested over a two-legged tie. Together with the other clubs playing in European competitions, Liverpool entered the Football League Cup in the third round. They were drawn to face Crewe Alexandra on 30 August 2008.[83] Benítez fielded a relatively young team for the tie, which took the lead in the 15th minute when Daniel Agger scored. Crewe equalised ten minutes later when Michael O'Connor scored. A goal by Lucas in the second half secured a 2–1 victory for Liverpool.[84]

Liverpool faced Tottenham Hotspur in the fourth round. They fell behind in the 38th minute when Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko scored. Tottenham extended their lead four minutes later courtesy of a Fraizer Campbell goal. A further goal before half-time for Campbell, gave Tottenham a 3–0 lead. Damien Plessis pulled a goal back for Liverpool early in the second half, but three minutes later Pavlyuchenko scored again to extend Tottenham's lead. A Sami Hyypiä goal in the 63rd minute was the final goal of the match, which Liverpool lost 4–2, exiting the competition.[85]

Round Date Opponents Venue Result Score Scorers Attendance Ref
Third round 23 September 2008 Crewe Alexandra H W 2–1 Agger 15', Lucas 58' 28,591 [86]
Fourth round 12 November 2008 Tottenham Hotspur A L 2–4 Plessis 49', Hyypiä 63' 33,242 [87]

UEFA Champions League

As Liverpool finished fourth in the league the previous season, the club played a qualifying round against Standard Liège to ensure progression into the group stages. A 0–0 draw in the first leg meant the tie hinged on the result of the second leg at Anfield.[88] With the match goalless in extra time, Dirk Kuyt scored to give Liverpool a 1–0 victory.[89] Liverpool were drawn in Group D along with Atlético Madrid, Marseille and PSV Eindhoven.[90]

Liverpool's first match in the group was away to Marseille. Two goals courtesy of Steven Gerrard gave Liverpool a 2–1 victory over the French team.[91] The next match at Anfield against PSV resulted in a 3–1 victory for Liverpool, with striker Robbie Keane scoring his first goal for the club. Atlético Madrid were the opponents in the third matchday at the Vicente Calderón Stadium. Keane scored again, but a goal for Atlético by Simão meant the match finished 1–1. The score in the reverse fixture at Anfield was the same, with Gerrard scoring a penalty in the 95th minute after Maxi Rodríguez had given Atlético the lead. Liverpool faced Marseille in the fifth match of the group stage and secured progression to the knockout phase, after winning 1–0 thanks to a Gerrard goal.[92] Liverpool's last match was at the Philips Stadion against PSV, which they won 3–1. They finished top of the group with 14 points after 4 wins and 2 draws.[93]

Liverpool were drawn against Spanish team Real Madrid in the knockout phase. They won the first leg 0–1 at the Santiago Bernabéu thanks to a Yossi Benayoun goal.[94] Fernando Torres opened the scoring for Liverpool in the second leg at Anfield, before two penalties from Gerrard and a goal from Andrea Dossena secured a 4–0 victory and a 5–0 aggregate win.[95] Chelsea were the opposition in the quarter-finals, marking the fifth consecutive season that the two sides had met in the competition.[96] Liverpool took the lead in the first leg at Anfield when Torres scored in the sixth minute. However, two goals from defender Branislav Ivanović and one from striker Didier Drogba secured a 3–1 victory for Chelsea.[97] Liverpool scored two goals in the first half through Aurélio and Alonso to level the tie at 3–3. Drogba, defender Alex and midfielder Frank Lampard scored to give Chelsea a 3–2 and a three-goal advantage in the tie midway through the second half. However, Liverpool scored two late goals through Lucas and Kuyt to take a 4–3 lead in the match, with one more goal sufficient to progress to the semi-finals courtesy of the away goals rule. A further goal by Lampard in the 89th minute ended any hopes of a comeback as the match was drawn 4–4, with Chelsea winning the tie 7–5 on aggregate.[98]

Group D[93]
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
England Liverpool 6420115+614
Spain Atlético Madrid 633094+512
France Marseille 61145724
Netherlands PSV 610551493
Round Date Opponents Venue Result Score Scorers Attendance Ref
Third qualifying round 13 August 2008 Standard Liège A D 0–0 27,500 [99]
Third qualifying round 27 August 2008 Standard Liège H W 1–0 Kuyt 117' 43,889 [89]
Group stage 16 September 2008 Marseille A W 2–1 Gerrard 26', 32' pen 44,841 [91]
Group stage 1 October 2008 PSV H W 3–1 Kuyt 4', Keane 34', Gerrard 76' 41,907 [100]
Group stage 22 October 2008 Atlético Madrid A D 1–1 Keane 14' 48,769 [101]
Group stage 4 November 2008 Atlético Madrid H D 1–1 Gerrard 90+5' pen 42,010 [102]
Group stage 26 November 2008 Marseille H W 1–0 Gerrard 23' 40,024 [103]
Group stage 9 December 2008 PSV A W 3–1 Babel 45+2', Riera 68', N'Gog 77' 33,500 [104]
Round of 16 25 February 2009 Real Madrid A W 1–0 Benayoun 82' 71,579 [105]
Round of 16 10 March 2009 Real Madrid H W 4–0 Torres 16', Gerrard 28 pen', 47' pen., Dossena 88' 42,550 [95]
Quarter-final 8 April 2009 Chelsea H L 1–3 Torres 6' 42,543 [97]
Quarter-final 14 April 2009 Chelsea A D 4–4 Aurélio 19' Alonso 28' pen Lucas 81' Kuyt 83' 38,286 [98]

Squad statistics

Steven Gerrard was the club's top goalscorer with 24 goals.

Liverpool used a total of 28 players during the season, with 18 different goalscorers. The team played in a 4–2–3–1 formation throughout the season. Carragher featured in 54 matches, the most of any Liverpool player during the campaign. Along with Pepe Reina and Dirk Kuyt, he appeared in every Premier League match. Gerrard was the top goalscorer with 24 goals. Lucas was the only player to be sent off during the season—he was shown a red card during Liverpool's replay of their fourth round FA Cup tie with Everton.

Key

No. = Squad number

Pos = Playing position

Nat. = Nationality

Apps = Appearances

GK = Goalkeeper

DF = Defender

MF = Midfielder

FW = Forward

= Yellow cards

= Red cards

No. Pos. Nat. Name Premier League FA Cup League Cup Champions League Total Discipline
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals A yellow rectangular card A red rectangular card
1 GK  BRA Cavalieri, DiegoDiego Cavalieri 001020104000
2 DF  ITA Dossena, AndreaAndrea Dossena 16120107126240
4 DF  FIN Hyypiä, SamiSami Hyypiä 16110210019210
5 DF  DEN Agger, DanielDaniel Agger 18110215026260
7 FW  IRL Keane, RobbieRobbie Keane 19510107228720
8 MF  ENG Gerrard, StevenSteven Gerrard 31163100107442460
9 FW  ESP Torres, FernandoFernando Torres 2414312092381730
11 MF  ESP Riera, AlbertAlbert Riera 28331009140540
12 DF  BRA Aurélio, FábioFábio Aurélio 24211008133320
14 MF  ESP Alonso, XabiXabi Alonso 333301010147480
15 MF  ISR Benayoun, YossiYossi Benayoun 32810009142910
16 MF  ENG Pennant, JermaineJermaine Pennant 300010004000
17 DF  ESP Arbeloa, ÁlvaroÁlvaro Arbeloa 2912000120431110
18 FW  NED Kuyt, DirkDirk Kuyt 38122000113511500
19 MF  NED Babel, RyanRyan Babel 273302010142430
20 MF  ARG Mascherano, JavierJavier Mascherano 27030008038090
21 MF  BRA Lucas, Lucas 251202110139351
22 DF  ARG Insúa, EmilianoEmiliano Insúa 10020100013000
23 DF  ENG Carragher, JamieJamie Carragher 381301012054150
24 FW  FRA N'Gog, DavidDavid N'Gog 14200203119310
25 GK  ESP Reina, PepePepe Reina 380200011051000
26 MF  ENG Spearing, JayJay Spearing 000000202000
27 DF   SUI Degen, PhilippPhilipp Degen 000020002000
28 MF  FRA Plessis, DamienDamien Plessis 100021205110
31 FW  MAR El Zhar, NabilNabil El Zhar 15000202019030
32 DF  ENG Darby, StephenStephen Darby 000010102000
34 DF  ENG Kelly, MartinMartin Kelly 000000101000
37 DF  SVK Škrtel, MartinMartin Škrtel 21020007030050

Source:[106][107]

Awards

Liverpool's performance during the season resulted in the club's personnel winning a number of awards. Rafael Benítez was named Premier League Manager of the Month twice in October and March, while Gerrard was named Premier League Player of the Month for March.[108][109] Gerrard was named Football Writer's Association Footballer of the Year for the first time and he was also named as the Professional Footballer's Association (PFA) Fans' Player of the Year.[110][111] Gerrard was nominated for the PFA Players' Player of the Year, but the award went to Mnachester United's Ryan Giggs instead.[112] Gerrard and teammate Fernando Torres were named in the PFA Team of the Year.[113]

Gerrard and Torres were nominated for the Ballon d'Or at the end of 2009, but they ranked 10th and 11th respectively behind winner Lionel Messi of Barcelona.[114] Both players were also nominated for the FIFA World Player of the Year, but finished eighth and sixth respectively behind winner Messi. Gerrard and Torres were named in the FIFPro World IX for 2009.[115]

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External links

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