Fiorentina 2-0 Liverpool
Gerrard was frustrated as his side slumped to defeat in Florence.
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By Will Haine. |  |
Tuesday, 29, Sep 2009 09:47
By Darren Plant.
Two first half goals from Stevan Jovetic condemned Liverpool to a disappointing 2-0 defeat away to Fiorentina.
The Montenegro attacker netted twice in ten minutes as Liverpool struggled in Florence. They improved after the break, but defeat leaves them in a battle to qualify from the group stage of the Champions League.
The opening fifteen minutes passed without incident until playmaker Jovetic burst into the Liverpool box but his shot was blocked by Martin Skrtel.
Winger Marco Marchionni had a chance ten minutes later, but he could only lift his shot high over the bar.
Fiorentina took the lead on 27 minutes, when Cristiano Zanetti slid a through ball to Jovetic, and the 19 year old made no mistake as he calmly placed the ball to the right of Jose Reina.
The club from Florence were dominating, and nearly doubled their lead when Juan Manuel Vargas unleashed a thunderous effort wide on the left that was punched away by Reina.
Liverpool's only effort of the half from Steven Gerrard after 34 minutes was easily saved before 19 year-old Jovetic netted his second goal two minutes later.
Vargas tried his luck again from the left hand side but his cross-shot was flicked into the net by an alert Jovetic to send the Viola crowd wild as their side went into the break with a two goal lead.
Manager Rafael Benitez half time words had the desired effects as his side laid siege to the Fiorentina goal in the opening five minutes of the second half.
One minute in, Yossi Benayoun cut inside from the left but his shot was turned away for a corner by Sebastien Frey.
From the resulting corner, Lucas headed marginally over and two minutes later, Dirk Kuyt's deflected effort was saved by Frey.
Fernando Torres felt he should have had a penalty on 70 minutes after being brought down by Alessandro Gamberini, but the referee deemed that the Italian defender played the ball.
Time was beginning to run out for Liverpool, and Skrtel burst through the Fiorentina defence, but Torres could only volley over from the Slovakian's cross.
Benitez introduced Andrei Voronin with ten minutes left, and he nearly had an immediate impact, after his dummy left Gerrard in space, but his shot looped harmlessly over.
Soon after, another substitute, Ryan Babel, ran to the right byline and cross to the far post for Gerrard, but his free header went wide.
Gerrard sent a late free kick yards wide, as Liverpool fell to a disappointing defeat that puts huge importance on their next match at home to Lyon, where a defeat would see them really up against it to qualify for the knockout stage.