Advertisement
EMPICS Sport
AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Liverpool v Hull, Premier League

Jurgen Klopp’s a goal-filled afternoon at Anfield this afternoon.

Good aftenoon and welcome to our second game of the day as Liverpool host newly-promoted Hull at Anfield.

The teams are in, and there are two changes for Liverpool from the victory at Chelsea.

Goalkeeper Loris Karius comes in for Simon Mignolet, with Ragnar Klavan replacing the ill Dejan Lovren, in the only other change.

Two changes to for visitors, Hull.

David Marshall starts in goal ahead of Eldin Jakupovic, while new signing Ryan Mason gets the nod ahead of Ireland international David Meyler.

We’re about to get started at Anfield.

What are your predictions?

Will we see a repeat of the performance at Burnley or the one at Stamford Bridge last week?

Hull have got the game under way. Game on!

Fast pace to the game already as Snodgrass whips a cross in, but it is easily dealt with by Matip.

Diomande links up with Hernandez, but a perfectly-timed sliding tackle from Milner prevents the South American from getting his shot away.

CHANCE! Matip has a free header from a Milner corner but knocks it over the bar from six yards out.

BOOKED: Less than seven minutes in and Tom Huddlestone is shown a yellow card for a high challenge on Henderson.

WIDE!: Remember Henderson’s wonderful strike against Chelsea last week?

Well the England man tried to recreated it at Anfield after the resulting free-kick fell to him on the edge of the box – but this time it goes well wide.

OFF THE LINE!: Coutinho looked certain to score, but the Brazilian fails to make strong connection with Mane’s deflected pass from eight yards out – and it falls easily for Hull to clear off the line.

The Tigers hanging on – just.

Birthday boy Mike Phelan looks agitated on the sidelines.

Hull seem happy just to sit back at the moment while Liverpool are having all of the ball and all of the chances, so far.

GOAL: Liverpool 1-0 Hull (17′ Lallana)

The beauty of the goal was it’s simplicity.

Milner with a pass to Coutinho who dribbles with the ball before finding Lallana in the box, and the rejuvenated England midfielder passes the ball past the wrong-footed Marshall to give Liverpool the lead.

Liverpool with 72% possession and all the chances. This time Milner’s header is blocked wide for a corner, but it comes to nothing.

Hull yet to have a single shot on goal. Karius enjoying a straightforward Premier League debut at the moment.

Penalty for Liverpool!

GOAL! Liverpool 2-0 Hull (Milner pen ’30)

Ahmed Elmohamady is shown a straight red for handling on the line after a devastating break from Mane and Coutinho, with the latter’s shot illegally handled on the line.

Milner converts with a penalty low and hard to Marshall’s left.

Damage limitation now for the visitors, you feel.

SUB: Diomande is off and Meyler is on.

The Irish international looks to have slotted in at right-back. It could be a long afternoon for Mike Phelan’s side? Sign that contract quickly.

A speculative shot form distance by Wijnaldum is pushed away by Marshall. Liverpool showing no mercy here.

GOAL: Liverpool 3-0 Hull (Mane 36′)

Milner finds Lallana on the edge of the box, but Mane has ample time to twist and turn to bury it past by Marshall, who can only look on as it hits the bottom corner.

This is quite an incredible stat from Opta:

It’s not going to change today, I can assure you.

For many he was marked as potentially one of the signings of the summer, he hasn’t disappointed so far, has he?

Booked: A yellow card for Ryan Mason for another late tackle, Hull need to keep their 10 men on the pitch right now.

SAVE!: Coutinho, as you would expect is running the show, but his tame effort from 25 yards out is easily gathered by Marshall.

CHANCE: A superb defence-splitting pass from Klavan finds the darting run of Milner, and the left-back fires a ball across the Hull goal, but no Liverpool player gambled in the box.

SAVE: This could end up any score. Lallana finds Firmino in the box, who in turn picks out Wijnaldum, but Marshall saves to prevent goal number four.

HT: Liverpool 3-0 Hull

Temporary relief for Hull with the half-time whistle, but Liverpool have been rampant and ruthless at Anfield this afternoon and deservedly lead by three goals to nil.

Half-time stats from Anfield:

HT stats

A half-time change for the visitors with Harry Maguire on for the booked Tom Huddlestone.

Liverpool get the second period started. Hull are now playing with five at the back with Maguie now on the pitch. Damage limitation.

Mane is looking good today and out-muscles a couple of Hull defenders to play a one-two with Clyne, but in the end, the attack comes to nothing.

Liverpool not letting the intensity drop off at the moment, but in reality this has turned into a training exercise of attack against defence.

GOAL!: Liverpool 3-1 Hull (Meyler 50′)

GOAL! Liverpool 4-1 Hull (Coutinho 52′)

A stunning strike from Coutinho from 25 yards in front of The Kop restores Liverpool’s three-goal lead, after Ireland international Meyler fired home from close for Hull, following their first corner of the game.

I can’t recall Karius touching the ball with his hands, before picking it out of the net following Meyler’s goal.

More goals left in this game.

The triple threat of Lallana, Coutinho and Henderson link up neatly from a corner, but Marshall gratefully gathers Henderson’s cross.

Despite being three goals to the good, Liverpool have not stopped pressing for another goal. Everything is noticeably done quickly – either corners or free-kicks. Hull can’t catch a breath.

The stats show there were nine passes between Meyler’s goal and Coutinho’s strike.

SUB: Lallana, who has had a good afternoon, is replaced by Sturridge.

Another penalty for Liverpool after Sturridge is tripped by Maguire.

GOAL: Liverpool 5-1 Hull (Milner 71′)

Another perfectly-placed penalty from Milner makes it 5-1.

Sub: Mason is off for Hull, with Henriksen coming on.

Sub: Double change for the home side with Can and Grujic on for Henderson and Coutinho, who come off to a standing ovation.

The little Brazilian has been outstanding for Liverpool again today.

Liverpool v Hull City - Premier League - Anfield Dave Howarth Dave Howarth

Liverpool are still camped in the Hull half of the field. A sixth goal could still be on the cards as the home fans sing they are going to win the league. Plenty of contenders for the man-of-the-match award – including Milner.

A free-kick for Hull from 25 yards out by Snodgrass sails over the bar. The Scotland international would expect better.

Striker Sturridge is looking to get in on the act, but his bending shot from the edge of the box curls harmlessly wide.

Firmino finds Sturridge this time in the box, but Davies does just enough to prevent the substitute from getting any power on his shot.

51,109 packed into Anfield to watch Liverpool thump Hull this afternoon. Many of which will believe anything is possible this season.

This game is now just drifting to a conclusion, with two more additional minutes to be played.

FT: Liverpool 5-1 Hull

Very convincing victory for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Questions were asked if they could maintain their start of the season when facing teams at the bottom of the table, and based on today’s performance the answer is a definite yes.

Bigger tasks to come though.

Stay with us for reaction from all of today’s Premier League games.

Liverpool refuse to comment after Mamadou Sakho’s social media outburst

β€˜Ireland are England reserves and Northern Ireland are England’s reserves’ reserves’

Your Voice
Readers Comments
37
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.