Deportivo frustrate Liverpool to earn point

Liverpool 0 Deportivo la Coruna 0

Liverpool’s Champions League hopes were suffocated under a blanket of blue and white shirts as Deportivo ground out the point they came for.

The Spanish side rarely ventured forward, being content to cover, block and destroy as Liverpool fought for the breakthrough which would have given them a clear advantage in this group.

But now, with Monaco beating Olympiacos, it is anyone’s guess who will eventually go through to the next stage, with all four clubs having a chance.

In the end Liverpool were punished for not taking some excellent first-half chances as Deportivo’s grip on the game and their point tightened with every passing moment.

Liverpool made one change from the side which fought back so amazingly to beat Fulham 4-2 on Saturday, and not surprisingly it was the return to the starting line-up of Spanish star Xabi Alonso, who masterminded the comeback as a half-time substitute at Craven Cottage.

The elegant midfielder got a wonderful reception from the Kop and all three of Liverpool’s Spanish imports – Luis Garcia and Josemi the others – were instantly at the hub of the game.

Alonso, in midfield, was a danger with neat and clever passes while Garcia was an immediate thorn in Depor’s left flank, prompted by full-back Josemi at every opportunity.

It was pretty clear how much this clash with their countrymen meant to Liverpool’s new boys and Alonso prompted from the off.

Sami Hyypia rose to flick an Alonso free-kick well wide, while Djibril Cisse was soon to see a similar flicked header from the same source flash across goal and wide.

Deportivo started quietly, defending deep and pulling Liverpool onto them. Juan Valeron, surprisingly dropped by Spain last week, found plenty of space from which to thread passes through to Walter Pandiani and Alberto Luque.

From one, Luque thought he had held off Jamie Carragher but when the throw did not go his way he hurled the ball away and was booked by Swedish referee Anders Frisk.

Then a poor header by Josemi gave Deportivo their first chance and they almost took it after 15 minutes.

Luque’s corner curled into the box to be met by Cesar, whose header was cleared off the line by John Arne Riise.

Liverpool’s response was a 20-yard shot from Alonso which went wide, and then after a fortunate bounce had put Cisse in the clear, a fine saving tackle from Manuel Pablo stopped the Frenchman 10 yards out. Cisse’s attempt to take one touch too many cost him dearly when he should have shot instantly from a great position.

Liverpool went close again when Milan Baros found space for an instant low cross in from the right and Cisse’s first-time effort low to Jose Molina’s left was palmed away by the veteran keeper.

Next it was Baros’ turn to see a great opportunity disappear. Dietmar Hamann’s through-ball put Baros clear and adjudged onside. He took th ball round Molina outside the box but as he turned towards goal he was caught by another outstanding saving tackle, this time from Manuel Pablo.

Liverpool grew in confidence with some decent passing moves, obviously with Alonso at the centre, and it was the tall Spaniard who created another chance when his 30-yard strike crashed into Cesar and dropped for Garcia, who appeared to be offside, just 12 yards out. His attempted clip over Molina produced a fine tip over from the keeper.

Alonso’s quick free-kick then set up Baros, who cut across two defenders to fire a low drive inches wide from the edge of the box and the Czech’s energy continued to give Deportivo problems, with the Spanish side still happy to sit deep and wait for Liverpool to make mistakes or just run out of steam.

But it was Depor who wasted the chance they had been waiting all game for. Victor’s cross from the right dropped invitingly for Valeron, in yards of space, but the 29 year-old completely missed his connection.

Kewell took over on the left from Riise but Liverpool’s efforts were taking their toll as mistakes increased.

The Australian, though, fired in a cross which reached Cisse and produced a fine save from Molina when the striker’s shot powered in.

Alonso, from his own half, then hit a massive lob that would have embarrassed Molina had it been on target but as the game wore on to its inevitable conclusion Liverpool ran out of ideas, even if they never stopped pushing forward.

Alonso was suffocated by a growing army of midfielders and defenders thrown on by Javier Irureta as the bookings and free-kicks mounted.

Hamann and substitute Harry Kewell both went close from long-range free-kicks but the wall of blue and white emerged in the end with what they came for.