Kuyt helps Reds tame Tigers

Liverpool remain in the Premier League title hunt after they secured a 3-1 win away at Hull City.

Liverpool pile pressure on sorry Hull

Liverpool remain in the Premier League title hunt after they secured a 3-1 win away at Hull City. Xabi Alonso put the Reds in front, while a brace from Dirk Kuyt ensured a second-half effort from Geovanni was nothing more than a consolation for the Tigers, who remain firmly entrenched in relegation trouble. With so much riding on the game it came as no surprise that the opening exchanges lacked fluidity and saw both teams struggle to take command of proceedings. The Tigers were giving their all, without much reward, while Liverpool were struggling to bring lone frontman Fernando Torres into the game. In a fixture lacking quality from those charged with generating headlines, referee Martin Atkinson then began to take centre stage. The official had already angered the home support long before he gave a debateable free-kick on the edge of the Hull box with the first half coming to a close. Alonso stood over the set-piece and, after seeing his first effort come back off the wall, he rifled into the bottom corner past a helpless Boaz Myhill. Things then good decidedly worse for the hosts just before the hour-mark when Caleb Folan saw red for lashing out at Martin Skrtel. It did not take long for Liverpool to make their numerical advantage count as Kuyt nodded home unchallenged on 63 minutes. The Tigers did grab a lifeline on 72 minutes when substitute Daniel Cousin bundled over a cross for Geovanni to lash into an unguarded net. It was not to be, though, and Kuyt notched his second of the game in the final minute as Myhilll could only parry a deflected effort from Alvaro Arbeloa straight to the Dutchman.

Second best

Liverpool, perhaps feeling the pace after Tuesday's pulsating 4-4 draw with Arsenal, were second best for large periods. Hull sensed they had nothing to lose but their performance should at least offer encouragement for their remaining four games. Yossi Benayoun created the first opening with a weaving run into the box but his shot was blocked and Torres lifted the rebound over the bar. Benayoun, who has emerged as a strong creative force in the continued absence of the inspirational Steven Gerrard, then curled another shot over soon after. Yet Hull, anxious for points after just one win in 17, showed an energy that belied their position and Folan spurned a chance when he failed to control in the area. Jose Reina also needed to deal with a dipping cross from Craig Fagan and Dean Marney scuffed a 20-yard shot after being put clear by Geovanni on halfway. Geovanni went closer himself with a ferocious shot after a clearance fell to him 30 yards out, his half-volley flashing just wide of target. Hull also tested the Liverpool defence with a corner and a couple of long Sam Ricketts throws during a prolonged spell on the front foot but a final touch was lacking. Geovanni then seized on a poor Reina throw only to slip as he looked to deliver a cross and Lucas almost caught the hosts on the counter-attack when he screwed a shot wide. Kuyt then tried his luck with a fizzing a shot from the edge of the box but Myhill was not tested. Liverpool finally made the breakthrough in the last minute of the first half, although Hull were far from happy when Javier Mascherano was ruled to have been fouled on the edge of the area.

Rebound

Alonso fired the resulting free-kick into the wall but the rebound fell kindly and the Spaniard lashed home from 25 yards. Hull continued their protests after the half-time whistle and Barmby was booked for dissent by referee Atkinson. The second half began tamely with Torres firing one half-chance too high and clipping another just over. But the atmosphere changed markedly just before the hour as Folan was sent off for kicking out at the recalled Skrtel and Atkinson threatened to lose control. There could be no debate about the red card after Folan tussled with the defender trying to intercept a Jamie Carragher pass and then lashed out as the Slovakian went to ground. Hull were furious at a perceived injustice and Fagan was booked moments later for clashing with Skrtel.

Switched off

The hosts then switched off after Kamil Zayatte conceded a corner and a weak clearance allowed Skrtel to shoot and Kuyt to turn in the misdirected effort. Hull still felt aggrieved and Atkinson was under intense pressure as the tackles flew in and the crowd scrutinised his every decision. Tigers boss Phil Brown had attempted to shake things up just before Kuyt's goal by introducing Daniel Cousin and Bernard Mendy and the pair combined for Geovanni to score after 73 minutes. Mendy found Cousin with a long ball and the Gabon striker raced into the area before pulling back for an unmarked Geovanni to turn in. It was the least Hull deserved but Torres almost finished them off on 80 minutes when he headed against the bar from a Kuyt cross. Kuyt wrapped up the points two minutes from time from in front of goal after Alvaro Arbeloa's deflected shot was pushed out by Myhill.

Hull City	Team Statistics	Liverpool
1	Goals	3
0	1st Half Goals	1
1	Shots on Target	5
5	Shots off Target	14
3	Blocked Shots	7
3	Corners	8
15	Fouls	14
3	Offsides	3
3	Yellow Cards	1
1	Red Cards	0
57.9	Passing Success	84.6
19	Tackles	15
84.2	Tackles Success	86.7
26.5	Possession	73.5
50.9	Territorial Advantage	49.1