Compelling Soccer

Thoughts on the Starting Lineups:

Liverpool: One change from last weeks' starting XI against West Ham. Alberto Riera's back in for Javier Mascherano. I wondered if Mascherano had officially been suspended, but he's on the bench. I've been less than impressed with Riera thus far so we'll see how he handles today.

Hull City: Much to my disappointment, no Jozy Altidore in the starting lineup. Don't know much about Jan Vennegoor but he's 6'2. If he has speed, then he could pose trouble. If he's just size, then hopefully Jaime Carragher can handle him.



1 min: Gerrard comes free down the middle and tried to set Torres free on the flank. Just out of his reach.

4 min: Set pieces have been a problem for Liverpool, but there are no issues on Hull City's first free kick, which goes out for a goal kick.

9 min: Not much in this early. Liverpool is patient on the ball and Hull City isn't doing much with possession when they get it.

12 min: Torres Scores!!!

A harmless looking ball played on the ground finds itself on the feet of one of the best strikers in the world, without a man on him. The defender tries to pick him up, but a switch to the other foot and shot across the goal into the corner gives Liverpool the early 1-0.

15 min: Hull City scores!!!

The troubles of the Liverpool back line continue. A ball was played into the box, headed up and Martin Skrtel tried to head it out. It was a poor touch towards the center of the box. Marcio Giovanni settled it and fired it far post and in. Where was Jaime Carragher? Right next to Skrtel.

20th min: Hull City getting pressure now. A chance was desperately cleared out for a City corner. Reina manages to come out and grab it. Liverpool quickly counters and wins a corner off an Insua shot deflected out. But they do nothing with it. Hull comes down and after a poor decision by Glen Johnson, wins another free kick. It's swung in but Reina confidently snatches it from the air.

22 min: After a quick attack on the wing, Lucas ends up with a great chance from just outside the penalty area. It's saved by Boaz Myhill and held.

25h min: Torres splits the defense, tries to find Kuyt but it's put out to a corner. Skrtel came in fired a good shot that was blocked out for another corner. Hull City manages to clear it off the second corner. They may have caught a break too, the ball struck a City defender on the arm in the box.

27th min: Carragher tries to atone by picking out Lucas on a through ball as he makes a run to the center of the box. It's defended well

28th min: Torres scores again!!!

Torres gets the ball in the box and embarrasses the entire Hull City defense. He beats everyone in the box, by himself, including the goalie and finally frees himself to shoot at the empty net. Which he promptly buries. He's not fair.

32nd min: Can Hull City equalize again? They push the play and generate a couple of chances, albeit not on goal. Poor set piece defending leads to another corner. What is up with Skrtel and Carragher. And Vennegoor gets away with a shove on Reina even though the keeper had the ball and was moving to play it to a defender. If the ref had seen it, it probably would have been an automatic red card.

34th min: The ref is letting Hull City get away with a lot here. Paul McShane already had one talking to after a clear shove after a play on Riera. Then before a throw in, McShane goes in with a tackle, well after the ball was over the line. He should have gotten a card by now. Giving him two tongue lashing isn't enough.

38th min: Riera looking about as dangerous as I've seen him breaking through the defense on the wing despite getting fouled, McShane again by the way, and winning a corner. But Hull City clears the corner into the box.

40th min: Torres showing his playmaking ability, taking a header and placing it perfectly on the feet of a streaking Dirk Kuyt. The shot was saved and Kuyt was off side anyway.

41st min: Hull City counters well and Carragher makes a good play coming up to take the attacker off the ball at the edge of the box. City regroups and it comes to George Boateng, who fires a shot well high.

45th min: Kiblane picks up a yellow. It's unfortunate, he was just the last man who tried to take down Torres near midfield as he moved through the defense getting bumped and fouled along the way. Liverpool presses and Johnson swings in a cross. It's a good one, but no one could get on the end of it.

Halftime: Liverpool 2- 1 Hull City

1st Half Thoughts: Liverpool's attack has been solid as usual and Fernando Torres is simply a notch above the Hull City defense. The rest of the Reds have been less spectacular and we haven't seen much of the captain since his early attempt to spring Torres. He did get in on defense, rushing Boateng on his shot and colliding with Carragher on a late header.

Riera's looked pretty decent and Kuyt's been active. Glen Johnson is all over the field as usual, but hasn't done much except that cross. And the center backs, well, hopefully they can repeat last week's improved second half performance.

When will we see Jozy for Hull City?

2nd Half Kickoff

47th min: Ball comes into the box and Torres fires a shot that was blocked.

But seconds later, he doesn't miss.

3-1 Liverpool.

Yossi Benayoun sprung Torres free. He brought the ball back across his body, let the defender fly past and Torres finishes. Because that's what he does.

50th minute: Johnson working the right side is yanked down by Stephen Hunt, who picks up a card.

53rd minute: Skrtel gives up a free kick and picks up a yellow. Bad situation for Liverpool as it's just outside the 18 yard box. Thankfully Geovanni thinks he's playing American football, and boots it over the bar. It would have been good from 55.

59th min: Lots of possession for Hull, in fact their longest spell of the game. Liverpool doesn't look confident in their clears, but they kept them to the outside.

60th min: Torres again. He gets taken off the ball at the last minute and it goes out for a corner.

61st min: Stevie G scores!!!

Simply stunning. In fact, so stunning I'm not sure he meant it. He was on the wing and might have been whipping in a cross. But it goes in, just under the bar and into the corner. If he meant it, amazing. If not, well, who cares.

63rd min: Two subs for Hull City. No Jozy with either one. To quote my roommate: "Weak sauce".

McShane pulled his garbage again, this time with Carragher. And this time he gets booked. He almost was sent off but the ref was talked out of it.

66th min: A questionable call after Gerrard wins the ball and would have been in free. That said, it probably only matters for Hull City's goal differential.

68th min: There will be no fourth goal for Torres, as he comes off for Ryan Babel.

70th min: What commentary: Talking of Ryan Babel's "uppity" interview that was "of course poorly translated" (underscored sarcasm). I do love British announcers.

73rd min: Gerrard takes the ball near midfield and leads the rush up the field. He tries to pick out Babel, but the defense stops it. The goal seems to have re-energized the captain.

74th min: And that ends his day. Mascherano on, Gerrard off. Rafa is trying to save some legs with a Tuesday tie with Fiorentina in the Champions League

76th min: Ryan Babel is frustrating player to watch. He's got size, he's got pace but sometimes you wonder what's there between the ears. After Benayoun came free, he dropped it for Babel, whose return pass was so bad he had to play it himself.

Benayoun is off for Liverpool's final sub. Andriy Voronin is in.

78th min: Voronin gets a free cross in and Babel is unmarked. But Babel couldn't turn it and it goes out wide for a goal kick.

80th min: Babel makes his one nice play, trying to leave it for Voronin off a header. Voronin puts it high. On the play prior, Babel was in space, tried to push play but ended up losing possession.

82 min: Finally, Brown looks like he's going to Altidore. Too little, too late of course.

And we get a diving call against Dean Marney.

87th min: This has become slaughter. Liverpool is toying with them now. The question is whether they'll get a fifth.

88th min: And they do. Kuyt has nothing but space on the wing, crosses it on the ground and Babel easily taps it in. No offside called, but at 5-1 it doesn't matter.

89th min: STOP STOP, HE'S ALREADY DEAD!

90th min: Echoing my sentiments the announcer: "And in the worst news of the day for Hull City, there will be four minutes of added time."

90+ min: Ryan Babel gets a brace entirely by accident. Riera took a shot, off Babel who was facing away from goal. And now it's 6-1.

90+ min: Can we have a mercy killing here?

Full Time: Liverpool 6-1. Hull City stuck around for a little while, but in the end, the class showed through. Or burst through like an alien through a space marine.

Thoughts and match ratings coming shortly. Take a guess who my player of the game will be.