HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 0, LIVERPOOL 3
Liverpool scored two first half goals through Emre Can and Roberto Firmino and a second half Mo Salah penalty to strengthen their grip on fourth place and leave Huddersfield Town teetering on the brink of the bottom three tomorrow after a poor performance at the John Smith’s Stadium – the first time Town had suffered a second consecutive home league defeat of the season.
It was Liverpool’s first league visit to Huddersfield since February 1972 – almost a 46 year gap. They lost an FA Cup tie in 1999 and were well beaten at Anfield last October and if they continue to put out listless performances like tonight they will certainly be dragged into the relegation mire if they continue to be goal shy.
David Wagner made six changes to the side that was held by Birmingham City – Joel Coleman, Michael Hefele, Collin Quaner, Abdelhamid Sabiri, Rajiv van La Parra, and the injured Danny Williams stepped down while Jonas Lossl, Philip Billing, Aaron Mooy, Laurent Depoitre, Mathias Zanka, and Chris Schindler came in to refresh the Town side which looked like it had switched to a back three.
Terence Kongolo overcame injury doubts to make his first Premier League start for the Terriers who had extra muscle and height up front.
Liverpool also made six changes to the side that was beaten by West Brom at the weekend with new signing Virgil Van Dijk on the bench.
Although Liverpool dominated early possession they were perhaps a little nervous after two straight defeats following their win over league over Manchester City.
They only had a tame shot from Roberto Firmino to show for their early efforts. The re-shaped Terriers initially looked physically up for the Liverpool challenge and the visitors could not break down the home side.
Town steadily improved in the first half, roared on by the home crowd who saw a shot by Steve Mounie saved by Loris Karius after good work by Philip Billing to provide Chris Lowe with a crossing opportunity.
The game, however, was settling into a siege with the Terriers dropping deeper but only Emre Can’s effort, tipped away by Lossl, had troubled the Terriers with sporadic crosses from Andrew Robertson and James Milner.
Liverpool take the lead as Huddersfield Town work rate drops
Can was not to be denied, though, and he opened the scoring for Liverpool in the 26th minute with a 25 yard shot which took a deflection off Philip Billing after Chris Schindler had headed Robertson’s cross out only as far as the Turkish midfielder.
Can was denied a second goal as Schindler blocked his shot and Town struggled with their best chance late in the first half coming from a 25 yard Chris Lowe free kick which curled past the back post.
Liverpool deflated the home side with a goal on the stroke of half time as Roberto Firmino carved open the Town defence cutting in from the left close to the goal line before stroking home the visitors’ second goal off the near post inside Jonas Lossl.
Town were flat after a spirited first quarter but Lossl saved from Sadio Mane and Milner to keep a glimmer of hope for the Terriers who were starting to make mistakes in the second period.
Liverpool cruise through second half as Huddersfield Town fail to lift themselves
Liverpool didn’t punish Town when they had the chance to put the Terriers to the sword, and Mane’s flying header which went wide seemed wasted compared to the amount of uncontested possession they had in a poor second half.
Mooy lifted the ball into the area and Collin Quaner went to ground in a poor attempt to win a penalty off Robertson 18 minutes from time while Salah, on his right foot, hit the side netting with Lossl out of his goal as both sides failed the raise the tempo for the remaining quarter of the game.
And Can crumpled under a challenge from Philip Billing in the 77th minute to earn the Reds a penalty which Mo Salah duly coverted – sending Lossl the wrong way.
Rajiv van La Parra and Tom Ince immediately came on for Aaron Mooy and Chris Lowe as Wagner belatedly switched to 4-4-2 but the game had long been up for Town who finished the game with just 25% possession and one shot on target.
Ince had Town’s last word on the game, and his shot was blocked by Joe Gomez a minute from time after Van La Parra and got the ball to him – a rare chance to test Karius in goal wasted as .
The second half lack of application from Town will certainly have Wagner worried as they travel to Old Trafford on Saturday to face a Manchester United side thirsty for revenge for last October’s shock defeat at the hands of the Terriers.
MATCH STATS
Huddersfield Town: Lossl, Hadergjonaj, Schindler, Zanka, Kongolo, Lowe (Ince 78), Hogg, Billing, Mooy (van La Parra 78), Depoitre, Mounie (Quaner 64)
Huddersfield Town Subs: Coleman, Smith, Van La Parra, Pritchard, Ince, Quaner, Hefele
Liverpool: Karius, Gomez, Matip, Lovren, Robertson, Henderson (Wijnaldum 83), Can, Milner, Mane, Salah (Oxlade-Chamberlain 83), Firmino (Solanke 89)
Liverpool Subs: Mignolet, Van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold, Wijnaldum, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ings, Solanke
Goals: Can 26, Firmino 45+1, Salah pen 78
Attendance: 24,121