Liverpool suffer Atletico defeat

Goals from Sergio Aguero and Diego Forlan gave Atletico Madrid a 2-1 win over Liverpool in a pre-season friendly at Anfield.

Lucas pulled one back for Liverpool late on as the hosts missed a host of chances and had four penalty appeals turned down but lost thanks to poor defending from an inexperienced back four.

There was further worry for the Premier League runners up as star striker Fernando Torres limped off with a knock during the second half.

Liverpool were already short at the back with Martin Skrtel and Dan Agger out, and Sami Hyypia no longer at the club.

So an Achilles' injury to Jamie Carragher a quarter of an hour in did not help, particularly when - down to 10 men while he received treatment - the hosts left an Aguero-sized hole at the back that allowed the Argentina striker a free header.

While the Reds dominated possession they looked a mess defensively, with Glen Johnson having the most experience alongside Spanish teenagers Mikel San Jose and David Sanchez Ayala, and Argentine full-back Emiliano Insua (20).

Liverpool had several chances to equalise but hesitance in front of goal by Torres and Dirk Kuyt allowed impressive young keeper Sergio Asenjo to remain unbeaten.

Torres had a penalty appeal rejected when he went down under a challenge by Paulo Assuncao, while Antonio Lopez made two good clearances to deny the Reds.

At the other end Aguero went close after a mistake by San Jose let him through on goal but Pepe Reina saved well.

Atletico went two up on 33 minutes with another counter attack, led by Simao who combined twice with Forlan before the Uruguayan curled a beautiful shot from the edge of the box that left Reina a spectator as the ball nestled in the top right.

Within a minute, Torres hit the inside of the post after he was played in by Gerrard, while the Spain striker should have scored on 43 minutes after he ran from halfway, beating three men before opting to pass to Gerrard instead of shoot.

Kuyt glanced a Gerrard free-kick over on the stroke of half-time and Atletico held a comfortable lead.

The second half saw little change, with Liverpool making all the play but profligate in front of goal and vulnerable to the counter.

Ayala was agonisingly close to converting Lucas's flick-on following a Gerrard corner, while the Liverpool skipper put wide after good interplay between Kuyt and Johnson, who was the hosts' stand-out player as an attacking right-back.

Gerrard then felt he was denied a goal by a handball from Juanito, but again referee Phil Dowd waved his appeals away.

Torres was denied by a point-blank Asenjo save after a mazy dribble inside from the wing while the former Valladolid shot-stopper - signed in the summer - saved from Torres twice again.

Assuncao cleared off the line from Benayoun as Liverpool cranked up the pressure and they eventually got their goal when Gerrard fed Lucas, who sprung the offside trap and finished to make it 2-1 with eight minutes left.

Rafael Benitez's side had two more penalty appeals turned down by Dowd when Asenjo and John Heitinga appeared to bring down David N'Gog and Lucas respectively.

Ayala went close with an injury-time header but Atletico held on for a win that highlighted Liverpool's defensive frailties going in to the new season.

Via: Yahoo! Sport