Liverpool vs. Hull City: Score and Reaction from 2016 Premier League Match
Liverpool cruised to a 5-1 win over Hull City during Saturday's Premier League action, continuing their fine attacking form.
The Reds dominated the first half and built a three-goal lead thanks to Adam Lallana, James Milner and Sadio Mane. Ahmed Elmohamady was sent off for a deliberate handball, further complicating matters for the Tigers.
David Meyler pulled a goal back early in the second half, but Philippe Coutinho restored the three-goal gap almost immediately. Milner added a second penalty goal to make it 5-1.
As shared by the Reds' official Twitter account, goalkeeper Loris Karius made the starting XI, while Dejan Lovren missed the match with an illness:
The visitors started the match well, forcing Milner into a crucial early tackle, but Liverpool soon took control of the ball and pushed forward.
Joel Matip failed to hit the target with the Reds' first real chance of the match, as the defender was left wide open on a Milner corner. Jordan Henderson's aim also wasn't perfect, and his strike after another set piece bounced wide.
Coutinho perhaps should have scored after fine interplay between Mane and Lallana isolated him in the box. The Brazilian lost his cool, however, scuffing his shot.
The chances kept coming at a fast pace, and it was Lallana who gave the hosts the lead after 17 minutes after a superb run from Coutinho.
Bleacher Report UK's Jack Lusby liked what he saw from the Reds:
Liverpool's pressure didn't decrease after that goal, and Roberto Firmino just couldn't control the ball in time to make it 2-0. Ragnar Klavan almost caused some danger with a poor back pass, but overall, Liverpool's defence barely struggled in the first half.
Robert Snodgrass only just deflected a header from Lallana out for a corner, and the visitors cracked again just before the half-hour mark, as Elmohamady blocked a shot from Coutinho with his hand. The defender was sent off, and Milner converted the resulting penalty.
James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo thought the constant Liverpool pressure was having the desired effect:
Mane curled a lovely deflected strike off the crossbar just minutes later, and his next shot flew well over the bar. The Reds just kept coming, with Mane suddenly presenting all of the danger, and the former Southampton man almost worked the ball past goalkeeper David Marshall.
He finally got his goal after 36 minutes, thanks to a great run from Lallana. Mane took the ball and fired on the turn, tucking it away nicely in the bottom corner.
Per OptaJoe, he's been well worth the fee Liverpool paid for his services so far:
Ryan Mason took his frustrations out on Coutinho's shin, earning the next booking, and Snodgrass picked up a knock that required treatment and took the momentum out of the half.
The Reds finished with another surge, as Coutinho tested Marshall, Milner fired a great cross through the box and Georginio Wijnaldum gave Marshall all sorts of trouble with a shot, but the half-time score remained 3-0.
Liverpool started the second half the way they ended the first, with Nathaniel Clyne and Mane linking up well before the latter's shot was blocked.
Meyler shocked the hosts by firing home a loose ball inside the box after a corner wasn't cleared, but Hull's hopes of a comeback were short-lived, with Coutinho beating Marshall from outside the box.
Bleacher Report UK loved it:
Liverpool went searching for a fifth goal, but Marshall did well to save another Mane effort, and Wijnaldum couldn't beat the stopper with a powerful volley. Coutinho was given a chance to take a free-kick from a promising position, but he couldn't clear the wall.
Substitute Daniel Sturridge made an immediate impact, as he ran into the penalty box before Andrew Robertson tripped him up, earning the Reds another penalty. Once again, Milner converted, making the score 5-1.
Even with the healthy lead, Liverpool kept bossing the ball. Hull barely threatened, with Snodgrass firing a free-kick over Karius' goal, while the Reds comfortably passed the ball around to bring the match to an end.
Unsurprisingly, manager Jurgen Klopp was satisfied with what he saw, per the Reds' official Twitter account:
Liverpool will travel to Wales to take on Swansea City in their next match, while Hull host Chelsea.
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