Audio By Carbonatix
Stevan Jovetic was Liverpool's tormentor as he scored twice in Fiorentina's surprise win over the Reds in their Champions League Group E tie.
The teenager pierced the visitors' offside trap and slotted past Pepe Reina to put his side deservedly ahead.
He added a second when he diverted in a powerful Juan Vargas strike.
Liverpool had chances to get back into the game but Lucas Leiva put a free header high and Fernando Torres skied a close-range volley.
The Reds did not lose away from home in the Champions League last season but were undone by a poor first-half showing and an inspired Viola at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
Liverpool had also found the net in their previous 21 Champions League matches and their failure to do so against the Serie A side saw them miss out on Bayern Munich's record scoring run of 22 games.
Fiorentina fielded 19-year-old Jovetic in attack because of striker Alberto Gilardino's absence through suspension and the teenager relished the stage on his first Champions League start.
A bustling and energetic presence in the hole behind fellow forward Adrian Mutu, Montenegro international Jovetic was a major influence as the Italian side took the game to Liverpool after weighing up their rivals.
His reward came when he timed his run to perfection to beat the Liverpool offside trap and latched on to a Cristiano Zanetti pass before calmly slotting past Reina.
The assured home defence were giving little away as their organisation and discipline created a barrier the Reds struggled to make any impression on.
It gave the Italian side the foundation to push forward with confidence, and their work-rate and movement saw Liverpool struggle to keep them at bay.
The Reds have looked vulnerable in defence so far this season and they conceded a 12th goal in 10 games when Jovetic diverted in a powerful, angled Vargas drive at the near post.
Liverpool had found space and time at a premium as Fiorentina constantly and quickly closed them down and robbed them of possession.
The presence of combative midfielder Javier Mascherano, who is sidelined with a groin strain, was missing but the game changed after half-time.
The visitors increased the tempo and urgency in their play, while Fiorentina sat back and relied on counter-attacks to preserve their lead.
Rafael Benitez's side almost capitalised when Yossi Benayoun cut in from the left byline and had a well-struck shot blocked by keeper Sebastien Frey.
Lucas put a free six-yard header over from the resulting corner when he should have done better and Dirk Kuyt had a shot deflected wide as Liverpool searched for a way back into the game.
Fiorentina were weathering the pressure and Gerrard chested the ball down before having a shot blocked as the home side showed the resolute and stubborn defending Italian teams are famed for.
Torres felt he should have had a penalty after a forceful Alessandro Gamberini tackle late on before he blazed a near-post volley over from a Martin Skrtel cross.
But there was to be no breakthrough for the visitors as Fiorentina held on leaving their fans to raucously celebrate a memorable victory.
Source: BBC
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
‘I never said I’ll declare a state of emergency’ – President Mahama on galamsey
8 minutes -
Bobby Banson condemns EOCO’s attempted arrest of Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah
34 minutes -
When Kumasi begins to look like somebody is in charge
34 minutes -
Parliamentary probe into cocaine seizure would be a waste of time – Inusah Fuseini
40 minutes -
Cocaine seizure: Focus on Ghana’s reputation, not partisan blame – Osae-Kwapong
46 minutes -
Two Invitations, Three Interrogations: Did Baffour Awuah tell the whole story?
56 minutes -
Drug cartels may be seeing Ghana as easy route – Lenin Anane Agyei
2 hours -
Ghana risks gaining notoriety as drug-trafficking hub – Bobby Banson
2 hours -
Government dismissed my drug trafficking warning, then tried to arrest me – Ntim Fordjour
2 hours -
Day Two: 3rd Republic Bank-JoyNews Habitat Fair Clinic underway at Junction Mall
2 hours -
NACOC addressing inherited gaps in fight against drug trafficking – Deputy Director-General
2 hours -
Taekwondo goes to school as GTF launches five-region youth campaign
2 hours -
The issues Mourinho is struggling to fix at Real Madrid
2 hours -
Hundreds throng EducationUSA College Fair in Kumasi in pursuit of abroad studies
2 hours -
Drug bust: NACOC should be part of port inspection team – Twum-Barimah
2 hours