Line-up:
Injury to Fortune means Chris Perry starts. Jonathan Spector also starts while Chris Powell is left out altogether. Talal El Karkouri is added to the bench along with striker Jason Euell. Jerome Thomas starts with Ambrose dropping to the bench.
Fernando Morientes fired straight at Thomas Myhre, Peter Crouch made a complete mess of an inviting opening and Hermann Hreidarsson then denied Crouch, while Jerzy Dudek was involved in the night's crucial incident, which went Charlton's way although the contact between Dudek and Darren Bent looked minimal at best. Having dominated most of the first half, Liverpool must have been shellshocked to find themselves 2-0 down at the break. Again they had the better of the early second-half exchanges before Robbie Fowler was introduced to beef up the Liverpool attack. THE SUN
Neil: McLeman: The opening quarter saw Liverpool laying siege to Thomas Myhre's goal. With Djbril Cisse and Harry Kewell looking lively on the flanks, the supply into the box was continuous. Yet no one was able to apply the required finish. Liverpool badly missed the drive of the injured Stevie Gerrard in midfield and there was a shaky display by Jerzy Dudek who brought down Darren Bent for a clear penalty. Slowly the Addicks gained a foothold in the game, with Dudek offering the chance of more and after it came Charlton deservedly held on to their lead. After weathering a rocky first 20 minutes, the margin of victory could have been even bigger as Charlton hit the woodwork twice after the break through their Bent strike double. DAILY MIRROR
Tom Dart: Darren Bent was outstanding last night; Liverpool’s strikers were a collection of cyphers. Although Xabi Alonso’s precise crossfield pass parted the Charlton defence to give Crouch an excellent chance the end product looked bad, not so much a failure of technique as of instinct. Liverpool’s offensive intent came at a price: there were defensive lapses and the midfield was unable to seize control once they fell behind. Jerzy Dudek gave away a very contentious spot kick and was nutmegged for the home side’s other goal. Bent went to ground mainly because he lost his balance but still Andre Marriner, the referee, awarded a penalty. Marriner fudged the issue by merely booking him when it should have been a red card. With Dudek’s goalkeeping, the area of doubt inspired by his travails was like an aircraft hanger. In the first half he twice questionably punched the ball clear and even performed a Cruyff turn to evade Darren Bent. Liverpool were unnerved. It was contraflow traffic after the break. The home side might have scored more as Darren Bent then Marcus Bent hit crossbar and post respectively. THE TIMES
Christopher Davies: Charlton were being caught offside too often by the visitors' well-drilled back line though Dudek almost gifted Charlton an opening goal. The ball was played back to the Poland goalkeeper who was reluctant to clear with his weaker left foot so attempted to beat Bent to enable him to use his right foot. He managed it but not without a few Liverpool hearts in mouths. Liverpool had appeals for a penalty on the half-hour turned down when Crouch fell over as he challenged for a cross with Jonathan Spector but any contact was minimal and the Charlton full-back did not appear to push his opponent. Crouch and, Fernando Morientes struggled to cause Thomas Myhre any real problems in an average first half that burst into life three minutes before the interval. Jerzy Dudek made a miserable comeback for Liverpool. He caught Darren Bent's trailing left foot with a knee. The contact was minimal but it was enough for Bent to fall over. Liverpool's lack of poise cost them dearly in stoppage time. Bent came close to increasing Charlton's lead while they defended deeper and deeper in the final 15 minutes, almost inviting Liverpool at them but apart from an instinctive block-save by Thomas Myhre from Fernando Morientes, the home goalkeeper was not really troubled. DAILY TELEGRAPH
Paul Weaver: This jaded Liverpool performance confirmed how many matches they have played this season. Even the fact that they dominated long passages of the first half and conceded a controversial penalty did not disguise the fact that they were outplayed and outfought for much of the match. The pace and power of the Bents, Marcus and Darren, concentrated the attention of Sami Hyypia and Jamie Carragher. It was still Liverpool's half but Charlton took the lead in the 43rd minute. Darren Bent got behind the Liverpool defence only to be fouled by Dudek, though some camera angles suggested there had been no contact. Before Liverpool had recovered from this their back four was infiltrated. Charlton's goal was besieged early in the second half but the home side took the pressure off themselves by launching a counter-attack. Goals were Liverpool's headache but their vaunted defence looked equally shaky, particularly in the second half. A forlorn looking Crouch’s numerous falls in the area enraged the Charlton players. For Charlton this was a splendid performance. There was no denying the justice of the scoreline. THE GUARDIAN
Jason Burt: Liverpool’s tactics appeared a potent mix, although Peter Crouch fluffed one clear opportunity, and Fernando Morientes was equally wasteful with a Steve Finnan cross. There then came the chaotic end to the half. Liverpool continued to push, but the Charlton defence was increasingly resilient with Kishishev and Jonathan Spector, in particular, impressing. The emphatic contribution of Darren Bent proved decisive at the heart of his side's vibrant display. Indeed, it was Charlton who came closest to scoring. Reprieved, Liverpool attacked and Thomas Myhre parried alertly from Morientes' fierce drive. But, despite all their attacking intent, they simply could not score. The result was hard on Liverpool even though Bent also struck the crossbar, while Marcus Bent hit the post. THE INDEPENDENT