Livorno 0-1 Fiorentina

Fiorentina warmed up for the visit of Liverpool in the Champions League by beating Livorno to move level on points with Inter Milan.

Stevan Jovetic scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot in the 76th minute as the Viola, who had Dario Dainelli sent off late on, made it two wins in four days to leapfrog Genoa into fourth place.

And the Viola had goalkeeper Sebastian Frey to thank for a string of marvellous saves to keep another crucial clean sheet.

Frey has built upon his already strong reputation as one of Serie A's best goalkeeper with numerous crucial saves in recent matches for Fiorentina, and he was at his best once again.

After the Viola made a bright start to the game with Juan Vargas going close, they once again relied on their goalkeeper to keep them in the game.

The Frenchman prevented Cristiano Lucarelli from giving Livorno the lead in the 15th minute when he remained alert to save his quickly taken free-kick.

Frey was then saved by Dainelli after being beaten by Antonio Candreva, whose shot was blocked on the line by the Fiorentina defender.

But Frey took the plaudits again for a diving save which denied Nico Pulzetti in the 38th minute.

It was the same story early in the second half with Livorno's playmaker Candreva again denied by the last line of the Fiorentina defence and suddenly the Viola began to grow in confidence and launch their own attacks.

After Frey denied Francesco Tavano, the hitherto quiet Alberto Gilardino tested Alfonso De Lucia with a teasing volley which the Livorno goalkeeper pushed past his post.

Fiorentina were getting more and more of the possession and they were gifted the chance to go ahead in the 75th minute when Marcus Diniz fouled Gilardino inside the penalty area.

Jovetic stepped up to place the spot-kick beyond the reach of De Lucia into the bottom left-hand corner to put the visitors in front.

It was the turn of Frey to take centre stage again as he tipped another effort from Lucarelli over the crossbar.

Fiorentina started to defend their lead and, in doing so, they started to take risks with Dainelli receiving a red card for a foul on Gaston Cellerino right on the edge of the penalty area.

Livorno claimed that the foul had taken place inside the box and they had a good argument.

The initial contact, which was made by Lorenzo De Silvestri, did indeed take place outside the area, but since Dainelli was punished, and he had only got involved when the action had moved inside the box, a penalty seemed the correct choice.

But it was not Livorno's night and, as De Lucia came up for a corner in stoppage time, Candreva volleyed over the crossbar to miss their final chance.