[Liverweb] Wigan Match Report

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Liverweb Match Report

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Liverpool 3 Wigan Athletic 0

Liverpool : Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Warnock, Alonso,
Gerrard, Garcia, Kewell, Crouch, Morientes

Subs Used : Riise for Kewell (62), Hamann for Alonso (67), Cisse for
Crouch (74)

Subs Unused : Carson, Josemi

Att : 44,098

Ref : Uriah Rennie

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The Reds saw off Wigan with some comfort in the end at Anfield
thanks to a very good performance. They out-played Wigan for long
periods of the game and had a two goal lead at half time including
at least one goal from Peter Crouch. Despite a spirited attack from
Wigan early in the second half a third goal ended the scoring
contest and the Reds climbed up the league once again. There is
still much debate between people as to whether or not Crouch scored
once or twice but whatever happens at least one was his and the
press have gone decidedly quiet all of a sudden.
The 12.45 kick off for the match had fans getting in to the ground
all bleary eyed. This was the first time Wigan had played a league
match at Anfield and former Reds reserve player Paul Jewell sent his
side out to battle hard. The Reds got the game underway attacking
the Anfield road end of the ground and certainly looked to attack
from the off. Two strikers and midfielders more at ease going
forward set the stall out for Liverpool.

On four minutes a Kewell shot at the back post was well saved by
Pollitt. The one major advantage the Reds were looking to use was
the slower centre backs of Wigan. The away side battled well in
midfield and you could see how they have won so many points so far
this season. The Reds though looked to play their way through Wigan
and some slick passing made this job far easier. The good play has
been coming for a few games now and this really showed it up well
and made Wigan look like they were chasing shadows at times.

A deserved lead came on nineteen minutes and started from a Wigan
attack. The Reds, through Garcia cleared the ball up to Crouch on
the halfway line. Crouch brought it down, turned and with no-one
snapping at his heels he ran at goal. Crouch shot from the edge of
the area and it flicked up off the defenders boot. As the ball
looped towards goal Pollitt, under pressure from Gerrard flapped at
it and simply palmed it into the net. Crouch set off an a victory
run which ended with Crouch simply standing in his own half lapping
up the applause. It's taken a while in coming for him but perhaps
now more will see his all round play.

The Reds really grew with the goal even though half the stand were
debating if it would be classed as an own goal or not. As the play
went on the Reds grew in confidence and started to rip Wigan apart.
On twenty six minutes Gerrard forced the keeper into a low save from
a free kick twenty two yards out. Wigan did go close to scoring just
past the half hour mark when De Zeeuw out jumped Kewell at a corner.
His header skimmed the top of the bar though. The defender also
injured himself as he landed which ultimately saw him end his game
early.

On thirty nine minutes with the Reds pressing hard Kewell went close
and perhaps should have scored at the back post but his side footer
hit he side netting. Just three minutes before half time though and
the lead was doubled and this time there was no debate about whether
it was a Crouch goal. Finnan collected the ball at he back and
looking around for a good ball he spotted a Crouch run and hit the
ball long for him. Crouch let the ball come across him and as he
neared the area looked up to see the keeper approaching and lobbed
him. The ball landed in the net and this was definitely the goal
drought over.

As the sides came out for the second half it was the Reds who were
out and waiting. Pollitt applauded the Kop well before the ground
started singing the old Henchoz song which was duly noted and
applauded by Stephane himself. Then it was back to business. Wigan
had a real go at the Reds in the second half and pushed them back a
little bit. Roberts went close and then Kavanagh shot just over the
bar with Reina beaten. At the other end Morientes hit the bar from a
good header.

The Reds slowly started to get something back in the game but Wigan
were trying really hard. The next goal would be crucial and the Reds
were determined it would be them. Riise came on for Kewell who
seemed to have a slight knock and Wigan brought on Connolly for
Francis. The Reds were just starting to out run the Wigan storm when
they scored and ended the game as a contest. A Gerrard corner from
the centenary side was headed in by Morientes but with the ball
sailing just wide it whacked Garcia high on the chest and went in to
the Kop net.

From this point on it simply looked like men against boys as the
Reds poured forward in numbers at times to split Wigan open
everywhere they tried. Chances came but sadly never gave more goals.
Crouch went off after seventy four minutes to a huge ovation from
the ground and Cisse entered. Gerrard instantly forced Pollitt into
another fine save from a free kick.

On eight three minutes Morientes will be wondering how he didn't
score. A great Reds break and Cisse played Nando in with just the
scrambling keeper to beat. He side footed it to the bottom corner
but somehow the keeper saved it and then managed to get up again to
save the rebound. Class save! Uriah Rennie then seemed to get a
little card happy. He'd not long booked Henchoz for what must have
been the defenders eighty ninth foul of the game when he decided
that Hyypia could get a yellow card for an innocuous foul in the
Wigan half. It must have been his second foul all game. This is
exactly what bugs fans when suddenly the ref gets involved for no
reason.

The final whistle blew though and the Reds were up to second place
at least for a couple of hours. They had played really well and
created loads of chances to make Wigan look ordinary. The away side
did have a decent start to the second half but as soon as the third
goal went in it was game over in reality.

MotM : Steven Gerrard - played superbly well in the middle of the
pitch and was one of many Reds on the day to stand out. Peter Crouch
of course deserves a mention for breaking his duck at last and
played well throughout the game too.

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Match Stats
Liverpool United
57% Possession 43%
9 Shots On Target 4
4 Shots Off Target 4
1 Blocked Shots 2
11 Corners 6
17 Fouls 16
1 Offsides 4
1 Yellow Cards 2
0 Red Cards 0

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