[Liverweb] West Brom Match Report

Liverweb Match Report

Liverpool 1 West Bromwich Albion 0

Liverpool : Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise, Alonso, Gerrard (C),
Kewell, Garcia, Crouch, Cisse

Subs Used : Pongolle for Kewell (66), Sissoko for Crouch (80), Traore for
Cisse (88)

Subs Unused : Hamann, Carson

Att : 44,192

Ref : A.Wiley

The Reds saw off West Brom with a solitary goal on New Years Eve at
Anfield. The result could easily have been bigger had it not been for
Kuszczak in the Albion goal. Albion clearly turned up for a point which
made the game very difficult but they left with nothing despite trying hard
near the end of the game.

The Reds won the toss and defended the Kop end in the first half. Albion
got the game underway and from the start set their stall out for a point as
they threw eleven men behind the ball. This made it rather difficult for
the Reds who struggled at times to make the break through. Had they hit a
high tempo and passed the ball about I'm sure the goal would have come far
earlier than the 51st minute.

It was fourteen minutes before the Reds had a really good effort on goal.
Harry Kewell hit a rasping shot which bent in the air and Kuszczak could
only deflect over for a corner. It started a spell of pressure for the Reds
and the keeper was at the thick of it.

A minute after Kewell had a shot he was at it again but the keeper was
again on the spot to save the day for them. The Reds were starting to up
the pace again but there was one position that seemed gaping every time to
hit - the inside right channel. No player used the space and chances were
often at a distance.

Midway through the half the Reds played a corner from the main stand side
to the edge of the area. Riise side footed the ball past everyone but saw
the ball rebound back of the foot of the post and after a second save the
keeper grabbed the ball under pressure from Crouch. The keeper was treading
a fine line with referee Alan Wiley as he seemed to take longer and longer
for every goal kick.

As the half wore on the initial talk before the game of we should be
hitting this lot four and five nil suddenly changed to I'll take a scrappy
one nil of someone's backside here. With so many men between the Reds and
the net it was a hard job and half time arrived scoreless.

The Reds were out first for the second half and raring to go. They looked
to up the tempo a bit as well. Just five minutes in to the half and Gerrard
made the one run that had been missing all first half - that inside
channel. He raced through and forced a corner to which would eventually
lead to the Reds goal. Although the initial corner was cleared the Reds
remained up field. Riise broke forward but losing the ball nearly he was
forced to push the ball wide to Kewell. Harry who was on top form in the
game got the ball and crossed it into the middle. A perfect ball was headed
home by Crouch and all of a sudden relief raced around the stands.

West Brom were forced to come out and play a little bit more now they were
behind. They didn't race out though and seemed to be just as inclined to
keep the game at one nil than to try and get it to one all. With the Albion
pushing out a bit more the Reds managed to create a few more chances as
they dominated possession hugely.

Crouch, Cisse and Gerrard were all on target with efforts but Kuszczak
wasn't going to be beaten a second time. On seventy three minutes the luck
was really on the side of he keeper as he managed to keep out a Crouch
header with his trailing leg.

As time wore on the away side slowly started thinking they could snatch
something. Ellington was sent on late in the game to inject a little pace
to their side but as the stats shows Pepe Reina never had a shot on target
to save all game and that says a lot about both him and his defensive line
in front of him.

In season's gone by you would have been sat petrified on the edge of your
seat wondering when the opposition would score but although you weren't
completely comfortable at the end it was relatively easy. The one worry at
the end of the match was when Cisse limped off injured and with Bolton
coming up on Monday the worry was that's two strikers out injured now.
Thankfully not goal machine Crouch though!

MotM : Harry Kewell - continuing his best form he looks to be getting more
confidence again and I can't remember the last time his name was chanted so
much on the Kop. That should boost is confidence no end.

Match Stats

Liverpool - WBA
68% Possession 32%
10 Shots On Target 0
13 Shots Off Target 5
3 Blocked Shots 0
10 Corners 1
9 Fouls 12
1 Offsides 0
0 Yellow Cards 0
0 Red Cards 0

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For every first team result ever log on to the Liverweb season archive at
http://www.liverweb.org.uk/archive.htm
Choose from Each season and see all those pre-season friendlies and
testimonials as well as team photos and league and cup results

Whatever Liverpool FC you need it's all there in Liverweb. If it's not
mail me back and ask me.
Liverweb is your one stop site for everything LFC

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To join send an email to liverweb-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

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