[Liverweb] Birmingham Match Report

Liverweb FA Cup Match Report

Birmingham City 0 Liverpool 7

Liverpool : Reina, Finnan, Traore, Carragher, Hyypia, Gerrard(C),
Alonso, Sissoko, Riise, Crouch, Garcia

Subs Used : Kewell for Traore (21), Morientes for Crouch (56), Cisse
for Gerrard (70)

Subs Unused : Dudek, Kromkamp

Ref : Rob Styles

Att : 27,378

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The Reds romped through to the semi finals of the FA Cup with a
crushing 7-0 defeat of Birmingham. This was one of those nights were
the Reds were in form, Birmingham looked woeful and everything we
tried worked and the goals flooded in. Sami Hyypia had the Reds in
the lead just fifty five seconds in and the Reds just didn't look
back.

The Reds made changes once again with the most significant change
being the return of Momo Sissoko. Momo hasn't played since getting
his eye injury but returned to the starting line up sporting a new
line in eye wear. Ultimately he threw the glasses away as it was
affecting his play in the end.

Liverpool got the game started and went straight on the attack. The
Reds earned a free kick inside the first minute in a good position
which Gerrard put in to the edge of the box. Sissoko headed the ball
on and Sami Hyypia stepped in completely unmarked to head home past
Taylor. A storming start to a game the Reds thought could go either
way en route to the ground.

On four minutes it got even better for the Reds. Steven Gerrard
whipped in a great cross from the right hand side inviting Crouch to
score and after the ball bounced in the area he duly headed home
past Taylor who couldn't hold the header. The start just couldn't
have been better and now you starting to wonder if the Reds would
take their foot off the gas and stroll to victory or batter
Birmingham. It turned out to be the latter.

On eight minutes Gerrard broke down the right, cut inside his man
and fired a ball across the six yard box. Melchiot did just enough
though to stop Crouch getting a foot on the ball and extending the
lead more. The Reds were simply rampant at the moment. On eleven
minutes Birmingham won a throw but lost the ball in the middle of
the advertising hoardings. Well it was one of stopping the Reds
scoring.

Birmingham tried to get back in to the game but simply had no great
cutting edge to them at all. Carragher cleared under pressure on
thirteen minutes as Forssell threatened to nip in. A couple of
minutes later and Traore went down injured after trying to clear the
ball. His follow through seemed to jar his knee as Johnson tried to
block the ball. Djimi was forced off for treatment but returned soon
after. However it was clear he was struggling and he soon asked to
come off. Harry Kewell replaced him on twenty one minutes which
meant Riise dropped back to defence. Shortly after Momo decided his
glasses were doing his head in so threw them to the sidelines. A few
minutes later he went back over to get a second pair.

The Reds were three nil up on thirty seven minutes when Crouch
scored again. Steven Gerrard did superbly down the right to keep a
ball in and it went to Garcia. Luis nipped in and then on the edge
of the area fed Crouch who slotted home under no pressure
whatsoever. This was easy pickings it has to be said now. A minute
later and Crouch nearly had his hat-trick but his shot went just
wide.

Birmingham's only real threat was coming via Jermaine Pennant but it
was all being dealt with easily. Stephen Clemence picked up the
night's first booking just before half time when he shoved Kewell
off the ball more in frustration than anything else. The Reds went
in at half time three up and you just wondered if the Reds would
ease down and sit on the lead now and make changes with the next
game in mind.

The Reds came out in the second half and commanded the game just as
much as they had done in the first half. Birmingham were a sorry
looking side which the Reds tore apart. Riise hit a free kick on
target ten minutes in but Taylor got down well to save it at his
near post. Fernando Morientes then came on for Peter Crouch who was
disappointed to be going off. Just three minutes after coming on and
Morientes was on the scoresheet in what was for me the best move for
a goal on the night. Garcia stepped over the ball and Gerrard
latched on to it and rather then shooting squared the ball to
Morientes who had the easy task of scoring. The move for the goal
was superb and just showed that everything was going to work on the
night.

Birmingham had a rare shot on goal after sixty three minutes when
Forssell pulled the ball down really well and shot on goal but Reina
was up to the task. The Reds by now were in complete charge of the
game and the home fans were slowly showing their frustration. Just
after the Forssell shot a fan ran on to the pitch to vent his spleen
at the manager.

The Reds made it five on seventy minutes when John Arne Riise was
passed the ball from Gerrard. Riise took one touch before blasting a
great shot past Taylor who just seemed confused by the bend on the
ball. This was just getting easier by the second. This was a great
strike though and even had a number of the home fans applauding it.
The Reds made a second change now replacing Gerrard with Cisse.

On seventy six minutes it was six nil through an own goal from
Oliver Tebily. Harry Kewell turned on the ball on the edge of the
box and beat Melchiot before firing the ball across the area. As
Tebily went to clear the ball bobbled and flew in to the back of the
net. Two minutes from time and it was seven as Cisse shot from the
right side of the area and Taylor made a hash of the save as it
squirmed underneath him. The goal rounded off a great performance
though and that was the Reds through to the semi finals of the FA
Cup.

Overall this was a perfect game for the Reds. Everything they tried
came off on the night and Birmingham offered little in the way of
resistance. The whole team performed well and what is showing more
at the moment is that the team are playing as a full unit with the
luck in front of goal that you need.

MotM : The whole team deserve it for this performance which simply
blew Birmingham away.

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Match Stats
Birmingham Liverpool
45% Possession 55%
1 Shots On Target 9
4 Shots Off Target 5
1 Blocked Shots 0
3 Corners 5
14 Fouls 14
3 Offsides 4
3 Yellow Cards 0
0 Red Cards 0

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