[Liverweb] Blackburn Match Report

Liverweb Match Report

Blackburn Rovers 0 Liverpool 1

Liverpool : Reina, Finnan, Warnock, Carragher(C), Hyypia, Riise, Sissoko,
Alonso, Cisse, Fowler, Morientes

Subs Used : Garcia for Fowler (63), Kewell for Warnock (68), Kromkamp for
Morientes (81)

Subs Unused : Dudek, Traore

Ref : Alan Wiley

Att : 29,142

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The Reds fought their way to a great 1-0 win over Blackburn at Ewood Park.
A first half strike from Robbie Fowler was enough to earn the Reds the
three points and all but guarantee the three points on the day.

The Reds made a few changes to their starting lineup with Gerrard out
injured and Crouch rested. It mean Fowler was partnered by Morientes up
front and Warnock played behind Riise on the left hand side.

Prior to kick off their was a minutes silence in remembrance of the 96. One
huge banner in the away end was of a justice flame with 96 written below
it. The silence was well observed and then the game was ready to start.

The Reds got the game underway defending the end with the Reds fans in. The
game was a bit slow to start with both side feeling one another out through
the midfield. On twelve minutes Carragher was back well to head out a
Blackburn cross from the left hand side.

On thirteen minutes Robbie Savage went through Cisse and was shown a yellow
card for his efforts. The Reds were working hard up front but without much
reward for their movement. In fact it was midway through the half before
they had much to shout about. Morientes flicked a ball over Nelsen and then
tried to run through the defender. Morientes claimed a penalty but Alan
Wiley waved play on.

The only goal of the game came on twenty eight minutes from Robbie Fowler.
It was hugely controversial in its execution. Riise took a long throw to
Fowler who flicked it on. Cisse was offside but having half gone for the
ball ignored it and played musical statues. Morientes came from an onside
position drew the keeper and squared the ball for Fowler to hit in to an
empty net. The Reds celebrated and Rovers raced to the linesman but the
goal stood.

The goal gave the Reds what they wanted from the game and it meant Rovers
had to attack more. Reina had had nothing to do all game. Rovers did try
and come at the Reds more but their attack was poor as the Reds stood
resolute to their jobs.

The Reds could have scored a second goal on the stroke of half time when
Fowler sent Cisse clear. He got the ball down but his shot was straight at
Friedel who got just enough on the ball to make it shoot up in the air and
it went out for a corner off the bar. It should have been a goal though.

Right on the stroke of half time Lucas Neill picked up a booking as he went
straight through the back of Cisse. For some reason this sparked all sorts
of trouble on the line with Mark Hughes causing most of it.

Neither side made any changes at half time and Rovers got the game underway
again. Just two minutes in to the half and Alonso and Savage were down
injured. Savage got a free kick despite clearly looking where Alonso was
before elbowing him in the stomach.

Five minutes in to the half and Rovers should have equalised but Ryan
Nelson saw his header go straight across the goal from a corner kick. The
second half possession was virtually all Blackburn but they had little
invention. With Dickov and Bellamy both being midgets up front Hyypia and
Carragher had no problems in the air. Riise and Cisse both held width for
the Reds and stopped Blackburn getting too much joy down the wings.

Luis Garcia came on for the Reds after 63 minutes to replace Fowler who
went off to chants of one Robbie Fowler. Rovers then made a switch four
minutes later replacing Dickov with Kuqi. The change was one that might
bring them more aerial threat at least. There was a huge lull in the game
at this point as Warnock went down injured and had to go off. Kewell got
stripped and ready for action but then put his top back on again as Traore
was called but then it was Kewell again who was on and Riise dropped to
left back.

Blackburn continued to have most of the ball and a goal for them would have
really set the game up. Thankfully most of their attacks were well defended
and Reina had one of his quieter days in goal.

Sissoko nearly had a glorious chance on seventy minutes when Savage hit a
poor pass back to Friedel but the ex-Red keeper was out quickly to clear
off Momo's toes. Morientes then should have buried the game on seventy
three. Cisse was on to a good ball on the left and laid it back to Kewell
and his cross found Morientes but his header went well wide.

Morientes finally went off with nine minutes left for Jan Kromkamp who went
right side and pushed Garcia more central. The clearer chances were still
falling to the Reds as Rovers couldn't cope with the strict positional set
up of the Reds.

On ninety minutes the Reds should have wrapped it all up as Cisse was again
one on one with the keeper but again his shot was straight at Friedel and
sat up off his underside. This time Cisse followed up and but for a faint
nick off Nelsen would have scored.

After some five minutes of Stoppage time the final whistle blew and the
Reds went home with the three points. Overall the Reds played quite well
although invited Blackburn on a little too much for my liking. They did
have the clearer chances though and should have won by more.

MotM : Momo Sissoko - played superbly through the midfield all day and
broke up so much play. Carragher and Hyypia also played well and made sure
that nothing of Blackburn was going to get through them on the day.

Blackburn - Liverpool
54% Possession 46%
3 On Target 2
3 Off Target 4
0 Blocked 0
6 Corner 4
13 Fouls 11
5 Offsides 5
3 Yellow 2
0 Red 0

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Choose from Each season and see all those pre-season friendlies and
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