[Liverweb] West Brom Match Report

Liverweb Match Report

West Bromwich Albion 0 Liverpool 2

Liverpool : Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise, Alonso, Sissoko,
Kewell, Fowler, Crouch, Cisse

Subs Used : Garcia for Fowler (64), Morientes for Crouch (70), Kromkamp for
Cisse (77)

Subs Unused : Dudek, Warnock

Att : 27,576

Ref : U.Rennie

The Reds eased to an easy 2-0 victory of West Brom in the evening kick off.
First half goals from Fowler and Cisse took the Reds to three points
without much problems. The Reds couldn't call upon Gerrard but if any game
is one that you should be able to do without him in it's this one anyway.

Albion got the game underway at the Hawthorns in what was a slow but steady
start for both sides. After just a couple of minutes the Reds got their
foot on the ball and as soon as that happened you sensed goals were in the
air. It was five last season and six the time before so, with the goal
scoring form we've been in you expected another hat full today.

That first goal came after just six minutes as well. Alonso pinged a superb
ball through to Cisse and after Robinson made a hash of trying to clear it
Cisse was all alone on the right. He got his head up and saw Fowler at the
back post. His square ball found Fowler who slammed the ball home. The goal
took him past Dalglish in the all time scoring charts but Fowler was quick
to get to Cisse and praise him for his part in the goal.

Already you were wondering how many the Reds would get. Ten minutes in
though and you had a worry about Hyypia. Sami went for a standard ball only
to go right over the top of Kanu and fall awkwardly. It was a worry more
for the games ahead as already you thought of previous games and thought
three were safe today.

Crouch went close on twelve minutes but he was just to slow getting to the
ball and allowed Watson in to clear the danger. At the other end Kamara hit
a shot straight at Reina. On twenty minutes the Reds were on the attack
again - Crouch laid the ball off to Cisse but he slipped trying to free
Fowler and the ball went for a corner. Hyypia headed wide from the corner
which was whipped in by Alonso.

On twenty five minutes there was a great ball for Cisse and he in turn set
Crouch on for goal but his shot was turned away for a corner. Albion slowly
started getting some possession but it just wasn't going anywhere for them.
They just looked a side without an idea of how to score.

The Reds made it 2-0 on thirty seven minutes and this was all Xabi Alonso
and his eye for a pass. Alonso went all the way to Reina to collect the
ball. He looked up and saw Cisse coming in from the right. His ball was
perfectly weighted and Cisse obliged by taking the ball around the keeper
and slotting home. This was as easy as we thought it would be.

The Reds really should have made it three just before half time when Cisse
ran half the length of the pitch down the right before firing across to the
back post only for Crouch to hit it just the wrong side of the post when it
unexpectedly arrived at his feet.

The half time interval saw Albion get Gera warmed up ready for the second
half. He was out early getting ready and arrived in place of Kamara. The
Reds got the game underway again. It was the sub who made a difference to
Albion though and just one minute in to the half he shot past Riise to the
far post but with Reina at full stretch it sailed past the far post and out
for a goal kick. It was a warning that the home side would at least try and
salvage something.

On forty eight minutes Sissoko broke up play on the right hand side
superbly. He then set Cisse free but with both Crouch and Kewell in the
middle Cisse elected to take on the shot only to see it hit the side netting.

At the other end it was Zoltan Gera again who was causing the Reds problems
and Riise seemed to be targeted each time. On fifty minutes Gera shot but
straight at Reina who held on well. The Reds had a great chance on fifty
three when Carragher brought the ball out and saw Cisse. The through ball
was perfect but Cisse saw his flick shot saved by the keeper.

It was quite a balanced second half with the Reds playing well within
themselves and not over stressing about getting a third goal. It felt like
there was one there if needs be but why over stretch yourself. Albion
changed it again just after the hour as Campbell and Clement replaced
Watson and Kanu. Shortly after Garcia replaced Fowler which saw Cisse go
more central.

The Reds were allowing Albion plenty of the ball but other than Gera there
was little threat. That said Gera did at least ensure Reina stayed alert
throughout the game. As time went on though it just became a nothing game.
The Reds seemed content with a 2-0 scoreline and Albion had nothing about
them in order to change things.

On seventy eight minutes Reina half came for a ball but changed his mind.
Campbell got the ball down after beating Hyypia but rather than shoot he
passed to Greening who fired over the bar when he should at least have
forced a save.

With five minutes to go Kewell broke down the left hand side and fired in a
ball across the area rather than pull it back to Garcia who was free.
However Morientes managed to steal in on the ball but his toe poke went
just wide of the near post.

There was a late hand in mouth moment when with two minutes to go Sissoko
handled in his own area. Thankfully Uriah Rennie decided that in jumping up
Sissoko was pushed in t the handled effort. It may have caused a grandstand
finish to the game but it would have been harsh not only on the Reds but
Sissoko specifically who had a superb game.

Al in all this seemed to be a Reds performance that happened for the first
half and then eased down in to cruise control afterwards. Albion were poor
and offered very little against us. It's perhaps one of the easiest three
points of the season.

MotM : Momo Sissoko - just as last week Sissoko was absolutely superb in
the midfield. He broke everything up and on a couple of occasions set up
good attacks as well. Alonso also had another superb game and his two
passes for the goals were great.

Match Stats

WBA - Liverpool
44% Possession 56%
4 Shots On Target 3
4 Shots Off Target 9
0 Blocked Shots 1
1 Corners 4
11 Fouls 9
5 Offsides 1
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.
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