Blackburn 0 Liverpool 1 - Prem (Apr 16 2006)

[TLW]

Blackburn Rovers 0 LIVERPOOL 1

Report by James Hanley at Ewood Park

Scorer(s) - Robbie Fowler Half Time - 0-1 Venue - Ewood Park Date - Sun 16 Apr 2006 Star Man - Sami Hyypia

 

 

 

Considering the casualties that resulted from the last two battles of Ewood Park, Rafa Benitez should probably have been as relieved his players escaped with their limbs intact as he was with the collection of another three points.

Despite Lucas Neill’s best efforts, the Blackburn injury curse didn’t stretch into a third season and had Djibril Cisse converted the simplest of injury-time chances it would have provided the perfect return to the scene of his darkest hour. For all his lack of skill, composure and intelligence, there’s still something endearing about our number nine and it would have been a nice touch had he got the goal his lively performance deserved.

As it was, we had to settle for a carbon copy of last week’s win over Bolton, with Robert Bernard Fowler once again lighting up a drab contest with a clinical first half strike. On this most poignant of weekends it was fitting a scouser should prove the difference between the sides, the Hillsborough 96 being suitably remembered with a faultlessly observed minutes silence and chants of ‘justice for the 96’ from the 7,000-strong travelling Kop.

The dubious way the goal came about is another matter however. Mark Hughes doesn’t usually need an excuse to have a moan, but on this occasion the Rovers boss had a point and we’d have been furious had the roles been reversed. Full credit though, to Morientes for his quick thinking and Robbie’s unerring ability to find himself in the right place at the right time.

While Nando deserves credit for his alertness and unselfishness in the build-up to the goal, the Spaniard was typically anonymous for the remainder of the match and the statistic showing Morientes to be without a single away goal in the league this season makes for damning reading.

Fowler’s key contributions – the goal and a perfect through-ball that Cisse should have put away – again underlined why he should be the last striker in the queue for the exit door this summer. Robbie yet again oozed class before falling victim to Rafa’s annoying obsession with substituting a striker on the hour-mark.

Even by his standards Benitez has been cagey with his comments on Robbie’s future, but while he deserves the benefit of the doubt whatever his decision, surely it would be a much bigger (and needless) risk for Rafa NOT to offer him a new deal. The most recent sounds coming out of Anfield on that front appear to be positive and hopefully God will get the extra year he craves and deserves. He could yet play a part in landing that elusive league title and what a fairytale ending that would be.

Anyway back to the match. From our remaining league fixtures this game arguably looked the trickiest on paper (although West Ham and a fighting-for-their-lives Portsmouth could pose problems), but for all their endeavour the hosts never seriously troubled our imperious defence and the reds emerged with a fairly comfortable victory without ever hitting top form.

Indeed, it says much about the standard of the Premiership that a side as mediocre as Blackburn can be in the running for a Champions League place. Their one outfield player of genuine quality, reported Liverpool target Craig Bellamy, may look explosive against relegation-fodder but looked distinctly ordinary up against the big boys. Surprisingly little backchat from the whinging gobshite as well – looking to impress potential suitors perhaps? Hmm…

While far from a vintage display it was still a highly-satisfying victory made all the more pleasing when taking into account the absence of Gerrard and Crouch and the solid, if unspectacular, performances of several players. Carra and Finnan were as flawless as ever, Fowler and Warnock impressive and Cisse a constant threat, while Alonso added more weight to the argument he plays better when the skipper’s not in the side, if never approaching the heights of his derby masterclass.

But the Star Man was a toss-up between the impeccable Hyypia and the tireless phenomenon that is Momo Sissoko. Sami just edges it for me. The arrival of Pellegrino could easily have signalled the death knell for the big Finn’s Liverpool career (bear with me) but instead seemed to reinvigorate it.

Ever since Hyypia fired a volley past Gianluigi Buffon a year ago he’s been a man reborn and is now playing as well as at any time during his seven years at the club. That’s due in no small part to the form of Pepe Reina, who was once again faultless the few times he was called into action (to feint praise from a certain bald, Scottish commentator apparently). So what if teams are only having a couple of shots against us? The same was happening last season, but with far different results – and 30-plus clean sheets speak for themselves.

A word too for our former number one, Brad Friedel, who raced the length of the pitch at the end to applaud the visiting fans and give his gloves away. A nice gesture from one of the true gents of the game and a rare class act among the shower of shithouses that make up Mark Hughes’ cloggers.

So four years on from the infamous summer of 2002 we once again find ourselves seemingly ‘destined for greatness’, one or two of players from being a title-winning side. Benitez’s transfer record this season has been excellent (Reina, Sissoko, Crouch, Zenden, Fowler, Agger and Kromkamp represent a mighty fine success rate by any manager’s standards) and providing Rafa learns from the catastrophic mistakes of his predecessor, the signs look very good indeed.

Until then though, lets concentrate on the present. Whatever happens between now and the end of the season we’ve enjoyed a good campaign, no doubt about that. Next Saturday will go a long way to determining just how good. Bring on Chelsea.


Team: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Warnock (Kewell), Cisse, Alonso, Sissoko, Riise, Fowler (Garcia), Morientes (Kromkamp):