Liverpool 2 PSV 0 - CL Group Match (Nov 22 2006)

[TLW]

LIVERPOOL 2 PSV 0

Report by Dave Usher at Anfield

Scorer(s) - Steven Gerrard, Peter Crouch Half Time - 0-0 Venue - Anfield Date - Wed 22 Nov 2006 Star Man - Steve Finnan

 

 

 

 

 

A good win, but one that came at a price. Three of the midfield that started the game left the field injured – two of them before half time - but despite those setbacks the reds managed to produce enough quality to win the game relatively comfortably. It wasn’t a classic performance, but it was pretty good when you consider the calibre of opposition. PSV are a decent side (unbeaten in 17 games before this), and as the mancs and Arsenal have found out this season, it’s easy to come unstuck if you’re not careful.

We can now go into the final group game away at Galatasaray knowing the result is irrelevant, and that match represents a great opportunity for Benitez to rest key players and give some Champions League experience to players like Peltier, Guthrie, Paletta and possibly even Anderson, Hammill, El Zhar etc There’s no point in risking any of the ‘first choice’ line up for a game where there is nothing at stake. The job is done, why risk anyone picking up injuries?

This game proved how easy it is to suddenly find yourselves with a number of players sidelined. Alonso shouldn’t be out long, Gonzalez could be, and who knows with Pennant. With Momo already out, and Aurelio and Warnock both still unavailable Benitez could have real selection problems in midfield for the weekend.

He made just the one change to his starting line up for this game, predictably restoring Crouch to the side ahead of Bellamy. Crouch and Kuyt are forming a very effective pairing at Anfield, where they’re lack of pace isn’t as much of a factor as it is away from home. Not many teams will be able to contain them if the service is right, and both played a significant part in this win.

The game began brightly, and the reds were knocking the ball about well. It was noticeable almost from the start that the wingers seemed to be in much more confident mood than they look when they play away from home. Gonzalez and Pennant had both had ‘mares at Boro last weekend, but they responded to the manager’s show of faith by making a promising start to this game.

We’d settled into a nice rhythm almost immediately, but it was disrupted when Alonso was forced off the field with a dead leg. He’d gone into a fifty fifty challenge with one of their lads and he came off worse. He stayed down for a while, had some treatment and tried to carry on, but he could barely run and it was inevitable that he’d have to go off.

Zenden came on to replace him, and did a steady job. He slotted in well, but not long after we had to make another enforced change when Gonzalez was stretchered off with a torn hamstring. It was a real shame, as he’d looked to be in good form and was causing PSV some problems.

Maybe Benitez had identified Kromkamp as a bit of a weak link in their defence, or maybe the players want to prove a point to him after his ill advised comments earlier in the week. Whatever it was, a lot of our most promising attacks were focused down that flank, and Gonzalez looked to have the measure of him. He’d linked up well with Gerrard a couple of times, and it was Gerrard’s header that sent him racing away down the left for the incident in which he picked up the injury. He fired in a great low cross that just eluded Kuyt and Crouch, but he stayed down in obvious pain. Initially I thought he’d picked up a knock in a challenge, and I was worried it could have been his knee again. It was only later it emerged that it was a torn hamstring, and although that’ sbad news at least he hasn’t done his cruciate in again.

The injury couldn’t have come at a worse time for him, as he looked to be enjoying himself and was playing well. Hopefully he won’t be out too long, and he can build on this performance when he comes back.

Garcia replaced him, and it’s game like these where Luis usually shines. He hadn’t had much of a warm up though when he took to the field, and he’s not quite at 100% yet anyway after his own injury problems. It took him a while to get into this game, and as a result of that, and also the loss of Alonso, we stuttered a bit and couldn’t sustain the promising start we’d made.

Off the top of my head I can only think of a few chances we had in the first half. Kuyt lobbed the ball just wide with the keeper beaten, Crouch headed just over from a great ball in by the excellent Finnan, Gerrard shot wide from the edge of the box a couple of times, and Crouch had a header from a corner that was scrambled away as Carragher tried to divert it goalwards.

Perhaps the most memorable incident of the half was a fabulous run by Pennant from the halfway like which saw him beat three defenders as he reached the byline and put a great ball across that Gonzalez headed wide. He’s got the skill to be able to do this more often, and that’s why a lot of people have got such a downer on him at the moment because he doesn’t do it anywhere near enough.

Reina was a spectator for most of the half, the only real moment of danger coming when Kone turned Carra and moved menacingly in on goal before being brilliantly challenged by Finnan.

The half time interval witnessed the unusual sight of Garcia coming out with the subs to do a warm up, even though he’d already been on the field ten minutes. He hadn’t looked sharp in that time, but after an intensive work out prior to the second half starting, he was more like his old self.

The start of the second half was poor, with neither side looking threatening. Salcido had a deflected shot from a good 40 yards loop onto the top of the net, but that was the closest either side came to scoring until Gerrard finally made the breakthrough on 65 minutes.

It was a terrific goal too. Reina played a fantastic ball out to Finnan on the right, he moved it forward to Kuyt who superbly turned inside his marker before playing in Gerrard who found the net with ease. Several of the players ran towards Reina to congratulate him for the part he played, and rightly so. Alonso would have been happy with that pass.

Reina looked in total command of everything he did in this game. He made several excellent punches to relieve the pressure on his defence, and also made a good stop to deny substitute Tardelli (who should have been given offside in my opinion anyway). I’d hesitate to say he’s over his early season troubles, as one error will have everybody on his case again. What I will say is at least he’s never looked like he’s let his confidence be affected by it. That’s half the battle.

The goal meant PSV had to attack more, and Kromkamp spent the rest of the game bombing up and down the right flank. He played well going forward, although he always looked a bit vulnerable defensively. He was one of their better players, and put some excellent crosses in as they tried to apply some pressure.

Their front two are pacy and dangerous, but neither got any real joy against Carragher and Agger. Sometimes it’s scary how comfortable Agger looks, and it’s hard to believe he’s still a kid really. His ability on the ball is eye catching, and was noticeable from the start. As for how strong he is defensively, that was something that we wouldn’t really know until he’d played a fair few games. He has now, and he’s been pretty much flawless no matter who has played against.

The games where we’ve conceded goals have generally been when he has been out of the side, and I’d be interested to see the stats from the games where he has partnered either Sami or Carra. He handled the dangerous Jefferson Farfan without any difficulties at all, and there’s no question that he’s been our player of the season so far.

PSV had a lot of the ball in the final twenty minutes or so, but I still felt we were very comfortable. Even when we had to make a third enforced substitution it didn’t phase us. I don’t know exactly what happened to Pennant, initially it looked like he’d made a meal of a slight knock in the face. Most people were shouting for him to get up, which he eventually did, only to go down again not long after and then be stretchered from the field.

A lad sat in front of me remarked ‘there’s nothing wrong with him, he’s just too lazy to walk off’. Harsh perhaps, but I doubt he’d have made that comment about anybody else, which in itself says a lot about the way Pennant is being perceived by people. He’s just got to do more, it’s that simple. He wasn’t bad against PSV, but he showed with that great run in the first half what he can do. He needs to do that at least three or four times a game.

Bellamy replaced him on the wing, and it was a good game for him to come into as we were getting some counter attacking opportunities. The second goal was well worked too, as even though Zenden’s pass to Garcia was slightly overhit and looked to have stalled the attack, Luis recovered well and picked out Dirk on the back post, and from his header back across Crouchy was left with the easiest goal he’ll ever score.

Dirk had not played well for most of the game, but his attitude was fantastic. The more he struggled, the harder he worked and the more he demanded the ball. It paid off when he teed up Gerrard for the first, and he was rewarded again by setting up his strike partner. Crouch had done the same for him against Reading, and there’s a definite understanding between the two when they play.

I thought Crouch played really well, some of his touches and close control were a joy to watch. He’s got Magic Feet, and if his head was as effective he’d be unstoppable. He was a strong contender for the star man, as was Gerrard who although not at his absolute best (he flitted in and out the game a bit too much for me), when he had the ball he looked excellent and he also worked hard and put some crunching tackles in.

A word too for the much maligned Zenden. I don’t really get the way he’s often made the scapegoat, as he’s a good steady player. We didn’t really miss Xabi when he went off, and that speaks volumes for the way Bolo just got on with his job in his typical steady, unfussy manner.

The defence were very good in this game, with Finnan being the pick of the back four for me. He defended superbly, and contributed going forward too. He gets the star man just ahead of Gerrard and Crouch.

Finally, Jan Kromkamp. Having read his comments in the press I found it hard to disagree with a lot of what he said, but I thought it was a bit silly and disrespectful for him to say such things. To be fair, there wasn’t any malice there, and players who have been treated a lot better than he was have been a lot more critical of the club.

At full time I was curious to see what the reaction of our players would be, but they all seemed fine with him and there didn’t appear to be any ill feeling there at all. He also stayed behind after everybody else had left to applaud all four corners of the ground, and he was given a nice round of applause in return. He didn’t have to do that, so fair play to him.


Team: Reina; Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Riise; Pennant (Bellamy), Gerrard, Alonso (Zenden), Gonzalez (Garcia); Kuyt, Crouch: