Liverpool 3 Wigan 0 (Prem) - Dec 3 2005

[TLW]

LIVERPOOL 3 Wigan 0

Report by Dave Usher at Anfield

Scorer(s) - Peter Crouch (2), Luis Garcia Half Time - 2-0 Venue - Anfield Date - Sat 3 Dec 2005 Star Man - Peter Crouch

 

 

 

 

I guess the London hacks are going to have to find something else to drone on about now eh? Peter Crouch’s double (that shitty arsed dodgy goals panel can kiss my hairy beanbag) ensured that we no longer have to read about how many hours, minutes and seconds it is since he last found the net, but more importantly it helped the reds see off Wigan and record their 6th league win in succession.

The media witch hunt against Crouch has been a disgrace, but the ridiculous decision to declare his first strike as an own goal by Mike Pollitt was even worse. Liverpool are officially crediting Crouch with two goals in this game, and so am I. I’d urge every Liverpool fan out there to do likewise, and ignore the ‘official’ verdict of the panel of knobjockeys who somehow feel that the goal wasn’t his.

Crouchy had waited so long for that goal, it’s scandalous that some twat like Richard Keys or David Platt (who were stirring the shit on sky apparently) should try and take it away from him. Obviously the final decision isn’t down to them, but the ramblings of the 'experts' on sky always have a bearing on these things, and had they declared it a goal for the reds’ frontman, you can be sure the ‘panel’ would have followed suit.

But just who the hell are this ‘panel’ anyway? The bastards need to be named and shamed after this. Imagine had Crouchy not bagged his second goal? There’d be uproar if they’d prevented him from opening his account. If the panel wants to apply the same rule to Joe ‘I don’t dive’ Cole, they’d have to halve his Chelsea career goals tally. Same with Lampard, and even today I hear that John Terry’s winning goal was helped over the line by a Boro player.

I was watching Soccer Saturday after getting back from our game, and originally Chelsea’s goal was given as an O.G. by Rochembak. A couple of minutes later it had been amended to a John Terry goal. No doubt a quick phonecall from someone at Chelsea sorted that one.

For the first time since his arrival at Liverpool, Crouch enjoyed some good fortune, and now the twats are trying to take it from him. I’m furious about this, and even though ultimately it didn’t prevent him from shedding the monkey from his back, it still isn’t right that he’s being denied a goal that is rightfully his.

Crouch has got two goals to his name now, and anyone who says otherwise can fuck right off, the miserable bastards. How anyone can deny him that goal after seeing the joy on his face is beyond me. Heartless bastards, as if Crouchy hasn’t been through enough this season.

The goal was as memorable as it was fortunate. Collecting the ball on half way, Crouchy began to carry it goalwards. Gerrard and Morientes made runs to make space, and when it opened up for Big PC you could hear thousands of people scream ‘shoot’. He did, but De Zeeuw got a block on it, and the ball looped up in the air.

I half turned away, disappointed that another chance for him to end the drought looked to have slipped away. Then I saw the keeper backpeddling, and thought that at least we may get a corner out of it. That’s actually what I thought had happened, as it looked like Pollitt had managed to tip it over the bar. It was only when I saw Gerrard going nuts I realised what had happened. Anfield was delirious, and as delighted and relieved as Crouch was, I got the impression his team-mates (Gerrard and Carra especially) were even more so.

Crouch is incredibly popular with the other players, both for what he brings to the team and because of his likeable nature. They’ve felt for him as the criticism mounted and the games without a goal ticked by, and the relief amongst them was clear to see. Even substitute Djibril Cisse was beaming on the touchline, clapping Crouch all the way back to the centre circle.

It was ironic that after all the great play, near misses, and bad luck that Crouch has endured this season, that his first goal would be a total fluke. It was also poetic justice, fate’s way of apologising for some of the things dealt his way this season (not least last Wednesday night when he was chopped down as he prepared to put the ball into an empty net).

With that goal, a huge weight had been lifted from everyone’s shoulders. Obviously it helped Crouch, but it also relieved the burden from the rest of the players as well as the fans. We’ve all shared in Crouch’s frustrations, and that first goal was a release for everyone.

The reds had been playing well anyway, but the goal lifted the whole place. Gerrard and Alonso were prominent in everything, whilst Garcia and Kewell’s movement posed plenty of problems for the visitors.

Of course at this point, Crouch believed he’d been credited with his first Liverpool goal, so when Finnan’s excellent through ball sent him clear he will have been feeling a lot less edgy than he would had he still been waiting to get off the mark. The finish was a cool one, as he lobbed the advancing Pollitt and saw the ball land in the corner of the goal.

Had he not scored earlier, chances are this one would have found a way not to go in. It’d either have dropped just wide, or Chimbonda would have got back to clear off the line. When people comment that “once he gets one others will follow” this is what they mean. Without that first goal, the second mightn’t have arrived.

Liverpool were well on top in the first half, and created several openings. Kewell put a shot into the side netting when well placed, and Gerrard saw a couple of efforts well saved by Pollitt. The skipper was bombing forward at every opportunity, and Wigan were having real trouble containing him.

It’s easy to see why Gerrard loves Crouch so much, as he knows when he makes a run and the ball is played up to Crouch, invariably the striker will find a way to divert the ball into his run. One lay off which sent the skipper clear was absolutely exquisite. Had Rooney or Bergkamp done it we’d be seeing it on highlights packages for years to come. It’s not a one off either as we normally see two or three of these each game, with Gerrard usually the beneficiary.

The first half was really enjoyable, as although Paul Jewell was disappointed with his side, I thought they at least tried to be positive. They certainly weren’t sitting back that’s for sure. The front two always looked like they could do something, and in the 2nd half they got more into it.

Perhaps that was due to the reds slacking off slightly, but I was impressed with them to be fair. They’re a good side and I’d love to see them get a European place this season, mainly because I really like Paul Jewell. Their fans were arseholes, with their boring ‘sign on’ and ‘get to work you lazy twats’ etc repertoire. Had to laugh at them taunting Harry with “Cannon and Ball shagged your wife” though.

For a little spell in the 2nd half, they penned us back a bit and looked like they may get a goal back. The closest they came was when the powerful Roberts held off Carragher, but was superbly denied by Hyypia as he shaped to shoot. Kavanagh then put a shot just over from the edge of the box. Reina actually had one of his busiest afternoons in some time. He didn’t have any major saves to make, but they did at least make him work.

Liverpool weathered the mini storm though, and Pollitt was grateful to see the crossbar come to his rescue to keep out Nando’s header. It was another one of those days for Morientes. He played very well, but he is finding goals hard to come by. I actually thought he’d scored our third goal until George announced it was Garcia’s goal. I just saw Nando power a header in, and I didn’t see Luis touch it at all.

That was unfortunate for Morientes, but when substitute Cisse (on for Crouch who went off to a hero’s ovation) unselfishly squared the ball to him he should have got himself on the scoresheet. To be fair to Pollitt it was a brilliant double save, but Morientes was maybe a little too casual with the first attempt. It was a shame, as his performance deserved a goal and once more his work rate was impressive.

Gerrard deserved a goal too, as he was superb throughout. The closest he came in the 2nd half was when Pollitt produced a wonder save to keep out his stinging free kick. Gerrard was probably the star man today, but how can I not give it to Crouchy? Today was his day, and Gerrard more than anyone would agree with that.

There were good performances all over the park today, as I felt everyone was in good form. Warnock was solid on the left, and Finnan was his usual quietly impressive self on the other flank. Hyypia continued his god form, Reina looked alert and commanding, Alonso was quality….. as I say everyone played well.

Rafa took the opportunity to give rests to Alonso, Kewell and Crouch in the 2nd half, no doubt with an eye on Tuesday’s trip to Stamford Bridge. There have been suggestions by some that we will field a weakened side as the game doesn’t mean too much. I disagree strongly with that.

We should treat the game very seriously, field our best team and go out and beat them. This is our trophy and we should go out and show them pricks exactly why we’re European Champions. I want to win the group, because for one it gives us a little psychological edge over them. Also, although I accept that winning the group doesn’t necessarily mean an easier draw, it would mean that we can’t get the one team in Europe who I would be wary of facing – Barcelona.

I also want revenge for the 4-1, and given that we are now looking like the most likely to mount any sort of challenge to them for the Premiership, defeating them on their own patch will boost our confidence, and dent theirs. So forget about resting players, just go out and beat the classless Chav twats.


Team: Reina; Finnan, Carra, Hyypia, Warnock; Garcia, Gerrard, Alonso (Hamann), Kewell (Riise); Morientes, Crouch (Cisse):