Liverpool 2 Watford 0 - Prem (Dec 23 2006)

[TLW]

LIVERPOOL 2 Watford 0

Report by Dave Usher at Anfield

Scorer(s) - Craig Bellamy, Xabi Alonso Half Time - 0-0 Venue - Anfield Date - Sat 23 Dec 2006 Star Man - Craig Bellamy

 

 

 

 

Goals from Bellamy and Alonso and yet another clean sheet for Pepe ensured it will be a Merry Crimbo for us, but a miserable one for Watford who go into the holiday period bottom of the table. In the last seven days we’ve played the two worst sides in the league, but Watford were a much different kettle of fish to the spineless Charlton. What they lack in flair they make up for in organisation and work rate, and it’s easy to see why they haven’t really been hammered by anybody other than Chelsea this season.

It’s unfair to be too critical of Watford’s style, as you can’t expect them to come to Anfield and try to outpass us. They came to frustrate us, waste a bit of time, get stuck in and generally make it difficult for us. They did it fairly well, but had their keeper to thank for not being on the end of a hiding.

We started very well, and in the first five minutes we put together some good moves and looked like making an easy afternoon’s work of it. Typically though, we didn’t make the most of our good approach work. Bellamy was in great form once more, and Watford were petrified of him. His pace got him in behind their defence a couple of times early on, but nothing came of it.

Gerrard got in behind them too after a great ball by Garcia, and his cross was diverted towards his own goal by the marvellously named Danny Shittu, but was superbly saved by Foster. The on loan Man United player also made a good save from Alonso’s carefully placed shot, and then denied Kuyt as the reds applied the pressure.

We were always in command of the game, and I had the impression that a goal could come at any time, but it was also clear that there was a ‘let’s just do enough and no more’ kind of attitude which we will no doubt see more of in the next few games. The tempo in the first half was a bit too slow for me. When we showed a bit of urgency we looked like scoring, but a lot of the time we were a bit pedestrian, just knocking it around at the back and not really getting anywhere.

Watford were quite content for us to have the ball, as they didn’t want it. Whenever they had possession, they hoofed it back into our half and gave it back to us. I’ve seen teams play long ball football before, but this was taking it to extremes, as often their midfield players would receive the ball facing their own goal, and just hook it over their own heads up the field without even looking.

No doubt they’ll have spent the whole week working on long throws and set pieces, because they were never going to score any other way. As I said, we can’t really have a go at them for that, as they have to play to their strengths and do whatever they can to try and survive. It’s up to us to deal with it, and we did it pretty well.

Carragher had a few dodgy moments early in the first half, but overall he and Agger were very comfortable. Not that they were up against much. Ashley Young is a decent little player, but that Henderson is a yard dog. He’s truly awful, and has to be the worst striker in the Premiership by some distance. His only contribution to the game was to repeatedly put his elbow across the face of whoever came to challenge him.

Watford had one great chance in the first half, but Bouazza (I think) ballooned it over the bar when he should have scored. Aside from that, they didn’t threaten at all, although they were lumping in a load of dangerous crosses later on that gave Reina a few uncomfortable moments. The similarities with Wimbledon’s Crazy Gang weren’t just confined to the colours they were playing in. It made for a frustrating half, as we found it difficult to get into any rhythm as they repeatedly looked to break up the play.

The most infuriating tactic was the insistence on Shittu taking every throw in. He wasn’t even throwing it that far, yet over he’d trot every time there was a throw in, even when it was in their own half. The left back also managed to waste a fair bit of time by feigning injury after an imaginary clash with Pennant. There was no contact at all, but the Watford man went down holding his face, and wasted a few minutes getting treatment.

The 2nd half could have been a bit stressful had we not made the breakthrough early on. Thankfully we scored within a couple of minutes. Kuyt received the ball and turned infield, but looked to have lost it. He battled for possession, and managed to divert the ball into Gerrard’s path. He advanced forward and then played in Bellamy, who was in acres of space in the centre and had enough time to control the ball, turn and then casually dink the ball over Foster for his fourth goal in as many games.

Kuyt’s contribution to the goal was typical of the man. He had a fairly poor game, but he never lets his head drop and he always keeps plugging away. Even when he isn’t playing well, he’s an asset to the team and he more than played his part in this victory.

Once we went in front, Watford had to come out of their defensive shell a bit, and that left opportunities for us to counter attack. Bellamy’s pace really came to the fore, and this was easily his best home performance. He should have had a second goal when substitute Gonzalez sent him clear with his first touch, but the ball seemed to get stuck under his feet and Foster saved his shot. Gonzalez seized on the rebound, but couldn’t direct his header inside the post and the ball drifted just wide.

Bellamy made way for Crouch, and the big fella almost got on the scoresheet with a spectacular volley that crashed against the post after good set up play by Garcia. It was beginning to get a bit edgy, as Watford should have been dead and buried, yet were just a goal down and still in the game as we went into the final few minutes.

We’d missed chances, and Watford had started to throw bodies forward and lump the ball into the box. Reina dealt with most things well, and got several good punches in. Once or twice he looked a bit uncomfortable, as Watford put men around him and stopped him reaching the ball. Generally though, Pepe and his defence dealt with the aerial threat well.

Alonso made sure the final few minutes were enjoyable, as he curled in a brilliant shot from 20 yards following Kuyt’s lay off. Dirk had made a superb run down the right, but his initial cross had been poor and was easily cut out. Like I said though, Dirk keeps plugging away, and when the ball came back to him he picked out Xabi to claim another assist.

It wasn’t a good day for the Dutchman, and he gave the ball away a lot. At the end of the day though he’s played his part in both goals and left the field dripping with sweat as usual. Everyone worked hard for this result, including Jermaine Pennant who did a good job for the side. He didn’t have a great game, but he did ok and he worked hard. One incident in particular summed up the change in Pennant’s attitude of late. Seconds before he was subbed, I noticed him sprinting back into our box to fill a big gap that had been left by Riise. He looked over his shoulder, noticed the space that Watford’s right winger was in and he bombed it back to cover. As it was, the ball never came into our box and there was no immediate danger, but he wasn’t to know that and it was good to see him show that kind of discipline.

It was a shame that he didn’t applaud the fans as he left the field however. He was given a good ovation as he went off, because his recent improvement in work rate and performance has been noted. If he came across as being a bit more likeable he’d get a much easier ride off the fans, and someone should have a word with him. Look at the way Kuyt interacts with the fans for instance. No matter how badly he plays, people will always cut him slack because he’s a worker and he relates to the supporters. Jermaine could learn a lot from Dirk.

Garcia could have made it 3-0 in stoppage time but he volleyed into the ground after a superb counter attack. It was one of those days for Garcia. He started well but quickly reverted back to type and really didn’t do much. The same can be said of most of the other forward players really, as only Bellamy looked to be in top form. I’m giving him the star man, just ahead of the excellent Alonso.


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