Liverpool 3 Blackburn 1 - Prem (Apr 13 2008)

[TLW]

LIVERPOOL 3 Blackburn 1

Report by Dave Usher at Anfield

Scorer(s) – Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Andriy Voronin Half Time - 0-0 Venue - Anfield Date - Sun 13 April 2008 Star Man – Steven Gerrard

 

 

 

 

 

With all the childish public squabbling and media sniping from all of the senior figures dominating the headlines, it’s easy to forget that this has been a good week on the field for us. We progressed to an impressive third CL Semi Final in four years, and we took a giant leap towards securing qualification for that competition next season with a comfortable win over Blackburn to strengthen our hold on fourth spot.

Earlier in the season all the boardroom unrest and uncertainty over the manager’s position was used as a reason for our dreadful form and slump in results. Hopefully we won’t see a repeat of that, because if we do then those responsible need to be hung drawn and quartered. Success in this season’s Champions League would perhaps be the most unlikely achievement in our history given the absolutely chaotic mess the club is in at the moment. 2005 was a miracle, I don’t know what you’d call it if we did it again.

We’ve a long way to go yet, and overcoming Chelsea won’t be easy, as we know more than anybody. It will be another epic, with hopefully the same end result ad the previous two encounters. However, the five point cushion we have in fourth place does allow Rafa some leeway if he chooses to rest players before, in between and - hopefully - after the two Chelsea games. That’s why this win over Blackburn was vitally important. If we’d dropped points, then next weekend’s game with Fulham would have taken on more significance than it needed to. As things stand, unless Everton beat Chelsea on Thursday, I’d rest our entire first team this weekend, and I’m sure the temptation will be there for Benitez to do just that.

After the exertions of the side against Arsenal the other night, Rafa may have considered shuffling his pack a fair bit, but by and large he stuck to the same side. Mascherano was unavailabe, so Lucas came in as a direct replacement for him. Sami was given a well earned rest, meaning Carragher switched to his preferred position and Arbeloa came in at right back, and midweek hero Ryan Babel was handed a start in place of Peter Crouch, who wasn’t even amongst the subs.

Blackburn included former reds Ste Warnock and Brad Friedel (both given warm receptions by the Kop at the start of the second half), whilst a lot of eyes will have been on David Bentley, who has been touted as a possible transfer target for us this summer. I watched him closely, and I thought he did well to be fair. He looks a decent player, with a good work rate and nice range of passing. Where he’d fit into our current formation though I have no idea, and for the kind of money he’d cost I can’t see the point of going for him.

We didn’t play well in the first half, it was all a bit flat. Most of our best situations came about from winning the ball in midfield and breaking quickly when Blackburn attacks broke down. The pace of Torres, Babel and Gerrard threatened to unlock the door several times, but too often the final ball was poor.

We did have our moments though. Torres headed wide from a corner when he should have scored, but it wasn’t at the Kop end so it it was to be expected I guess! Aurelio had a half chance too following a purposeful run forward and one-two with Kuyt. Dirk’s return pass sat up on him though and it was a difficult ball to hit. It’s good to see Aurelio getting forward though, I think he could do it a bit more as he’s got the ability.

Gerrard had a chance when Torres and Kuyt led a swift break and Dirk squared the ball to his skipper, but Stevie’s shot wasn’t cleanly hit and it was saved by Friedel. Kuyt then put a free header wide from close range after another good set piece delivery from Gerrard.

The captain was involved in everything, and the main talking points of the half were two incidents that put the referee on the spot. The first incident was difficult for the referee, and many refs would probably have given a penalty when he went down under Friedel’s challenge. At the time, I thought it was a blatant dive, and that Gerrard was lucky not to be booked. Having seen the replay, I still don’t think it was a penalty, but it wasn’t exactly a dive either. He left his leg in deliberately, and Friedel caught him. I definitely wouldn’t have given a pen as he was looking for it,.

The second incident was definitely a foul, and should have been a red card for Samba. It wasn’t a penalty as it was just outside the box, but it was an obvious foul. I suspect Wiley didn’t give it because of the earlier incident. He wasn’t going to give Gerrard the benefit of the doubt because he felt he had dived. It isn’t right, but it’s understandable in some ways. It’s why Ronaldo often doesn’t get decisions he perhaps should do.

Gerrard shrugged off the disappointment and just continued to play his game. He was outstanding, too good for Blackburn and the main reason we won this game. The goal that put us into the lead was brilliant, typical Gerrard. Benayoun’s part in the goal shouldn’t be overlooked either, he had not been on too long but he made an immediate impression. Babel had struggled, adding more weight to the theory he’s better coming off the bench.

Yossi gave us a lift when he came on, and it was he that won back possession in the build up to the goal. Gerrard collected it and exchanged passes with Lucas, but it was the touch that slipped the ball through Samba’s legs and into the box that made this goal. It was absolutely world class, and the finish wasn’t bad either. Just a stunning goal, and no more than we deserved.

The second goal was good too, and was similar to the first in that the catalyst for it was us winning back possession in the opposition half. Three or four of our players pressed the ball, and eventually a poor clearance was intercepted by Lucas, who cleverly played the ball first time into the path of Gerrard. The speed of Lucas’ pass put Rovers in trouble, and they were outnumbered in the box. Gerrard picked out Torres, but had he missed it (I know, as if!) Yossi was behind him waiting for it.

Torres’ header was just class. It wasn’t an easy chance, but he made it look like it was. He’s scored in seven consecutive home games now. Let’s hope he can make it eight next week.

The striker was unlucky not to be awarded a penalty as well, when he and Gerrard produced some stunning interplay which was only ended when Emerton brought him down in the box. At first I thought it was a clean tackle, but having seen the replay it was a definite pen as the defender got nowhere near the ball.

With the points in the bag and time running down, Rafa gave Torres a rest and introduced the much maligned Voronin. Don’t get me wrong, he’s not really my cup of tea either, but he’s nowhere near as bad as some are suggesting.

It was nice for him to get on the scoresheet, and the goal put a smile on my face largely due to the part played by Riise and his one footedness. Yossi’s pass intended for Voronin was almost perfect, but Samba stuck out a long leg and prodded the ball into the path of Riise. He needed to shoot with his right foot, but wouldn’t for obvious reasons. So then he has it on his left foot, but Friedel’s positioning meant there was nowhere for him to put it. To his credit, he realised that and poked the ball inside towards Voronin, who slid in and just about got there first to claim his fifth goal of the season.

Riise had earlier been involved in a comical spat with David Dunn in front of the Paddock. Riise was warming up on the touchline as the ball went out for a Blackburn throw in. He let the ball run through his legs to waste a bit of time, and Dunn wasn’t happy, calling him a ‘prick’ amongst other things. Riise just laughed at him, then turned to the Paddock and laughed again, before puffing up his cheeks and making this gesture with his arms towards Dunn that basically said ‘fat bastard’. Made me laugh heartily. Unfortunately Dunn had turned his back and didn’t see it.

At 3-0 it was a perfect day, but we went and gave a stupid goal away right at the end. Skrtel was the main culprit for it, as his poor header fell to Santa Cruz who produced a great finish past Pepe. Heading appears to be Skrtel’s biggest weakness, as often the ball goes straight up in the air when he heads it. He’s done well so far, but this is something he can work on, for sure.

To be fair, he was fortunate to even be on the pitch at that stage, having pulled back Roberts when he had a clear run on goal. Wiley produced a yellow card rather than red, possibly because he reasoned that although it was a clear goalscoring opportunity, it was Jason Roberts so it wasn’t THAT clear. Skrtel was very lucky though.

Star man was Gerrard, with honourable mentions to Kuyt who was busy and bright again, Alonso (not outstanding but steady throughout), Lucas and Yossi, who made a big difference when he came on and gave us a lift that we really needed.


Team: Reina; Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio; Lucas, Alonso (Riise); Kuyt, Gerrard, Babel (Benayoun); Torres (Voronin):