After a disappointing 3-0 loss away to Aston Villa, Liverpool took on their West Midland's neighbours West Brom at The Racecourse tonight. They chose an attacking team with with two front men, two wingers and an attacking midfielder and it paid dividends as they produced their best performance of the season to romp to a comfortable 4-0 victory. With Hobbs relegated to the bench for this game Peltier was captain for the second to last home game of the season.
Liverpool started brightly and nearly went ahead in the third minute. Calliste was fouled after being put through into the left channel by Guthrie. Guthrie was alive to the opportunity and took a quick free kick to Foy whose powerful shot skimmed the post with the keeper not even bothering to move.
The Reds didn't have to wait long to take the lead. A minute later Idrizaj who has struggled to settle in to the team so far this year picked the ball up and raced straight through the defence and beat the keeper with aplomb. It seemed to mark Bez's arrival as he had by far his best game for the club so far.
Liverpool went off the boil for a bit forcing Pako to get up from the bench and yell to Guthrie "Daniel. Keep the ball. And pass.". Guthrie (who seems to be a contestant for the world's whitest human) took the words of wisdom on board as he put on a great showing for the rest of the match.
Foy was again unlucky on 25 minutes shooting from a similar angle and missing by a similar margin.
It wasn't until the 32nd minute before West Brom had a chance. A forward ball by Ibrahim Sissoko (yes he's the legend's younger brother) caused confusion between Roque and Martin allowing Elvins to nip in and shoot just wide. Martin seemed very nervey tonight, after a couple of mistake against Villa he looks to be a bit short on confidence.
Just before the break Barragan was close to doubling the lead. He had bombed forward more and more as the half went on, this time he broke alone, cut inside onto his weaker left foot and let fly, missing only by the smallest of margins. HT: Liverpool 1-0 West Brom
Liverpool came out for the second half and were immediately back on the front foot. Both Foy and Peltier having long range efforts in the opening moments. This pressure told as in the 49th minute Foy and Bez combined to slip Guthrie through. He looked to have been muscled out of it but managed to get the tip of his toe on the ball, diverting it around the keeper and into the net.
Liverpool put a game that was really already out of West Brom's reach beyond doubt in the 56th minute. Calliste used his pace to great effect to steam down the right wing and deliver a perfect cross to Bez who had cleverly lost his marker. It was nothing less than Bez had deserved and if his header from a corner late in the first half had not come back of the bar he could well have been celebrating a hatrick.
Lindfield was introduced in the 67th minute replacing Calliste and I was reliably informed by the lad I watch the match with that he would definitely score. With just five minute remaining some excellent footall by Liverpool enabled Barragan time to cross from the right. He found Lindfield in space at the back post but he headed over when he really should have found the net. I laughed at my mate's prediction.
In the 86th minute he laughed at me as Threlfall fed Lindfield and used pace and strength to brilliantly hold off the defender and beat the keeper. It was a great piece of finishing to round of a cracking performance. I hope we reproduce this on Sunday so I don't have to witness the Mancs celebrating winning the league.
(The report for the game on Sunday afternoon may not be up until Monday).
MotM: It's hard to take it away from a lad who scored two goals and played so well, but I'm afraid Bez loses out to Robbie Foy who put in the best performance I've ever seen from the lad. He really caused them problems all night.
LFC Team: Martin, Barragan, Smith, Antwi, Roque, Peltier, Anderson (75, Threlfall), Idrizaj, Calliste (67 Lindfield), Guthrie (77, Flynn), Foy
© AdamS 2006
