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Liverpool
v West Bromwich Albion
Anfield, Liverpool.
21st September 2002, 3.00pm. |
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This was a game we expected nothing from, and duly got just that,
although a suspension for Hoult makes it a little more expensive.
And although we were deservedly beaten, with a little more luck,
and a better referee (although isn't Elleray supposed to be one
of, if not "the", best referee in the country?), we could have snatched
something. As at Old Trafford, the home side were off-colour and
the Albion looked fairly solid for much of the time.
It was the Arkles at 77 Anfield Road that turned into a small corner
of the Black Country. Full of Baggies fans, with a few scousers
thrown in, the atmosphere was fantastic with the visitors warming
up their vocal chords with a good hour's worth of singing.
After a short walk to the away section in the stadium, we just started
again although obviously in larger numbers. Looking into a strong
September sun, we fried in the heat but never stopped singing -
easily outsinging the home supporters once again. I can't actually
remember hearing the infamous Kopites burst into song!
Megson finally got my message about needing Gregan in midfield and
started with Siggy at the back in place of Wallwork. The only other
change from the starting eleven from the Saints game was Dobie in
for Hughes, who didn't even make the bench as he was still struggling
with a gashed knee. Murphy had his first place on a Premiership
bench, with Jensen suffering from a heavy cold - how significant
that turned out to be.
As expected, Liverpool started strongly and Albion were content
to whether the storm and catch them on the break. The back three
were defending stoutly with blocks flying in everywhere and only
one shot got through to Hoult in the first fifteen minutes - from
Cheyrou straight at the Baggies 'keeper. Big Dave took a painful
strike to the groin from a Danny Murphy shot but, God willing, there'll
be no permanent damage.
When tested, Hoult was up to the task. A 20-yard shot from Gerrard
was brilliantly turned round the post, and when faced with a free
header from Murphy eight yards after Carragher had beaten Clement,
he somehow managed to bundle the ball along the line and keep out
a follow up from Cheyrou. When he was beaten to the ball by Owen
on the right hand side of the area, Owen's cross was too high although
the defence were covering the goal area in numbers.
There was little up front from the Albion as, once again, they were
guilty of giving away possession too easily. Koumas, a lifelong
Liverpool fan, was having his best game in an Albion shirt, however,
appearing much stronger in the tackle and producing a couple of
mazy runs that threatened to open up the Liverpool defence. But
Albion's best moment of the first half came from a Wimbledon-style
punt from Hoult. It came back out from the edge of the box and fell
perfectly for Roberts. He hit a fantastic volley from 25 yards that
had "goal" written all over it until Dudek somehow managed to claw
it round the post.
And then disaster. A thoughball from Murphy looked to be harmless
until, Moore left it, presumably on a call from Hoult. But as Hoult
came out he slipped and Owen was in like a flash. As he tried to
round the Albion keeper, he was rugby tackled to the ground. Penalty
and red card was the only outcome. And so enter Joe Murphy. Dobie,
having a quiet game, was sacrificed and Murphy's first Premiership
appearance started by him facing a penalty from Michael Owen.
With Owen's confidence so low, you somehow felt that Murphy had
a chance. And so it turned out. A weak shot just a yard or so to
Murphy's right was gratefully gathered by the Irishman. Owen had
his head in his hands, Murphy was acclaimed as "Ireland's number
one".
Minutes later came the most controversial moment of the match. Roberts
beat Hyypia to a throughball, took the ball past the Finn and was
brought down in the box. Clear penalty. Not so, according to David
Elleray; he played the ball according to the ref's hand signals.
If Hyypia did get a bit of ball, which in itself is debatable, it
was a tackle from behind and, as far as I am aware, a tackle from
behind should bring an automatic yellow card, let alone a free kick.
But as Megson cheekily pointed out in his post-match interview,
it was in front of the Kop.
But had Albion been given and converted the penalty, it would have
been a very different game.
Megson made another half-time substitution - this is becoming a
habit - and it seemed to suggest that he wasn't settling for a point
as Dichio came on for Koumas. I did see Jason feel his ankle after
a challenge in the first half, so he may have taken a knock.
But it was Liverpool who started on the front foot and Albion's
resistance finally broke on 55 minutes. Clement, who all in all
hadn't been playing too badly, decided to try and take on Steven
Gerrard in the Albion half for some bizarre reason, and unsurprisingly
lost the ball. Gerrard then put a wonderful ball across to BAROS
who, with the Albion defence trying to reorganise following Clement's
error, was unmarked. The finish was superb - a cushioned header
that easily beat Murphy. A mistake that may have gone unpunished
last year, will almost always be fatal at this level.
Liverpool looked more confident and threw people forward but Albion
stayed resolute. Siggy, having a great game to reward Megson's decision
to start him, had to clear off the line from Owen and Murphy made
a couple of great saves from Cheyrou and Baros.
But as the game neared the final stages, the home crowd feared the
late equaliser that Liverpool have been guilty of lately. Megson
tried to make it more likely when he withdrew the impressive Balis
for Marshall, went to a back four and put Big Dave up front.
He started to cause problems straight away as the Liverpool defenders
didn't know what to do with him. Dudek had to claw a ball off his
head from a Dichio flick, and a Clement corner flew inches wide
with Siggy trying to get on the end of it. It was almost as if Liverpool
were hanging on. But Megson's tactical gamble didn't pay off.
A break from Liverpool saw Murphy beat Clement in the corner. His
cross was laid back by Owen to RIISE whose unstoppable shot went
in off the far post. It seemed like a kick in the teeth.
Once again, the Albion have taken on the Premiership's "best" in
their own back yard and were unlucky to come away empty-handed.
A sure-fire penalty not given, stubborn resistance only broken due
to an individual error. Clem has not had the best of seasons but
he has been playing better - I hope this doesn't set him back again.
We're still not keeping the ball well enough, though. Not many teams
will come away from Anfield with anything this year, but with a
little luck, we could have done.
RESULT - LIVERPOOL 2 WEST BROMWICH
ALBION 0
Marks
Hoult - 6 - Did well until he erred - we'll miss him.
Balis - 8 - His best game of the season - looked good at the back.
Clement - 5 - Two mistakes, two goals. Otherwise he looked OK.
Gilchrist - 7 - Steady.
Moore - 7 - Not sure what happened with the pen, made some important
challenges.
Sigurdsson - 8 - MOM - dealt with Owen well, quality performance.
Gregan - 7 - Did well in the middle of the park.
Johnson - 7 - Typical hardworking performance.
Koumas - 7 - His best game yet, unlucky to be substituted.
Dobie - 5 - Very quiet.
Roberts - 7 - Always looked dangerous, faded towards the end. Ref
gave him nothing.
Murphy - 7 - What a start! If he can cope with that sort of pressure,
he looks a good signing.
Dichio - 7 - Did well, provided another option.
Marshall - 7 - Not on for long, but looked good.
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Liverpool
(4-3-1-2):
Dudek; Carragher, Hyypia, Henchoz, Riise; Gerrard, Hamaan, D Murphy;
Cheyrou (Diao 88); Owen, Baros (Heskey 75). Subs not used: Kirkland
(GK), Diouf, Traore. |
West
Bromwich Albion (3-5-2):
Hoult; Sigurdsson, Moore, Gilchrist; Balis (Marshall 82), Koumas
(Dichio 45), Gregan, Johnson, Clement; Roberts, Dobie (J Murphy
35). Subs not used: Wallwork, J Chambers.
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Scoring: Baros (55)
1-0, Riise (90+1) 2-0.
Bookings: Liverpool - D Murphy (foul 37), Heskey (foul 86). West
Bromwich Albion - Gregan (foul 74), Dichio (dissent 85).
Sending Off: West Bromwich Albion - Hoult (professional foul 35)
Referee: D Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill)
Attendance: 43,830 |
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