jonwant.com
jonwant.com Home Page Links to other footy sites Links to other footy sites Links to non-footy related sites. Photo features Contact the webmaster.
West Bromwich Albion v Liverpool
The Hawthorns, West Bromwich. 26th December 2004, 6.00pm.
Back to Previous Page
Match
Preview
Result West Bromwich Albion 0-5 Liverpool
Scorers None John Arne Riise (17)
Florent Sinama Pongolle (51)
Steven Gerrard (55)
John Arne Riise (82)
Sanz Luis Garcia (89)
Attendance 27,533
Teams 4-4-2

1 - Russell Hoult (GK)
19 - Neil Clement
16 - Cosmin Contra
4 - Thomas Gaardsoe
6 - Darren Purse
2 - Riccardo Scimeca
8 - Jonathan Greening
10 - Andy Johnson
7 - Jason Koumas
34 - Robert Earnshaw
9 - Geoff Horsfield 		4-4-2

(GK) Jerzy Dudek - 1
Jamie Carragher - 23
Steve Finnan - 3
Sami Hyypia - 4
Djimi Traore - 21
Steven Gerrard - 8
Dietmar Hamann - 16
Antonio Nunez - 18
John Arne Riise - 6
Milan Baros - 5
Florent Sinama Pongolle - 24
Substitutes 29 - Tomasz Kuszczak (GK)
3 - Paul Robinson
18 - Lloyd Dyer
11 - Zoltan Gera
17 - Rob Hulse 		(GK) Paul Harrison - 40
Xabi Alonso - 14
Salif Alassane Diao - 15
Sanz Luis Garcia - 10
Stephen Warnock - 28
Substitutions Z Gera for A Johnson (45)
R Hulse for R Earnshaw (72) 		X Alonso for S Gerrard (62)
S Luis Garcia for M Baros (66)
S Warnock for S Finnan (70)
Yellow Cards None None
Red Cards Cosmin Contra (39) None
Referee C Foy (St Helens)
On the face of it, this was another disastrous day for the Baggies as a rampant Liverpool side ran the Albion defence ragged in the second half. On the other hand, the effect of the sending off cannot be diminished although there is an obvious argument that Robson should've opted for a damage limitation exercise rather than attempting to take the game to Liverpool when a man short.

With Kanu taken ill and Moore still injured, few would've argued too loudly with Robson's team selection as Gaardsoe returned to central defence and Koumas returned to the starting line-up in place of Zoltan Gera.

Fort the first forty minutes, Albion played reasonably well. Liverpool were obviously the better side, but the Baggies were not over-awed and they battled well. Liverpool passed the ball superbly well as was to be expected, but in the early stages, the home defence stood up well with Purse and Gaardsoe on hand to deal with any dangerous situations.

Albion probably had the best early chance when an attempted interception by Carragher fell kindly to Horsfield. But the former Blues man took too long to get the ball under control and Hyypia recovered before the ball could be squared to the unmarked Earnshaw.

But then, a moment of magic from Steven Gerrard gave Liverpool the lead. He played a delightful ball over the top of the defence which was met by a well-timed run from Riise who slotted past Hoult. The Baggies 'keeper perhaps could've come out to Riise, but it was a well worked goal.

But Albion refused to allow the goal to dampen their spirit and they tried to force their way back into the game. Koumas was orchestrating things in the middle of the park, and he almost opened up the defence with a ball through the Liverpool defence for Earnshaw. Unfortunately for the Baggies, Dudek was alert and rushed out to head the ball clear from just outside the box.

A minute later, the game changed. Gerrard went straight through Koumas inside the Liverpool half and, with the referee ignoring protests for what looked like a clear free kick, Liverpool broke. At the other end, poor control from Clement saw Albion concede a corner. Gerrard's flag kick was headed goalwards by Nunez and, with Hoult seemingly in place to push the ball away, Contra inexplicably raised an arm to block the ball. Liverpool were awarded the penalty and Contra was sent off.

Hoult saved Baros's penalty and Purse cleared the rebound shot off the line, but the damage was done.

Robson indicated his intentions by swapping the ineffective Andy Johnson for Zoltan Gera - he was determined to get back into the game. Unfortunately, Liverpool were just too good and they proceeded to rip Albion apart. Jonathan Greening looked lost as the holding midfield player and it was he that allowed Sinama Pongolle to run unchecked into the box to finish off a Riise cross just six minutes into the second half. Four minutes later, a well-worked free-kick was hammered home by Gerrard and the result was beyond doubt.

Robson perhaps should've changed things to limit the damage that Liverpool were able to inflict, but he chose not to - the only change he made was to bring on Rob Hulse for the slightly disappointing Robert Earnshaw. Benitez on the other hand had the luxury of being able to replace the excellent Steve Gerrard with Xabi Alonso and the disappointing Baros with Luis Garcia.

Liverpool's passing and movement left the Albion defence chasing shadows at times - it was if Liverpool had more players, which of course they did! Several times Albion were exposed, twice more Liverpool found the net but they failed to match the total they achieved two seasons ago. And this Liverpool side are much, much better.

Nine goals in two games is obviously a confidence shattering experience, but the Albion players can take heart from elements of their first half performance. A moment of madness from Contra cost Albion dear, although Liverpool were probably good enough to have won against eleven men, if not quite as convincingly. The players must put this behind them and try and get something from two tough away trips in order to find a little bit of confidence from somewhere.



Marks

Russell Hoult - 6 - Good penalty save, but he remains below par.
Neil Clement - 5 - Not a good display on a very difficult day for Clem.
Cosmin Contra - 5 - One silly moment destoyed a decent display.
Thomas Gaardsoe - 6 - Decent display, although up against it after the break.
Darren Purse - 6 - Better than of late.
Riccardo Scimeca - 5 - Struggled with Riise, particularly after the break.
Jonathan Greening - 6 - Good first half, average second.
Andy Johnson - 4 - Another anonymous performance.
Jason Koumas - 7 - MOM. Good performance, something like the JK we know.
Robert Earnshaw - 5 - Disappointing.
Geoff Horsfield - 6 - Did OK

Zoltan Gera - 6 - Did OK.
Rob Hulse - 5 - Did little.

Bryan Robson - 6 - Right team selection, brave choice to go for it which didn't pay off.

Jon Want, 28th December 2004.
^ Back to Top