Liverpool 3 Bolton 0 (Echo)Jan 2 2007
by Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo
IF SAM Allardyce pinned any newspaper clippings on the dressing room walls ahead of this game, his players clearly declined to have a read.
Allardyce took delight in suggesting Rafa Benitez’s scathing assessment of Bolton’s football philosophy made a team talk unnecessary prior to the clubs’ meeting last September.
Given Liverpool’s Reebok defeat owed more to inept officiating than skill, it was an insincere jibe which reflected Allardyce’s tendency to hunt a sympathetic headline.
Had Bolton held on for a stalemate yesterday – and until Peter Crouch’s action replay of how to overhead kick, that looked highly likely – no doubt Allardyce would have remarked on another pre-match battering from Benitez.
Fortunately, there was no post-match humble pie being presented this time as Liverpool ultimately emerged handsome winners.
It took time for them to gain the ascendancy. Indeed, for 60 minutes it seemed the match ticket might as well have had 0-0 stamped upon it, such was the dearth of chances and excellence.
As Liverpool struggled to transform their admirable capacity to match Bolton physically into meaningful or attractive passing moves, there was a fear the mental barrier of facing the Lancashire side was taking its toll.
Being prepared to fight for every ball is a necessity against such teams, but there were times it seemed Liverpool were sacrificing some of their own strengths to do so.
The result was an awful first half, when the Anfield crowd which seemed to be silently nursing its New Year hangover was faced with a hideous game which made their heads throb even more.
Then came the moment of class which utterly changed the complexion of the afternoon, and allowed the hour’s mediocrity to be forgotten.
Jermaine Pennant’s finest Liverpool performance by several hundred stratospheres was symbolised by a dribble and cross which fell invitingly for Crouch to show he’s considerably better with acrobatic volleys than close range headers.
For both supplier and scorer, the new year toast which followed was particularly well-timed.
Crouch took the opportunity to later reaffirm his commitment to Anfield in the wake of recent speculation. The manager and player have now spoken as one. One hopes a similar message is being sent to those advisors who have been engineering the exit stories.
Crouch is currently in the process of having his autobiography written by one of the trendy national reporters – another bizarre move choreographed by those who ensure their own interests are served as much as their client.
The popular striker should recognise the chapters depicting his years in a Liverpool shirt, some which still need to be written, represent the highlights.
What follows the day he leaves is an inevitable dip in drama, excitement and happy endings. And someone who’s really looking after Crouch ought to remind him what happened to the last Anfield striker who thought the prospect of a transfer to Newcastle wasn’t a bad idea.
Had two simpler chances been taken after more good work on the right by Pennant and the back-to-form Steve Finnan, Crouch would have taken home the match ball.
Given Valencia’s David Villa was watching in the Directors Box – and no, that doesn’t mean he’s about to sign – Crouch picked the right moment to raise his profile.
Unlike at Blackburn, the missed headers weren’t costly, as Steven Gerrard and workaholic Dirk Kuyt underlined Liverpool’s superiority in the closing stages.
Once more, Pennant was a creator.
The right winger hasn’t produced enough high calibre performances since his summer arrival, but in recent weeks the steady improvement has at least offered cause for hope.
This was undoubtedly his most effective display, although he was assisted by Finnan, who’s making sure if, or when, Lucas Neill arrives, it won’t necessarily be to play right back.
The whole of Liverpool’s defence has shaped up in the last three months.
Benitez’s decision to call upon Sami Hyypia’s height was vindicated with a towering performance to counter the threat of Kevin Davies, while Jamie Carragher kept Nicolas Anelka at bay and ensured El-Hadji Diouf left with a few necessary bruises.
Benitez will ultimately be thrilled his side won by being two-faced. On the one hand, they tried to beat Bolton at their own game, using the height and power of Kuyt and Crouch to their advantage.
But when it mattered most in the closing stages, it was the technical expertise of Gerrard and Xabi Alonso which ran the midfield and ensured there was no way back for the toughest, but most obnoxiously ugly team in the division.
Most significantly, the two nearest challengers to third place have been beaten, allowing Liverpool the luxury, temporarily at least, to start 2007 in the same position they did 2006 – chasing the top two rather than looking over their shoulder.
LIVERPOOL: Reina; Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise; Gonzalez (Garcia 69), Alonso, Gerrard (Aurelio 85), Pennant; Kuyt (Fowler 85) Crouch.Not used: Dudek, Agger.
BOLTON: Jaaskelainen; Hunt, Haim, Faye, Gardner; Diouf (Tal 66), Campo, Speed (Vaz Te 66), Nolan (Andranik 8); Anelka, Davies.Not used: Habsi, Meite.
REFEREE: Graham Poll.
BOOKED: Ben Haim, Faye, Campo.
ATTENDANCE: 41,370.
Having gone unbeaten for the whole of 2006 at Anfield in the Premiership, 2007 has started in perfect fashion.
The imminent arrival of Arsenal, Chelsea, Barcelona and Manchester United will provide a far sterner test of Liverpool’s home credentials, but 27 matches unbeaten tells an impressive tale.
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