FA Premiership
Sat 1st September 2007 3pm @ Anfield
Liverpool hammered Toulouse 4-0 at Anfield earlier this week but this 6-0 annihilation of Derby County placed the reds at the top of the Premiership for the first time in 5 years and was a warning to the rest of the league.
Let's not get it out of context - Derby look certain to be relegation candidates for the rest of the season - but in the past few seasons a number of teams have come to Anfield, with men behind the ball, looking for the draw. Occasionally this strategy has worked and teams have left Anfield clutching a point. The result of this match reminds anybody thinking of employing the same tactic at Anfield these days that they are likely to leave humiliated. For the first 25 minutes Derby frustrated the hell out of the reds who had chances to take an early lead, but Xabi Alonso's 45 yard free kick in the 27th minute opened the floodgates. Ryan Babel delivered the second on the stroke of half time after skilfully bypassing two Derby players with a truly quality goal.
In the second half Liverpool turned the screw and Torres scored again at Anfield to make it 3-0 after a turn of speed. Alonso made it four and then we saw the remarkable sight of a seemingly new attacking Benitez. 4-0 up at Anfield and Benitez then took the unusual step of bringing on a third striker, Andriy Voronin. Within 3 minutes of his arrival a goal was crafted including Torres, Kuyt and then Voronin despatching the ball in to the net. I wonder what Peter Crouch was thinking - the player deciding to stay away from Anfield for the ame.
A mistake by Derby defender Andy Todd, allowed Torres to continue his fantastic start to his Anfield career as he netted his 3rd goal in 2 home games.
Liverpool are top of the league and enjoying one of our best starts in Premiership history.
You're starting to believe aren't you.....
Teams
Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Hyypia, Agger, Arbeloa, Pennant (Benayoun 61), Mascherano (Sissoko 77), Alonso, Babel (Voronin 73), Torres, Kuyt.
Subs Not Used: Itandje, Riise.
Goals: Alonso 27, Babel 45, Torres 56, Alonso 69, Voronin 76, Torres 78.
Derby: Bywater, Griffin (Moore 80), Malcolm (Teale 59), Davis, Camara (McEveley 63), Todd, Fagan, Oakley, Mears, Pearson, Howard.
Subs Not Used: Price, Earnshaw.
Booked: Griffin.
Att: 44,076
Ref: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).
Post Match Reaction
Rafa Benitez:
"It was an almost perfect performance. In the first half we missed lots of chances and it was only after the third goal that the game was over.
"We knew Derby had a good team spirit and we did a professional job.
"I am very happy to be top but it is just for one day. It is nice to score six but there is a long way to go."
Derby County boss Billy Davies:
"We started well and I felt we were quite comfortable for the first 20 minutes.
"But our timing to concede a second goal before the break was terrible and the second half was a calamity.
"We are still not competing in the manner we should and we won't pick up points until we start doing so."
Stats:
Latest Premiership Table
LFC Season Comparison
Updated LFC 2007/08 Stats
no but i now how to get some evertron tickets
i know its a long way away but does anybody know how i can get hold of a couple of tickets for derby v liverpool???????????
Don’t be so hard on Kuyt. He’s a class player and coming up with the goals.
Brilliant,just what we need 6 points! I was really shocked when i saw the final score! I knew you would win but really not with 6 points. Brilliant Performance! Keep it up!!
Happy that babel scored. The finish and buildup were worldclass. A lot to expect from him when he finally settles. Torres was superb and pennant awesome. Kuyt was wasteful though and he needs to improve or fuckoff.
this is a good start. the big guys should keep it up, it is just starting. the officals, coah, should work hard to keep the table clean sucess all the way
Liverpool…………….
Now thats a classic example of coming back in business. This definitely is our year. Lets hope we hit a treble.
A convincing scoreline, no doubt about it. Nice to see Derby dismantled at Anfield but it just had to be done. We have sent a clear message to other teams in the Prem, the squad has strength in depth and quality in abundance.
Every player yesterday did their bit and a few more heroes are waiting in the wings, Yossi, Arbeloa, Lucas, Leto, Babel, Pennant, Agger, Torres, and the dark horse Veronin (a stunning bit of business it has to be said!). The fluidity of our game has stepped up a few notches and it’s a pleasure to behold, ATTACK, ATTACK, ATTACK!
I think, although I might be wrong, Crouchy has been frozen out of the 16 for being so verbal with his unease at not starting Prem games. I understand his sentiment but this is the reality of playing for a big club and with Veronin producing the goods Crouchy has to ride the storm. No one player is bigger than the club and with 2 cornerstones in Stevie and Carra unfit the results have still been amazing… It’s a team game.
Crouchy – When you walk through a storm…
hang in there Crouch
A well deserved scoreline. Wish this to emulate week in, week out for the rest of the season. Then with ten games of the season to go, we will be CHAMPION. Well done… Keep it up as I wish….