Liverpool FC Forum

by **woof woof !** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 3:37 pm

Result aside the performance in itself was excellent , we looked like a team oozing confidence . Alonso and Mascherano were outstanding whilst our back four hardly put a foot wrong . Crouch has now surely banished any doubts about his ability (I was one of the doubters) given the service the fella knows where the goal is .

If I had to nit pick , Pennant still looked a step below the rest of the lads but no time for that now

Just happy to see us dominate a quality team

by **dawson99** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 3:40 pm

nice to see the quality of crosses today as well... love the team play and result

by **Fowler_E7** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 3:51 pm

Great performance from the team today, we played well but also put in a real effort to get the ball back from Arsenal when we conceded possesion.

Aurelio was man of the match IMO, excellent performance and deffo his best in a liverpool shirt. He was up and down the pitch all game and was a excellent attacking threat and defended quite well too. Pennant had a good first half but faded in the second, but still had quite a good game and he seems to be improving IMO, he also looked good coming of the bench in the last two games. Crouch deserved his hatrick as he was excellent today and always looked a goal threat, his distribution was also good, i dont think he lost the ball once. Surely he has to start vs PSV as Kuyt has been in poor form recently. Also Mascherano was also impressive, and won us back possesion on many occasions, also distribution was very neat and tidy.

Roll on PSV!

by **Bad Bob** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 4:03 pm

Well, that was a joy to behold! We played Arsenal off the park following an international break, on short rest, with their first choice "back five" intact, after having been pasted by them three times this season. That is an achievement. :nod

Crouch was immense...end of. This lad continues to prove his detractors wrong and I hope the lads having a pop at him in the Sissoko thread took note today. Three top drawer finishes!

I also liked the look of the midfield triumverate as well. Stevie looked a bit tired from the internationals but still got forward well and looked dangerous (should have scored!). Mascherano and Alonso look a very promising CM pairing as well--bundles of skill on the ball and neither shy in the tackle. Pennant played some neat stuff too (that first goal was sublime from start to finish) but still needs to make better use of the ball.

Well pleased with the contributions from Arbeloa and Aurelio. Both set up great goals and did reasonably well defensively. I lovely goal from Agger as well.

I'm definitely heartened by this performance. It should buy as some breathing room in the top four, may give us the push to keep ahead of Arsenal the rest of the way and serves as a great preparation for PSV. Speaking of, for the love of God Rafa, Crouch MUST play on Tuesday!!!

by **Bad Bob** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 4:06 pm

LFC #1 wrote:The only disappointme for me was Mark Gonzalez, who failed to deliver much yet again (bar an excellent cross for Crouchies second). He has a lot of work to do IMO if he wants to be here next season.

Wasn't that Aurelio that crossed the ball in for our second?

Agree about Gonzales. he's a willing runner and tracks back well but he needs to make much better use of the ball. I did love his first-time cross into the box after the ball over the top from Aurelio. Gallas almost put that through the back of his own net with Crouch waiting for the tap in just beyond. Great ball but there needs to be much more than that from the lad to be competitive for the LM slot next season.

by **carra is king** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 4:09 pm

Nice, very nice, fantastic result for us, unless we mess up in the next few matches id say that 3rd was ours, arsenals fixtures are much tougher than ours. Aurellio was brilliant today some lovely crosses in from the left, and Arbeola looks like he is going to be great asset. Mascherano also impressed, if Crouchy hadnt played so well it would have been a tough call for motm. Really reassuring that a team with so many of our '2nd team' players in performed so well, next season looks bright. Bring on PSV on tuesday, will be interesting to see the squad, Rafa never fails to surprise.

by **DrTNT** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 4:12 pm

Great result today, I thought that it was one of the best proformances we put on in the first half of any match this season. There was good utilisation of the both of the wings throughout the match as channels to create clear goal scoring opportunities and both the full backs but especially the wingers were the main beneficiaries of this tactic. All the goals were created out on the wings with excellent pass and move play and then most importantly fantastic crosses in.

In the past Crouch has been criticised heavily for his finishing but today he was immense not just in his finishing but in his overall game. He seemed to gain a lot of confidence after he scored the early goal and he just took the rest of the game in his stride linking up play and providing a serious goal scoring threat for the rest of the match.

We seemed to take our foot off the gas after scoring the third goal but we could easily afford to do so and conceded the goal. We responded well and Crouch got a deserved hat-trick. The only real concern was Gerrard going off with the injury even though it might not be too serious it is still concerning with the champions league quarter finals this week.

by **Santa** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 4:21 pm

LFC #1 wrote:
Sabre wrote:
Brilliant result lads,crouchie was brill,mascherano was great and Aurelio wasnt too bad at the back.I think we sud play the same team tuesday night.

Probably the same formation, with Finnan instead of Arbeloa, Kuyt for Crouch, and maybe Riise for Gonzalez. Not more than 3 changes.

Sounds about right, Sissoko may get a run though with either Mascherano or Xabi sitting out (probably Mascherano).

Sissoko is suspended for Tuesday's game I think...in anyway I would prefer Mascherano as his distributions are miles better than Sissoko at the moment. Surely Rafa cannot drop Crouch again after a fruitful return to fitness...

by **ivor_the_injun** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 4:39 pm

Didn't see the match today, but I'm absolutely made up for Crouch. With all the talk about a blockbusting signing coming in up front, it's fantastic that he's responding in this way. There are players that would shrink with that kind of pressure on their shoulders, but - in every way - he's a big lad and has never done anything less than respond impeccably to injury or being dropped.

And what a f*cking result.

by **Novo** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 5:14 pm

A fantastic victory and a great Crouch.Arsenal without Henry is not the same,i think.

by **kop king** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 5:53 pm

Hey crouchy is god es scored more than henry this year and rooney. crouchy is liverpools and englands number 1 striker.

by **Ace Ventura** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 6:21 pm

A fantastic performance from the lads which well and truly put to bed the dire last game against Villa and the 3 previous defeats to Arsenal.
Right from the off we looked up for it and Rafa's tactics with Mascherano and Alonso in the centre together allowing Stevie to roam and the full backs the opportunity to get forward more than usual were spot on.
Aurellio and Crouch both had there best game in red shirts, the brazilian supplying two inch perfect deliveries for the second and third goals and getting beyond Gonzalez frequently. His defending was decent as well. Lets hope he can steer clear of injuries.
Crouchies hat-trick was phenomenal, his movement for the first was predatary, and the second was a thumping header that i have not seen from him before, he got up early but stayed there and met it with real power and accuracy (not usually what you associate with Crouch headers

) The last goal the way he shifts his feet was world class, i say this quite alot but if Rooney scored those goals we wouldnt hear the end of it from the media.
I dont think Gonzalez had a decent game at all, the odd decent delivery aside he is poor in posession and miscontrols the ball far too often.
Pennant was better and also put in some decent crosses but there's still a bit lacking. Hopefully he will continue to improve because his pace can frighten defenders.

Roll on Tuesday now, and Rafa please keep Crouch in the side.

by **basPSV** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 6:26 pm

Great result, closed the massive gap at the top a bit.

by **RUSHIE#9** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 7:16 pm

Excellent result and a very good all round performance from the team. Crouch was outstanding in the lone role up front and his service was exceptional from the flanks today. Aurelio had what I think has been his best performance since he signed for us and for a change Pennant looked fully up for it although some of his passing did still go astray at times. I felt that Gonzalez was again very poor and just doesn't seem to be adjusting to the premiership at all. Alot of his passing failed to find it's target and apart from the odd run at the full back I thought he did very little. Mascherano and Arbeloa also both had very good games and they both look like very good additions to the squad. Final words must go to Crouchinho though as that final goal was just exceptional. The footwork and ball control with a defender right on top of him has to be applauded.

CROUCHIE :bowdown

by **metalhead** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 7:18 pm

Ace Ventura wrote:A fantastic performance from the lads which well and truly put to bed the dire last game against Villa and the 3 previous defeats to Arsenal.
Right from the off we looked up for it and Rafa's tactics with Mascherano and Alonso in the centre together allowing Stevie to roam and the full backs the opportunity to get forward more than usual were spot on.
Aurellio and Crouch both had there best game in red shirts, the brazilian supplying two inch perfect deliveries for the second and third goals and getting beyond Gonzalez frequently. His defending was decent as well. Lets hope he can steer clear of injuries.
Crouchies hat-trick was phenomenal, his movement for the first was predatary, and the second was a thumping header that i have not seen from him before, he got up early but stayed there and met it with real power and accuracy (not usually what you associate with Crouch headers ) The last goal the way he shifts his feet was world class, i say this quite alot but if Rooney scored those goals we wouldnt hear the end of it from the media.
I dont think Gonzalez had a decent game at all, the odd decent delivery aside he is poor in posession and miscontrols the ball far too often.
Pennant was better and also put in some decent crosses but there's still a bit lacking. Hopefully he will continue to improve because his pace can frighten defenders.

Roll on Tuesday now, and Rafa please keep Crouch in the side.

Agree with you there.

Crouch was untouched, he caused so many problems, especially to toure!!! They could not handle him and he was a big difference in the end!

Amazing result! brilliant preformance. Did you all see mascherano's tackles? damn! excellent tackler and very brave player! looks very promising

Aurelio should have gotten a goal in the end! he was brilliant, and his crosses are brilliant!

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