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Last Updated: Sunday, February 22nd 2009, 15:00
Premier League > Liverpool FC
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ALL OVER IN FIRST HALF
LIVERPOOL 3-0 BOLTON
Premier League

Rotation between the strikers countinued as Gabriel Agbonlahor was back in the squad, with Micheal Owen and Steffen Iversen on the bench. Liverpool could have closed the gap to Chelsea if they win today, as the Pensioners drew 0-0 with Wigan yesterday.

Five minutes in and Liverpool were ahead. Dirk Kuyt played a lovely ball to Gerrard, who managed to get past Matt Taylor and square the ball. Agbonlahor controled it lovely, turned and smashed it into the top corner. Unstopabble.

Another five minutes and it was two. A freekick was awarded, right on the edge of the area. Steven Gerrard stepped up, and caught it beatufuly. His shot right into the top corner. Anfield went absolutely crazy, chanting their hero's name.

Time went by, and chances went taken. Thats until 7 minutes before half time. In what was one of the best runs, not only of the season but ever, Dirk Kuyt took the ball from just outside the Liverpool penalty area. He ran down the right wing, passing Taylor, Samuel and both of the O'Brien's before playing a lovely ball to Gerrard, who put the finishing touch. Game over.

Second half started and Liverpool continued to dominate but couldn't find a goal. There was further dissapointment as Ryan Babel had to leave the field on a stretcher, his foot not looking good after a challenge with Gretar Steinsson.

Match Stats

Liverpool: Reina, Srna, Aurelio, Agger, Carragher, Alonso, Mascherano, Kuyt, Babel (Riera 72), Gerrard, Agbonlahor
Unused Subs : Owen, Skrtel, Arbeloa, Nemeth, Insua, Iverson

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Samuel, Cahill, A O'Brien (Puygrenier 80), McCann, Vaz Te, Taylor (Riga 72), Muamba, J O'Brien, Elmander (Makukula 72)
Unused Subs : Habsi, Danny, Basham, Sinclair

Possession :Liverpool 50%-50% Bolton
Shots : Liverpool 16-5 Bolton
Shots on Target : Liverpool 4-1 Bolton
Bookings : Steinsson (Bolton), Samuel (Bolton), J O'Brien (Bolton)
Liverpool Goals : Agbonlahor (5), Gerrard (11,38)
Man of the Match : Gerrard

This post has been edited by redsfan: 13 June 2009 - 06:50 PM

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BABEL OUT FOR 3 WEEKS
Sunday 22nd February 2009 22:00

Scans confirm that Liverpool's Ryan Babel will be out for at least the next 3 weeks. The Dutch left winger has twisted his ankle in a challenge with Gretar Steinsson, in Liverpool's 3-0 win over Bolton. He was taken of on a stretcher, the pain clearly seen.

Babel will miss the games vs Celtic in the Champions League and Newcastle in the league, and could also face a race to be fit for the return leg of the Celtic game.

He has been in tremendous form so far this season, scoring fourteen times in 28 appearances, his average rating just under 7 at 6.96. The injury could see Albert Riera get a chance in the first team.

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Wednesday 25th February 2009 22:00

5 STAR PERFORMANCE

CELTIC 1-5 LIVERPOOL

Liverpool are all but into the Champions League quaterfinals after thrashing Celtic 5-1 at Celtic Park.

Liverpool started the game with real squad problems. They could only field 6 substitutes, as players were either injured or inlegible. Arvalo Arbeloa returned to the squad after a long absence, while Micheal Owen played his first Champions League game since nearly five years.

For all their problems they still came out determined. They nearly went in front straight away. Daniel Agger received the ball from a throw in, and his cross hit the bar. The ball then fell to Owen, but he was quickly charged down and lost the ball.

Celtic did fight back. Scott Brown's shot was saved for a corner. The setpiece was delievered and reached Venegoor of Hesselink, but his header was cleared of the line. Not far tough as Nakamura managed to get the ball, his shot just wide of the goal.

Eighteen minutes and a bit of Deja Vou. Steven Gerrard got the ball in the middle of the park, and saw the run of his great friend Michael Owen. He played a delightful through ball, and then it was up to Owen to do the rest. He went inbetween two defenders before chipping the keeper. The good, old times, huh?

Ten minutes before half time and it was two nil. Albert Riera picked out Gerrard on the edge of the box, and he just put all he's got behind it. The ball nearly taking the crossbar of as it hit it, before bouncing in. Two away goals for Liverpool, and the tie looks over already.

Second half started, and not long into it and Liverpool got their third. A poor kick by Artur Boruc, got Kuyt in on the right. He picked out the unmarked Owen, who wasn't going to miss from there.

Two minutes later, and the home fans had something to cheer. Shunsuke Nakamura put in a perfect cross, and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink jumped highest, and guided the ball in.

Liverpool weren't finished there. Javier Mascherano grabbed the fourth with a piledriver from outside the area. They dont need to bother for the second leg now.

The last action of the night was another goal. A freekick was delivered into the far corner, and Daniel Agger stuck his head in where others didnt want to stick in a boot. Final whistle went soon after, Celtic quite embarassed by this.

This post has been edited by redsfan: 13 June 2009 - 09:28 PM

[LeedsUtd™]

Keep
Up
The
Good
Work

[shan0811]

Thrashing of Celtic by Liverpool and since takeover Liverpool looking in great form...

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Last Updated: Saturday, February 28th 2009, 19:00
Premier League > Liverpool FC
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JUST TOO STRONG
NEWCASTLE 0-2 LIVERPOOL
Premier League

Michael Owen, didn't play against his former club, an injury keeping him out. Agbonlahor started, with Iverson on the bench again. Liverpool had a chance of closing the gap to the top, even if only for a few days. Newcastle, in good form, still pushing for the fourth spot.

Both teams started well, not pulling out of tackles and not giving the ball away easily. It took something special to break the deadlock. That something special came in the 17th minute. Albert Riera's cross was cleared, but not far and the ball fell to Xabi Alonso just outisde the area. He caught it on the bounce, and the ball flew into the top corner.

Newcastle could have got themself back on level terms before half time, but poor finishing and some outstandings saves by Reina managed to keep Livepool infront.

Second half started, and Newcastle pushed forward and looked for an equilzier. They managed to create the chances, but could not take them. Some of their shots really going miles of target.

Liverpool then nearly got a second, in most of bizzare fashions. Darjo Srna lofted the freekick, but Beye managed to outjump Agbonlahor and head it back to the keeper. His header tough had to much power and went over Harper. Luckily for Newcastle it struck the bar and the keeper got back to his feet and saved it.

Two minutes from time and Liverpool had the ball in the net again. The ball was booted upfield, and Steven Harper and Steffen Iversen challenged in the air. Iversen managed to head the ball over the keeper and it rolled into the back of the net. Unluckily the flag was up.

But they did seal the game from the same action. Harper booted the freekick up field, but Liverpool won it back. Gerrard played Dirk Kuyt in on the wing, and he got into the box. He squared the ball, and David N'Gog managed to tap it in from 2 yards out. Important 3 points for Liverpool.

Match Stats

Newcastle: Harper, Beye, Enrique, Coloccini, S Taylor, R Taylor, Jonas, Guthrie, Nolan (Barton 61), Kerzhakov (Xisco 30), Martins (Ameobi 72)
Unused Subs : Krul, Edgar, Geremi, Bassong

Liverpool: Reina, Srna, Aurelio (Insua 79), Agger, Carragher, Alonso (N'Gog 79), Mascherano, Kuyt, Riera, Gerrard, Agbonlahor (Iversen 79)
Unused Subs : Skrtel, Arbeloa, Nemeth, Hyypia

Possession : Newcastle 46%-54% Liverpool
Shots : Newcastle 7-9 Liverpool
Shots on Target : Newcastle 2-5 Liverpool
Bookings : Srna (Liverpool)
Liverpool Goals : Alonso (17), N'Gog (90+3)
Man of the Match : Riera

[JohnTRFCWarrington]

Loving this story Can't beat a good kopite story . I'm actually quite envious it's a bugger finding pictures for news reports for my Tranmere story.

[Ana_Garcia]

Quote

Loving this story happy.png Can't beat a good kopite story razz.png. I'm actually quite envious it's a bugger finding pictures for news reports for my Tranmere story.

Ha I know what you mean! Try finding good Wimbledon pics!

Great story though

[Carroll.]

Gerrard has scooped the Barclays Player of the Month prize after a month that saw him star in emphatic wins, scoring three times in four games.

Meanwhile, Benitez has been rewarded with the Barclays Manager of the Month award after his side picked up maximum Barclays Premier League points during February.

INSPIRATIONAL BEST

Gerrard was at his inspirational best over the course of the month, setting up Micheal Owen in the narrow 1-0 win vs Fulham, before scoring in the 3-1 win at West Brom, before absolutely controlling the game vs Bolton. He scored two and set up the other in the 3-0 win, before finishing the month of with a good game vs Newcastle.

Benitez picks up the award after his team managed four wins in four games, scoring 9 and conceading just once.