Happy Birthday Robbie Fowler!!!
Ok I know this is like two days late but since I was too sian on Sunday night and too sleepy yesterday... Here's wishing Robbie Fowler a great 31st birthday as he marked it with a well taken goal against Bolton Wanderers to give Liverpool a 1-0 win they didn't really deserve...
Ok the match was boring. By boring I mean REALLY boring. Liverpool rarely threatened Bolton's goal in the first half... Bolton were organized both in attack and defense and they really should have scored when Stelios was put through but Reina made a good save to deny his weak shot. That was Bolton's best chance of the first half as Hyypia and Carragher were rock-solid at the back with Riise and Finnan providing good support and cover for them down the flanks.
Cisse was terrible down the right flank. For someone so fast, he doesn't put in the effort to chase the long balls punted to him. I mean, I would be pissed too if I had nothing but long balls to chase all day but for God's sake the others are trying to use your speed so please use it! I was so happy when that jackass was substituted for Luis Garcia at half time.
I will now take a moment to talk about Crouch's aerial ability. For someone so tall, he doesn't make use of his height advantage. He wins most headers, but they're so weak they hardly threaten the goalkeeper. That's just about strength. Direction-wise, his heading is woeful. When he wins the "second balls" as Benitez likes to call them, he never heads it to an available player. He prefers to give possession back to the opponents, which in my opinion is rather retarded. He needs to work on aerial awareness and his neck muscle strength.
That said, Liverpool scored a goal RIGHT before half time, with Crouch linking up well with Fowler. Fowler got to a long ball and headed it to Crouch, who controlled it (for his woeful heading, his control of the ball with his chest and legs is pretty good) and passed it back to Fowler, who hit it through two Bolton players' legs into the bottom corner. It was totally against the run of play but it was a great birthday present for "God".
The second half was uneventful with neither side really threatening one another. Liverpool came really close as they made the early running in the second half, with Xabi Alonso hitting the post with a powerful shot. Other than that it was a good defensive display from Liverpool.
Liverpool Team Ratings:
Jose Reina - 7
An average performance for the goalkeeper. Did not have much to do but made a crucial save against Stelios early in the first half. Made a blunder when he came out to fist the ball once though.
Steve Finnan - 8
Ever reliable down the right flank, Finnan was superb both in overlapping and in defensive duties.
John Arne Riise - 8
Like Finnan, was a bomb in attack and a rock in defense.
Sami Hyypia - 7
Had a quiet game for Liverpool as Bolton did not threaten much.
Jamie Carragher - 7
Like Hyypia, had a quiet game for Liverpool at the back.
Djibril Cisse - 5
Was terrible down the right flank, slacked when he was supposed to chase long balls, and always delayed his crosses, attempting to beat his opponent first. Poor.
Harry Kewell - 7
Was quiet in the first half but really came to life in the second, threatened with many crosses and runs down both flanks. Took a shot at goal when he was put through but he really should have passed to Gerrard instead.
Steven Gerrard - 7
The captain did not do much in this game, did not influence the game as he should have. Was great in attack though as his surging runs provided Liverpool with the foundation for attack.
Xabi Alonso - 9
Great defensive display from the Spaniard and was probably the main reason why Bolton could not breach Liverpool's defense - because they could not get through to it. Nearly scored with a well taken shot but unluckily deflected off the post.
Peter Crouch - 6
Not a good game for the striker as once again his heading proves woeful and he hardly tested the Bolton keeper. Had a chance from a cross but he headed the ball directly into the keeper's legs.
Robbie Fowler - 9
On his birthday Robbie Fowler gave himself the best birthday present with a great finish into the bottom corner of the goal. Looked full of running and was Liverpool's main force in attack.
Substitutes:
Luis Garcia - 6
Pretty average game for Luis Garcia. Was potent in attack but lost the ball too much for my liking
Dietmar Hamann - 6
Was average as well as he came on to boost Xabi Alonso's fierce defense of the back four, and allowed Steven Gerrard to play further forward.
Djimi Traore - 6
Did not have much opportunity and time to impress, and was played out of position on the left wing.
Archangel's Man of The Match: Robbie Fowler
"You'll Never Walk Alone"
Archangel