Djibril Cisse joins Steven Gerrard in celebration
(AlexLivesey /GettyImages) |
 CLASSY REDS TOO HOT FOR POMPEY
It was a case of business as usual for Liverpool as they produced a classy
performance to sweep aside Portsmouth 3-0 and go four games unbeaten.
While everyone after the match, apart from Liverpool fans, seemed to focus on when
Peter Crouch is going to score as the main topic of conversation and newspaper print
following the victory, the main fact is that the Reds are playing well, scoring goals and
not conceding. That is a good formula for success and long may it continue.
Crouch might be searching for lady luck in terms of a goal so far but no-one can
fault his overall game and effort. He was excellent against Portsmouth and caused their
defenders all sorts of problems. He might have missed a penalty at the Kop end but in the
end that didn't really matter as Bolo Zenden reacted well to put the rebound away.
After the two back to back defeats in the capital to Fulham and Crystal Palace
suddenly things look a lot more rosy in Anfield Road again. The Reds have scored 10 goals
in four games and haven't conceded any with new goalkeeper Pepe Reina keeping eight clean
sheets in 11 games.
They say good teams are built from having a solid defence and Jamie Carragher and
Sami Hyypia have been immense and rock solid figures in front of Reina.
Bolo Zenden had another fine match at the weekend and is now starting to show
everyone his quality. He gave the Reds great width on the left and there was some pleasing
link up play with Stephen Warnock. It was Zenden who won the penalty for the opening goal
and he reacted the quickest to score his second goal of the season.
Portsmouth came to Anfield to defend with the intention of catching Liverpool out
on the break using the pace of Lua Lua, but they just never got going as Rafael Benitez's
side dominated from start to finish.
The movement and pace of the Reds attacks was too much for Portsmouth and in the
end the scoreline could easily have been around the 6-0 mark.
Djibril Cisse added the second goal with an audacious effort from the right wing
that looped over Jamie Ashdown and into the back of the net. Rafael Benitez jokingly said
it was a cross afterthe game and the look on Cisse's face when celebrating suggested it
wasn't meant. Cisse is now Liverpool's leading goalscorer with 11 goals so far and is well
on the way to the 20 goal mark he wants.
Fernando Morientes came on as a substitute for the injured Luis Garcia and added
the third goal with a terrific finish in the second half. It was only Morientes first
Premiership goal of the season but he looked really sharp when he entered the field and
hopefully he can now push on and get some more goals.
It was a pleasing Liverpool performance and Rafael Benitez said: "As a manager
I am delighted because for part of the game we played really well at times, kept another
clean sheet and scored three good goals.
"The team is improving and we created so many chances today. The most
important thing is to play as well as possible and always to win each game."
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