Saturday 21 April 2007 15:00 , Barclays Premiership
DIRK DOUBLE DOES IT FOR REDS
Liverpool have secured Champions League qualification for next season after two goals from Dirk Kuyt gave them a comfortable 2-0 win over Wigan at Anfield on Saturday, securing a top four Premiership finish.
Kuyt put Wigan to the sword with goals either side of half time, his 11th and 12th in the Premiership. And Wigan had no answer, despite playing most of the second half with three strikers on the pitch.
The Reds can now look forward to their forthcoming Semi Final against Chelsea knowing that league business is taken care of, while defeat for Wigan leaves Paul Jewell’s men still in the thick of a fight for Premiership survival.
The game started slowly and only came to life in the 11th minute when Gonzalez mis-controlled Pennant’s cross field pass, setting up a chance for Riise, that he drilled the wide from 25 yards.
Liverpool upped the tempo from that moment and they quickly forced two corners before Riise had another effort at goal, which was this time blocked. Pennant swapped flank with Gonzalez as the Reds went looking for the opener and it worked a treat in the 30th minute when Pennant cross from the left lead to Liverpool taking the lead through Dirk Kuyt.
Rafa’s side had been enjoying most of the possession, but they were finding it tough to break down a deep Wigan defence. But that all changed when Pennant crossed to the centre of the goal and Kuyt won his tussle with De Zeeuw to be first to the ball before heading into the Kop net.
It was a goal that Liverpool’s more ambitious approach had deserved and they might have gone in 2-0 up when another Pennant cross, this time to Crouch, ended with the Reds striker shooting just wide of John Filan’s goal.
Wigan made a change at half time, replacing defender Taylor with striker Camara, that suggested they weren’t about to lie down. But it was Liverpool who continued to carry the greater threat after the break and it took a fine save from Filan to deny Kuyt a second in the 50th minute.
The Reds were comfortable and as the clock ticked down it was struggling Wigan who had to show the greater. And they almost got themselves on terms when a rare 60th minute attack saw Baines’ dangerous cross miss Camara before Hyypia was able to clear from Heskey.
Liverpool’s response was swift. Perhaps stung by Wigan’s threat, they launched forward again and doubled their lead through Dirk Kuyt’s second goal of the game. It came in the 68th minute when an excellent run from Bellamy caused confusion in the Wigan defence; and Kuyt was first to react when he turned and smashed the ball low into the right corner of the net.
To their credit, Wigan didn’t give up and it took a brilliant save from Reina to deny Folan’s header. But Liverpool still looked like they would add to their tally and Gerrard shot just wide before Gonzalez brought a fine save out of Filan.
The Reds can now head for Stamford Bridge in the knowledge that Champions League qualification is secure and focus their thoughts on entering next year’s competition as the holders.
Teams
Liverpool: Reina, Riise, Hyypia, Carragher, Arbeloa, Gonzalez, Alonso, Zenden, Pennant, Crouch, Kuyt (captain). Subs – Dudek, Gerrard MBE, Mascherano, Bellamy, Agger
Wigan Athletic: Filan, Baines, Jackson, De Zeeuw, Taylor, Kilbane, Landzaat, Skoko, Boyce, Scharner, Heskey. Subs – Granqvist, Ashahowa, Folan, Pollitt, Camara
Referee: M Riley
Conditions: Sunny
Attendance: 44,003
Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Dirk Kuyt
Breakdown
14:01 GMT : Match Starts
1 min : Liverpool kick off attacking the Kop in the first half
2 mins : Baines concedes the first corner of the game and as the kick comes in Crouch is beaten in the air
5 mins : Pennant tries to get past Kilbane down the right but the Wigan man stands his ground
10 mins : First Booking: Jamie Carragher: Foul on Kilbane
11 mins : Gonzalez lays the ball into the path of Riise outside the area and he smashes the ball wide with a first time shot
13 mins : Pennant releases Crouch in the area but Jackson is across to make a timely tackle
20 mins : Gonzalez wins a free kick on the right after a good run against Baines
24 mins : Zenden curls the ball well over the Kop goal after it falls nicely to him on the edge of the area
29 mins : Kuyt almost bursts clear but Baines is across again to clear the danger at the expense of a corner
29 mins : GOAL! Dirk Kuyt: Kuyt glances home from Pennant’s cross to give us a deserved lead
38 mins : Carragher is first to Zenden’s corner but he heads well over and into the Kop
45 mins : Pennant’s first time effort from close range flashes past the far post
14:47 GMT : Half Time Reached
15:03 GMT : Second Half Begins
46 mins : Substitution: Henri Camara for Ryan Taylor:
46 mins : Crouch creates an early second half chance for Gonzalez but Jackson is there to concede a corner
52 mins : Kuyt brings a smart save out of Filan but there’s nobody following up the loose ball in the box
54 mins : Wigan win their first corner of the match at the Kop end
60 mins : Baines crosses dangerously from the left and Hyypia has to be aware to clear the danger before the ball reaches Heskey
63 mins : First Booking: Xabi Alonso:
63 mins : Substitution: Craig Bellamy for Peter Crouch:
64 mins : Substitution: Caleb Folan for Emile Heskey:
68 mins : GOAL! Dirk Kuyt: Kuyt turns inside the box to drive home his and Liverpool’s second of the game
70 mins : Substitution: Julius Ashahowa for Denny Landzaat:
70 mins : Substitution: Steven Gerrard MBE for Boudewijn Zenden:
73 mins : Substitution: Daniel Agger for Jamie Carragher:
74 mins : First Booking: Arjan De Zeeuw:
79 mins : Folan brings a fine save from Reina with a close range header
82 mins : Filan saves well from Gonzalez and then from Kuyt’s follow-up
83 mins : Gerrard drives a right footed shot wide with the goalkeeper well beaten
90 mins : Two added minutes to be played
15:50 GMT : Match Over
Match Pictures :
Credit : ESPN
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