John Arne Riise (left) and Steven Gerrard celebrate.
DECEMBER 26
Robson
rues red card
By Paul Higham - Planet Football/Sky Sports
Bryan Robson believes Cosmin Contra's red card was
the main turning point in West Brom's 5-0 defeat to
Liverpool.
The visitors were 1-0 up when the Romanian was sent off
for handball and, although Milan Baros missed the
penalty, Liverpool went on to thump The Baggies.
Robson says that the red card was effectively the end of
the game as a contest.
"I felt there was not much between the teams in the
first half but the penalty killed us and Liverpool were
too good for us with 10 men," said Robson.
"We started the game well but Liverpool were too good
for us.
"We keep having lapses defensively and teams are not
working too hard to score against us.
"I thought we matched Liverpool in the first half and
made some situations ourselves but once (Cosmin) Contra
got sent off Liverpool just had too much for us.
"You can prepare the players as best you can and you
keep trying to find out why you concede bad goals early
on in a game.
"At the moment we are making it very difficult for
ourselves."
Robson knows that he needs to strengthen in the January
transfer window, but for now he was glad that they have
another Premiership game coming up so quickly.
"I definitely feel we need a defensive midfield player
to give us stability. At the moment we have only got
attacking-minded players in that area.
"I think it is the best situation where we can focus
straight away on Manchester City and get out on the
pitch and turn it around.
"What we need now is a victory to give us a bit of
confidence because that is very low at the moment."
DECEMBER 26
Rafa reserved after rout
By Paul Higham - Planet Football/Sky Sports
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez was not getting too
carried away after his side's 5-0 demolition of West
Brom.
The Reds were already 1-0 when Cosmin Contra was sent
off for handball on the line, and Benitez's side did not
waste the opportunity to cash in.
The Anfield outfit were ruthless in taking apart the
ten-man hosts, but their Spanish manager is not reading
too much into the performance as they had a man
advantage for over half the match.
"It was a good game for us," said Benitez. "We played
well although we sometimes did not keep the ball. After
the penalty and the sending off it was easy.
"First half we were controlling the game, it's important
to win and score goals but it is more important for me
to see the team play well.
"When you start winning you show more confidence. We
have three more points and we'll see about the next
game.
"We know we played against 10 players. I hope, in our
next game, to be closer. The most important thing is the
next two games are at home, we normally play well at
home."
Jamie Carragher says that Liverpool are still
confident of pushing for a UEFA Champions League place
in The Premiership.
"We're a few points behind the top four but I'm
confident we will sort out the league form in the second
half of the season," said Carragher.
"We've had injuries but we're getting a few back now and
I'm sure the manager will be looking to add a few
players during the January transfer window."
DECEMBER 26
Ruthless Reds
punish Baggies
By Paul Higham - Planet Football/Sky Sports
Liverpool enjoyed a Boxing Day stroll against ten-man
West Brom, running out comfortable 5-0 winners.
John Arne Riise had given The Reds the lead after Steven
Gerrard's superb pass found him ghosting in on the left.
Cosmin Contra was then sent off for handball on the line
but Milan Baros missed the resulting penalty kick.
The respite was not to last long, however, and Florent
Sinama-Pongolle and Gerrard made it 3-0 soon after the
interval with Riise hammering in his second late on and
Luis Garcia adding the finishing touch just before the
final whistle.
Gerrard blasted an early shot just over the bar, as he
again tried to get his side going.
Jamie Carragher made an early mistake on 14 minutes to
gift Geoff Horsfield a great opportunity as he galloped
into the Liverpool box.
However, with Robert Earnshaw completely unmarked six
yards out, Horsfield took too much time and Carragher
recovered to get in a challenge.
Baros almost made West Brom pay immediately as he burst
forward but his shot after cutting in from the left was
blocked.
Liverpool did take the lead on 17 minutes when Riise was
expertly picked out by a sublime left-footed pass from
Gerrard, and the Norwegian volleyed past Russell Hoult.
Jerzy Dudek had to be alert to come racing out of his
box to head the ball away as Jason Koumas tried to set
Earnshaw through.
Things went from bad to worse for Bryan Robson's men
when Contra's moment of madness saw him sent off for
handling the ball on the line.
Antonio Nunez's header looked to be creeping in at the
far post but Romania international Contra stuck up his
hand to palm the ball away, despite Hoult having a
chance of saving it behind him.
Baros' poor penalty let the home side off the hook as
Hoult easily saved his spot kick- and the rebound was
cleared off the line by Darren Purse.
West Brom's ten men came out for the second half with a
mountain to climb, and it got even bigger when
Sinama-Pongolle made it 2-0 five minutes after the
break, starting and finishing a good move.
The young Frenchman sprayed a great ball wide to Riise
on the left, and raced into the box to connect with the
Norwegian's cross with a well-taken volley that bounced
past Hoult.
The goal seemed to kill The Baggies' spirits and a third
soon came when Gerrard fired in a low free kick after
Dietmar Hamann's lay-off that bounced in off the post.
The Reds' skipper was soon taken off with the game well
and truly buried, and replaced by Xabi Alonso.
Riise was still searching for a second goal, and he
fizzed a couple of efforts just wide of the target,
while Hoult had to thrust out a strong hand to palm over
another vicious effort.
Riise had been getting closer and closer and he duly got
his second as another thunderous effort this time
rocketed into the top corner after Alonso's fine ball to
Hamann deflected to the Norwegian on the edge of the
box.
Riise was involved again in the fifth goal two minutes
from time when his shot across the face of the goal was
slotted in from close range by substitute Luis Garcia.
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