It was a strike befitting his nickname of
 'Bruno Zidane'

AUGUST 12
Reds impress against non-league minnows

LFC Official Website

A strong Liverpool XI cruised to an emphatic 6-1 victory over non-league Fleetwood Town on a night when a number of players strengthened their claim for a regularr first team slot.

With the Premiership opener against Chelsea looming this was an ideal opportunity to impress the watching management and the likes of Baros, Cheyrou, Diouf, Le Tallec and Pongolle did just that.

Eight divisions separate Liverpool and Fleetwood in the football pyramid and the free-spending Londoners will no doubt be a different proposition entirely this weekend but you can only beat what is in front of you and the Reds certainly set about their task in a professionl manner.

It was following a chance meeting on a flight back from Paris between Gerard Houllier and the eight year-old son of Fleetwood owner Mick Hoyle that this final fixture of Liverpool's pre-season programme was arranged.

The gulf in class between Premiership Liverpool and North West Counties outfit Fleetwood two may be a staggering one but, true to his word, Gerard Houllier fulfilled his promise to play the game and sent a strong side to the seaside.

Such was the interest in this match it was switched from Town's Highbury Stadium to neaerby Bloomfield Road. Tickets sold out two weeks ago and a capacity crowd of 8,000 were treated to a first half football exhibition by the 'all-whites'.

Although the star names like Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard were missing there was enough quality on show to delight the fans and Liverpool's obvious superiority shone through from the first whistle.

During the opening exchanges Baross spurned a glorious opportunity and Pongolle hit the bar before El Hadji Diouf converted from the penalty spot to deservedly open the scoring.

The white tide continued to pour towards the Fleetwood goal and it came as no surprise when the lead was increased eight minutes later. Bruno Cheyrou found himself in space 35-yards from goal and he unleashed an unstoppable shot that flew past theoutstretched arms of keeper Banks and into the top corner.

It was a strike befitting his nickname of 'Bruno Zidane' and hopefully a sign of things to come from the French international.

With just one shot at goal to their name the non-league minnows must have been praying for the referee's half-time whistle but before the opening 45 minutes were up they were punished twice by Milan Baros.

Latching onto a long clearance by Kirkland the Czech striker made it 3-0 with a belting finish from a tight angle then doubled his tally with a well-taken goal from close range shortly before the interval.

The second period saw Liverpool makee a number of changes, with coaches Hughie McAuley and Alex Miller giving youngsters Luzi, Welsh, Foley, Whitbread and Otsemobor a rare run out and, as a result, it took until the closing moments before further goals were added.

At the opposite end substitute keeper Patrice Luzi was beaten with a blistering free-kick from Lee Catlow on 69 minutes but parity was restored nine minutes from time when the highly-rated John Welsh hammered home from close-range after Le Tallec headed the ball back into his path.

With time almost up Le Tallec then capped a superb performance by breaking free of the Fleetwood defence and curling a shot sweetly beyond the dive of Banks