Saturday 4 April 2020

On This Day - 4th April

Posted By: LFC_Stats - April 04, 2020
Liverpool steamrollered Blackburn rattling in three goals in the first 24 minutes to reclaim fourth place.
Michael Owen scored twice, first beating Brad Friedel with a low shot and then unleashing a fierce drive that crashed past the American goalkeeper.

In between those goals, El-Hadji Diouf fired over a low cross that Andy Todd turned into his own net.

Blackburn were more committed in the second half but Emile Heskey rammed in a fourth after Milan Baros' good work.

Graeme Souness' team have struggled defensively all season and Liverpool did not take long to expose those weaknesses.

On seven minutes Harry Kewell fed Heskey, who slipped the ball to Owen and the England international beat Friedel low down.

Midway through first half Liverpool grabbed two goals in two minutes.

First Diouf fired over a low cross that Todd turned past Friedel under pressure from Owen.

Diouf was involved again two minutes later, moving from the right and then flicking the ball to Owen, who struck a fierce right-footed drive into the far corner of the net.

Along with Diouf, Heskey tormented the Blackburn defence and his long-range shot dipped over the bar.

Kewell also brought the busy Friedel to his knees to make another save, while John Arne Riise went on a rampaging run from his own half only to be dragged down, at the second attempt, by Garry Flitcroft.

The Rovers' skipper was booked, having been lucky earlier to avoid a card for hauling down Steven Gerrard.











Blackburn took off Craig Short at the break, deploying Nils-Eric Johansson into the heart of defence, while Steven Reid replaced Flitcroft in midfield.

KEY MOMENTS
7 mins: Owen quickly marks his return from injury with a goal
22 mins: Andy Todd puts through his own net
24 mins: Owen grabs his second to extend Liverpool's advantage
79 mins: Heskey further improves Liverpool's goal difference

After the restart Blackburn were more committed, while Jon Stead and Reid produced more of a threat in attacking positions.

But the sloppiness in defence was still there and when Emerton weakly headed away a cross, countryman Kewell lashed it back just wide of the far post.

Gerard Houllier then brought off Owen, replacing him with Baros, whose presence helped reinvigorate the Liverpool attack.

With 11 minutes to go the Czech Republic striker opened up the Blackburn defence before unselfishly setting up up Heskey, who claimed his first league goal since 13 December.

Liverpool continued to carve out chances and both Danny Murphy and Baros missed good opportunities.

Liverpool: Dudek, Carragher, Biscan, Hyypia, Riise, Diouf (Murphy 71), Hamann, Gerrard, Kewell, Heskey (Sinama Pongolle 85), Owen (Baros 76).
Subs Not Used: Henchoz, Luzi Bernardi.

Blackburn: Friedel, Babbel, Short (Johansson 45), Todd, Gray, Emerton, Tugay, Flitcroft (Reid 45), Andresen, Gallagher (Cole 61), Stead.
Subs Not Used: Enckelman, Yorke.

Booked: Flitcroft.

Attendance: 41,559.

Referee: J Winter (Cleveland).

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