Match Reports
Charlton 0-2 Liverpool Liverpool won their 4th successive away game in the Premier League with a comfortable win against a disappointing Charlton side. Phil Thompson made changes up front to start with Jari Litmanen and Michael Owen in place of Fowler and Heskey. Jamie Redknapp also started for Liverpool for what was his 250th league game for the Reds, and it was Redknapp who opened the scoring on 14 minutes. A throw in by Steve Wright found Redknapp in the area and the captain fired the ball home to give Liverpool an early lead. The focus before the game was on the strikers, with the return to action of Michael Owen, and the hat-trick of Robbie Fowler alst week. But it was another midfielder, Steve Gerrard who came cloase to adding a second just minutes after Redknapp's opener, and Gerrard's shot required a save by the Charlton keeper, Dean Kiely. But after a short spell of pressure late on in the half by Charlton, Liverpool made the game a little after with a second goal just before the break. Didi Hamann played a defence splitting pass through to Owen, and he put the ball over the helpless Kiely and into the net to double the lead. There was not too much action in the second half with Liverpool comfortable and never needing to break out of first gear, and Charlton rarely threatening. Charlton did have a good opportunity early on in the half when the Liverpool post was struck, but they were unable to get a goal to get back into the game. Steve Wright was sent off in the dying minutes for a second bookable offence but the 10 remaining Liverpool men held on to the 2 goal advantage to move closer to the top of the league. With Leeds and Man United drawing 1-1 and Arsenal again failing to win, Liverpool have again taken advantage of their rivals failing to pick up maximum points and also have a game in hand.
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