Match Reports
Liverpool 2-0 Charlton Liverpool maintained their position as the Premiership leaders, after first half goals from Smicer and Owen. Liverpool dominated the first half, and should have taken the lead on two minutes, when the ball bounced at Carragher's feet in a crowded openalty area, and with the Charlton keeper Dean Keily standing a few yards off his line, only a lob was needed. But Carragher put too much power on the shot and saw the ball finish in the stands. Charlton's best effort came from Graeme Stuart early on when, from out of nothing, Stuart hit a long range shot which was only a couple of feet from the top corner of Dudek's goal. Michael Owen was the next man to go close for Liverpool, and after storming into the penalty area, Owen recieved a little puch by Jorge Costa, which knocked his off balance, but after a brave challenge with the keeper, Owen still almost got a shot at goal, but Costa just beat Owen to the ball. Vladimir Smice came on midway through the first half for the second game in succession, last week due to an injury to Gerrard, and this week it was Heskey who was withdrawn. And as with the game with Chelsea, Smicer got his name on the scoresheet. Owen was hacked to the ground by Chris Bart Williams 20 yards into the Charlton half, and from the resulting free kick taken by Murphy, Smicer got a header on goal and put Liverpool ahead after 23 minutes. Smicer was also involved in Liverpool's second goal, a little over 10 minutes later. Stephane Henchoz's excellent pass released Anelka down the right hand side, and after support arrived for the Frenchman, he picked out Smicer at the edge of the area, whose short pass found Owen, and after a long spell without a home goal, there was never a doubt that Owen would put the ball in the net and extend Liverpool's lead. Owen was unlucky not to double his tally for the day in the second half, when a Patrick Berger corner found Owen and his header was almost perfect and easily beat Keily, but Jason Euell was on hand to clear the ball off the line. Euell could only clear as far as Carragher though, and Carragher fired a stunning stike at goal from 30 yards out, which forced Keily into an equally good one handed save. Almost immediately down the other end, Jerzy Dudek was also forced into a great save, when Euell hit a looping shot from 20 yards out that required to Pole to produce an important tip over the bar. But Keily was the busier of the two keepers, and was once again called into action later in the second half, to deny John Arne Riise of another classic long range goal, with yet another one handed stop. Charlton's final effort fell to Euell, but the big forward stuck a 20 yard effort well over the bar in the closing stages. It was a satisfactory performance by the Reds who, during much of the second half, seemed to have one eye on Europe. But gaining all three points was far more important than the manner of the win, and Liverpool remain top for the time being. Arsenal's win against Sunderland keeps them firmly in contention, and they could replace Liverpool at the top if they can take at least 2 points from their 2 games in hand, the first of which is on Monday, away to Charlton. View exclusive photographs from this match!
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