RAFALUTION

SKY Sports 02 December 2006
A tremendous first half display from Liverpool saw them steamroller Wigan as they claimed a memorable 4-0 win at The JJB Stadium.

Craig Bellamy put the stresses of his recent court case well and truely behind him as he doubled his tally for he season with two goals in the opening half hour as he produced his best peformance to date for the Merseyside giants.

The Reds added two more just before the interval to seal the win as Dirk Kuyt pounced and Lee McCulloch put through his own net.

The game in truth was over by half time although it could be argued that the match as a contest was done just before the half hour mark after Bellamy registered his second.

The Reds started well as they quickly came to terms with their new look 3-5-2 formation and the lead was theirs with the first meaningful attack of the game.

John Arne Riise picked dup the ball and picked out the run of Bellamy, who easily shrugged off the attentions of the hapless Matt Jackson before striding into the box and coolly side footing home past Chris Kirkland.

Bellamy then headed wide headed wide from Steve Finnan's cross as Liverpool continued to monopolise possession as they utilised their wing backs to the maximum.

Steven Gerrard should have done better when put clean through, but as he tried to find a free Bellamy in the box, who miscued his effort and Wigan cleared.

The home side did not have a sight of goal until just after the 20 minute mark as Henri Camara flashed a shot wide after good work from Paul Scharner down the left.

That proved to a brief moment of hope for Wigan as Liverpool soon doubled their lead. Josip Skoko carelessly gave the ball away in the middle and the ball eventually fell for Gerrard, who played the ball into the box to send Bellamy clear and he obliged with another cultured finished past Kirkland.

Unlike with the first, the second goal sparked Wigan into some action and they should have pulled one back through McCulloch but the Scottish international blazed over from just six yards after Jose Reina could only parry a Scharner header.

An equally good opportunity followed for Camara. Emile Heskey's first sight of goal against his former club saw him clear but Reina was out quickly to block with his chest - but Camara could not convert the rebound and fired wide.

Wigan were left to rue their missed chances as Liverpool added two more goals in a five-minute spell just before half time.

The third was a wonderfully crafted goal. Luis Garcia picked up the ball in his own half and picked out Gerrard's run with pin-point perfection - the Reds skipper took the ball in his stride before playing Bellamy clear and the Welshman unselfishly squared the ball across the box for Kuyt to fire home.

Salt was rubbed into the wounds with the fourth as this time McCulloch did find the back of the net, but unfortunately for him it was his own. Gerrard exchanged passes with Finnan down the right before crossing into the six yard box but under pressure from Kuyt, McCulloch could not help the ball hitting his leg and it left Kirkland with little chance.

Paul Jewell changed things at the interval as David Cotterill and David Wright were introduced.

It was though once again Liverpool who were quicker into their stride and Kuyt tested Kirkland with an audacious attempt from out wide as he curled the ball with the outside of his foot - but the England man was equal to it on this occasion.

Wigan then had he ball in the net with their first chance after the restart as Scharner headed home from close range - but he was adjudged offside.

Soon after Liverpool were forced into a change as Luis Garcia was brought on for Jermaine Pennant and before long Gabriel Palletta was introduced for Sami Hyypia.

Bellamy threatened to blot his copy book late on as he clashed off the ball with Leighton Baines as he kicked out at the England Under-21 man - and he may consider himself fortunate only to have been handed a yellow by Mike Riley.

With game already well won, Rafa Benitez took off Gerrard and gave Danny Guthrie a run-out in midfield.

Heskey could then have added some silver lining to another wise completely forgettable afternoon as he latched onto a loose ball in the box but he was unlucky as he shot crashed against the post and to compound Athletic's day, Cotterill could not react as the ball bounced off him and wide from just a yard.

Wright should have added a consolation in the last minute as some rare sloppy defensive work from Liverpool saw the full back work his way free in the box but he fired over, as the visitors claimed a well deserved clean sheet.

Liverpool now find themselves in fifth, but Benitez will be left beaming with the performance of his side who adapted brilliantly to playing three central defenders and it really gives him a whole new option, given how both Bellamy and Gerrard particularly flourished.