WATCH NOW: CHARLTON 0 LIVERPOOL 3
Paul Rogers 17 December 2006
Liverpool moved up to 3rd place in the Premiership after goals from Xabi Alonso, Craig Bellamy and Steven Gerrard gave them a comfortable 3-0 win over Charlton on Saturday and you can watch 40 minutes of highlights on the website now.
It was a second away win of the season for Rafa's men after victory at Wigan the last time they were on the road and it was a win that was rarely in doubt after Alonso's 3rd minute penalty was added to by fine second half goals from Bellamy and Gerrard. The Reds got off to a flying start here when a rash challenge on Pennant by former player Djimi Traore gave them a 3rd minute penalty. And Xabi Alonso made no mistake from 12 yards to send Myhre the wrong way and make it 1-0. Liverpool scored four in the first half of their last away game at Wigan and they could have eclipsed that here. It was almost 2-0 in the 7th minute when Bellamy weaved his way through the Charlton defence only to see his point blank effort blocked on the line by the legs of Young; and Bellamy turned provider for Kuyt minutes later, but the Dutchman's strike was narrowly wide. Traore went some way towards making amends for conceding the penalty when his superb goal-line clearance stopped Pennant scoring in the 16th minute, but the Reds were well on top it seemed only a matter of time before they'd score again. Craig Bellamy's pace was causing Charlton's defence all sorts of problems and he again fed Kuyt, but he was again frustrated as his side footed shot went wide. And Charlton reminded us that at 1-0 they were still firmly in the game when Hreidarsson missed an easy chance from 6 yards. The second half of this match was almost a carbon copy of the first. Liverpool again created chance after chance without adding to their lead; and Charlton again reminded us how frail a 1-0 lead is when Ambrose blasted just inches over in the 75th minute and Bent shot wide just minutes later. How Liverpool hadn't put the game out of sight was a mystery. They cut the Charlton defence open almost at will and they hit the post in the 59th minute through Kuyt and saw Myhre save well from Alonso and Gerrard. But just when we thought they'd have to settle for one, they scored a second through Bellamy in the 82nd minute and a third through Steven Gerrard in the 88th minute to give the scoreline the emphatic look Liverpool's play had deserved. Bellamy continuing his fine goalscoring form with a brilliant strike from 6 yards and Gerrard scored a trademark goal with a superb curling shot after cutting inside.
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