1.9.07  BARCLAYS PREMIERSHIP
Liverpool 6 Derby 0 (PA Sport)


Liverpool surged to the top of the Barclays Premier League for the first time in five years with a devastating display of fire-power against an outclassed Derby.

Liverpool were two ahead at the break through Xabi Alonso's free-kick and Ryan Babel's first for the club.

The second period was one-way traffic with further goals from Fernando Torres (two), Alonso and Andriy Voronin.

Reds boss Rafael Benitez made five changes from the side which beat Toulouse in midweek with Peter Crouch not even on the bench, Kuyt and Fernando Torres being paired up front.

Derby duo Claude Davis (rib) and Tyrone Mears (thigh) both passed fitness tests for the Barclays Premier League bottom club, but Dean Leacock missed out with a toe problem.

Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher were both still injured for Liverpool, who recalled Steve Finnan, Xabi Alonso, Jermaine Pennant and Babel along with Torres.

Without assistant Paco Ayestaran, his number two for 11 years at three clubs, alongside him, Benitez watched his Liverpool side start with confidence.

Ayestaran has shocked the Liverpool backroom by deciding he wants to leave, after what is believed to be several recent differences with Benitez.

How this effects the smooth running of Liverpool remains to be seen, but the players set about finding the gaps in a committed east Midlands outfit.

Daniel Agger saw a 25-yarder clip Robert Malcolm and force Bywater into a flying save. The 'keeper was in action again when he fielded a Torres header powered in from Pennant's cross.

Mears ventured forward to blast a 20 yarder over the bar, and Stephen Pearson wasted possession after robbing Javier Mascherano and chasing 40 yards before a poor pass let Liverpool off the hook.

Kuyt cracked a 25-yarder just over the angle and Mascherano saw a long-range effort skim the far post.

Derby were battling hard, trying to restrict the space in front of their defence, but it was becoming increasingly difficult and Mears was warned by referee Alan Wiley for a succession of fouls.

After one on Pennant, Alonso took the free-kick 35 yards out on the left. And as his low drive swerved into the box Kuyt ran across Bywater's line of vision and the ball nestled in the back of the net, the keeper missing it completely.

Kuyt should have made it two on 34 minutes when Pennant raced away on the left to lift in a cross for the unmarked Dutchman to head over from eight yards.

Two minutes later Pennant's pace and skill severely embarrassed Malcolm, and from yet another cross Kuyt was there again to lift his effort over the bar.

Liverpool were pouring forward now, and after one lengthy run from Finnan, the cross was controlled superbly by Torres before the striker cracked his effort over the top.

The second came in first-half injury-time when Pennant set up Babel, who side-stepped two defenders brilliantly before placing his shot into the corner for his first goal for the club.

HT Liverpool 2 Derby 0

The second period started just as ominously for Derby as Pennant, Torres and Kuyt combined to set-up Alonso from 10 yards, but the Spaniard lifted his effort into the Kop.

However, the third was not long coming. Mascherano dispossessed a dithering Malcolm 30 yards out and pushed the ball to Torres.

The Spaniard then took on and beat three defenders in a run across the box before burying his shot into the bottom corner on 56 minutes.

Three minutes later the hapless Malcolm was withdrawn to save him further punishment, and Gary Teale came on.

Liverpool were playing at such a pace and with outstanding control - Derby just could not handle it and continually gave the ball away or made forced errors.

The Reds' response was to take off the excellent Pennant, to a rousing ovation, with Yossi Benayoun coming on.

Derby then withdrew Mohammed Camara - another out-of-his-depth defender - and replaced him with James McEveley.

Andy Griffin was booked for pulling back Torres on 65 minutes as the Liverpool attacks remained incessant.

The fourth came on 69 minutes when Babel crossed from the right, Benayoun was tackled attempting to turn and the ball broke for Alonso who placed an 18-yarder into the bottom corner.

Next on was Andriy Voronin in place of Babel, and with virtually his first touch he produced the fifth.

Kuyt surged into the box on the right and fired in an angled shot that Bywater could only push out for the Ukrainian to poke home from a couple of yards under pressure.

It got worse for Derby a minute later when a poor backpass by Andy Todd was snapped up by Torres, who rounded Bywater to run the ball into an empty net.

Mohamed Sissoko came on for Mascherano between the fifth and sixth goals, while Darren Moore was sent on by Derby for Griffin on 80 minutes, Derby surviving the final minutes without further disaster.

FT Liverpool 6 Derby 0

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Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Hyypia, Agger, Arbeloa, Pennant (Benayoun 61), Mascherano (Sissoko 77), Alonso, Babel (Voronin 73), Torres, Kuyt.
 
Subs Not Used: Itandje, Riise.
Goals: Alonso 27, Babel 45, Torres 56, Alonso 69, Voronin 76, Torres 78.

Derby: Bywater, Griffin (Moore 80), Malcolm (Teale 59), Davis, Camara (McEveley 63), Todd, Fagan, Oakley, Mears, Pearson, Howard.

Subs Not Used: Price, Earnshaw.
Booked: Griffin.

Att: 44,076
Ref: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).