14.7.07  PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY
Crewe 0 Liverpool 3 (www.lfc.tv)


Liverpool will head off on their annual training camp to Switzerland next week on the back of a second successive pre-season victory as goals from Lee Peltier, Peter Crouch and Ray Putterill gave the Reds a comfortable 3-0 win at League One side Crewe.

Peltier and Crouch struck within a three minute spell in the first half while Putterill added a further goal after the break to seal an emphatic success at the Alexandra Stadium.

While new signings Fernando Torres, Yossi Benayoun and Ryan Babel are still waiting for their club debuts, Ukrainian striker Andriy Vorinin impressed during his first appearance in a red shirt and looked strong and sharp during his 45 minutes on the field.

Inspired by Steven Gerrard from the midfield, the Reds controlled the opening exchanges and could have been ahead as early as the fourth minute when the skipper took Voronin's pass in his stride and curled a delightful left footed shot which crashed back off the crossbar.

Liverpool's dominance was eventually rewarded after 21 minutes when Voronin saw a powerful close range drive parried out by Ben Williams, but the Crewe goalkeeper had no answer to Lee Peltier's follow-up shot which was drilled hard and low into the back of the net.

Peter Crouch added a second just three minutes when he was quickest to react to John Arne Riise's cross and expertly flicked the ball beyond the reach of Williams into the far corner.

Nicky Maynard had a chance to pull a goal back for Crewe when he charged through before clipping the ball wide, but it was a rare attack for the home side who spent much of their time trying to repel Liverpool attacks.

Gerrard almost embarrassed Williams with a 60 yard shot which was heading for goal before the Crewe number one got across his goal to hold while Riise came within inches of adding a third with a trademark left footed drive which rebounded off the post and away to safety.

Rafael Benitez changed all eleven players at half time but the pattern of the game didn't alter as Liverpool continued to ask all the questions.

Youth Cup hero Ray Putterill added the Reds' third of the afternoon after 58 minutes with a well placed shot from the edge of the area.

Fellow youth star Craig Lindfield should have added his name to the scoresheet eight minutes later when Dirk Kuyt's clever left wing cross left him with a free sight of goal, but he glanced his effort well wide of the target.

Xabi Alonso almost smashed home a spectacular fourth goal in the closing stages of the match but the Crewe goal survived as the ball flew inches wide.

With two warm up wins now behind them, Werder Bremen and Auxerre lie in wait next week for the Reds as they take their new season preparations to the next level in Switzerland - but it's so far so good for Rafa's new look squad as we continue to gear up for the real action next month.
 

Teams

Liverpool: Reina, Riise, Hyypia, Roque, Finnan, El Zhar, Peltier, Spearing, Gerrard MBE, Crouch, Voronin (captain). Subs - Agger, Kuyt, Paletta, Putterill, Carragher, Martin, Lindfield, Pennant, Arbeloa, Alonso, Sissoko

Crewe Alexandra: Williams, McCready, Cox, Jones, O'Donnell, Baudet, Carrington, Schumacher, Maynard, Lowe, Roberts. Subs - Tomlinson, Pope, Bopp, Lynch, Moore, Bailey, Thomas, Stones, Daniel, Bailey, Williams

Referee: Scott Mathieson
Conditions: Warm
Attendance: Unknown

Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Andriy Voronin