The Red Cauldron: REDS VICTORIOUS IN FIRST FRIENDLY

Sunday, July 16, 2006

REDS VICTORIOUS IN FIRST FRIENDLY

Friendly
Liverpool 2 - 0 Wrexham

Scorers:
LIV - Anderson (6min), Bellamy (52min);

Liverpool got their pre-season friendly campaign off to a winning start

after goals from Paul Anderson and debutant Craig Bellamy gave them a 2-0 win over Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground on Saturday.

The breakthrough came when Riise made the first of what would become a series of powerful runs down the left and when he crossed to Anderson at the far post, the former Hull youngster treated the sell-out crowd to a wonderful volleyed finish. Reds boss Rafa Benitez handed debuts to Craig Bellamy and Gabriel Paletta in this game and they both showed good touches despite an obvious lack of match sharpness.

Paletta was substituted in one of eight changes made by Rafa at the break, but Bellamy stayed on and he scored a debut goal to make it 2-0 after 52 minutes. The half time introduction of Robbie Fowler meant that Rafa could have a first look at one of his potential strike partnerships and it took seven minutes for them to click because it was Fowler's pass that allowed Bellamy to run on and steer the ball passed J

ones and into the net.

Bellamy was substituted soon after, but he looked well happy with his day's work as he shook hands with his Manager on the touchline. It took a good save from Jones to stop Pongolle from making it 3-0 in the 70th minute, but we were to see little more goalmouth action as the clocked ticked down. Rafa Benitez will be pleased that he has been able to give so many of his squad a run out and they will head for Crewe next week looking to step up their preparation for the new Premiership season.

Liverpool: Dudek, Roque, Paletta, Hobbs, Finnan, Riise, Zenden, Guthrie, Anderson, Bellamy, Idrizaj. Subs - Martin, Smith, Antwi, Hyypia, Diao, Peltier, Hammill, Fowler, Sinama Pongolle, O'Donnell, Threlfall;

Drogballs: A good start to the pre-season friendly. Not the thumping everyone was expecting, but a fair results nevertheless. Nice to see Craig Bellamy getting a goal and some reports suggest that Paletta was pretty good as was Hobbs and Paul Anderson. Remember, that the season is not a sprint, but a marathon. I would rather see us win 2-0 now and winning the league rather than thrashing them 7-0 and then run out of steam in the Premiership.