Crouch the hero for Liverpool

12 April 2012

Peter Crouch scored his fourth Champions League goal of the season to secure a priceless victory for Liverpool in Bordeaux and keep the Reds top of Group C.

Crouch had missed two decent first-half chances before firing home a fine header from Craig Bellamy's corner.

Stephen Warnock came on for Bellamy with four minutes left and almost grabbed a second when he worked his way clear from Zenden's pass but hit his shot straight at the goalkeeper from 12 yards.

Already without hamstring victim Steven Gerrard, boss Benitez decided not to risk Mohamed Sissoko and Dirk Kuyt from the start.

On 20 minutes Gonzalez cut in from the left and tried a shot, held by Rame, when he should have been looking for the movement ahead of him.

Fernando Menegazzo tested goalkeeper Jose Reina with a snap shot a minute into the second half, the French side having had 65% of the opening period possession to underline the problems Liverpool were creating for themselves.

Liverpool started to hit back when Riise's fine crossfield pass found Luis Garcia, and the little Spaniard cut in to force Rame into an important save.

But on 58 minutes Liverpool stole into the lead - Bellamy took a right-wing corner and there was Crouch storming into plant a firm header down at Rame's feet from 10 yards, the goalkeeper unable to halt the ball progress into the net. Crouch did not last much longer, and was replaced by Kuyt on 65 minutes.

Bordeaux came close to an equaliser when Chamakh sent a flashing header from a cross inches wide with eight minutes left. Then Menegazzo saw a low header go wide from Jurietti's ball.

Kuyt was booked for kicking the ball away from a free-kick as Bordeaux kept coming forward before Stephen Warnock came on for Bellamy with four minutes left. Warnock then almost grabbed a second when he worked his way clear from Zenden's pass, but Rame saved from 12 yards.

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