Liverpool 6 - 0 Derby County

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Saturday Sep 01 2007 03:00

Liverpool gave newly promoted Derby County a footballing lesson, dishing out a 6-0 hammering to Billy Davies' side at Anfield.

A brace apiece from Xabi Alonso and Fernando Torres and goals from Ryan Babel and Andriy Voronin swept the Rams aside as Rafa Benitez's men showed they mean business in the Premier League this season.

The Reds started brightly and came close to scoring within three minutes when

Danish defender Daniel Agger's deflected shot was tipped round the post by goalkeeper Stephen Bywater.

And minutes later the Derby keeper had to be at his athletic best to save a thunderous Torres header after smart wing play from Jermaine Pennant.

Derby played some bright football for a team who have not won a league game this season.

But it was Benitez's men who looked the more threatening and on 15 minutes came close again through Dirk Kuyt.

The breakthrough was only a matter of time and it came from Spanish free-kick specialist Xabi Alonso, the midfielder curling a 35-yard cross-cum-shot that sailed past Bywater's despairing dive.

The rampant Reds were cutting hapless Derby apart and they made it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time with an exquisite move.

Agger fed full-back Alvaro Arbeloa with a defence-splitting pass and the Spaniard found debutant Babel who turned and buried his shot in the corner of the net.

After the break, Liverpool continued where they left off and should have tripled their lead with a sweeping move but Xabi Alonso blazed over.

But Torres made it three on 56 minutes turning the Derby defence inside out before sliding the ball past Bywater.

A tide of Red attacks followed and Alonso made it four after 68 minutes when he picked up a loose ball on the edge of the box and coolly slotted home.

Substitute Voronin then joined in the party latching onto a shot from Kuyt to smash in the fifth.

Torres rounded the keeper to score his second and Liverpool's sixth after Derby sorry defence left him through on goal.

Live Commentary

  • 90
    There's the full time whistle from Alan Wiley and a torrid afternoon is over for Billy Davies but Rafa Benitez and Liverpool will be absolutely delighted with their display. Final score Liverpool 6 - 0 Derby County.
  • 90
    Three minutes of added time have been indicated.
  • 88
    Kuyt now drives into the Derby half and attempts to chip Bywater from all of 30 yards but the keeper is in place to pluck the ball out of the air.
  • 87
    To Derby's relief, Liverpool have really stepped off the gas now and seem content with their days work.
  • 84
    Arbeloa finds himself in the Derby penalty area now and Moore looks like he left a leg in there but the Spaniard stays on his feet when he could easily have gone down and the ball rolls out for a goal kick.
  • 82
    Great chance for Fagan as he beats the offside trap brilliantly but he almost has too much time and he slides it wide of the post.
  • 80
    Darren Moore is coming on for Andy Griffin to make it five at the back and prevent further embarassment.
  • 78
    Another great chance goes begging for Kuyt who won't believe he hasn't scored yet as he fires narrowly wide of the goal from 10 yards out.
  • 77
    And now it is embarassing for Derby County as Torres robs Andy Todd before rounding Bywater and tucking the ball into an empty net for number six.
  • 76
    Momo Sissoko is coming on in place of Masherano for the remaining minutes.
  • 75
    Voronin almost immediately has the simplest task of tucking the ball home after Bywater fumbles Kuyt's effort into his path.
  • 73
    Ryan Babel is receiving a huge ovation as he makes way for Andriy Voronin who will be looking to add his name to the scoresheet.
  • 71
    Steve Howard wastes a superb chance to salvage some pride as he inexcusably misses the target from 6 yards after a superb run from Tyrone Mears down the right hand side.
  • 69
    Alonso steals in to grab his second of the game as another flowing Liverpool move involving Benayoun, Torres and Babel is delightfully finished off.
  • 66
    Andy Griffin is booked for tugging back Torres as Liverpool's record signing looked to burst through to make it 4-0.
  • 64
    Derby threaten for the first time in a long time as Fagan - who has worked his socks off - finds McEveley and Agger is forced into a good defensive header to stop Howard latching onto it.
  • 63
    Another change which is really disrupting the game at the moment as Mo Camara is replaced by Jay McEveley.
  • 61
    Liverpool now make a change as Yossi Benayoun replaces the highly impressive Jermaine Pennant who receives a standing ovation.
  • 60
    Liverpool are absolutely rampant and unfortunately for the Rams the likes of Babel, Torres and Alonso are enjoying themselves and it could become a cricket score in all honesty.
  • 59
    Gary Teale is coming on to replace Bob Malcolm who endured a poor debut as he was consistently caught in possession in the midfield.
  • 56
    Torres again with a greta chance but this time he wastes it as he slips on contact and lofts it over the bar.
  • 55
    Fernando Torres skips majestically around Andy Todd and slides the ball beyond Bywater to make it 3-0 and grab his second goal of the season.
  • 55
    Derby appear to be giving a better acount of themselves now but you get the feelignt hat Liverpool have stepped off the gas and if they find another gear could find more goals.
  • 51
    Fagan does well and beats two players and now Arbeloa decides to slice him down before he can get into a position where he may cause some damage.
  • 50
    Rather unusually the Anfield crowd has been pretty subdued, perhaps because they are expecting goals from their side, but when Liverpool look dangerous they still become a mjor factor.
  • 48
    Derby have changed to a 4-4-2 formation with Fagan alongside Howard up front but that will leave more room for Liverpool's top players to find space and create more chances.
  • 46
    Somehow Alonso fails to make it 3-0 as Arbeloa feeds Torres who finds Kuyt, but as he gets the ball stuck under his feet he leaves it for Alonso but he lifts it over from 10 yards.
  • 46
    The second half begins and if the next 45 minutes continues in the same manner as the first then it will become a case of damage limitation for the visitors.
  • 45
    There is the whistle, to the relief of the Derby players as they have been totally outplayed by Liverpool in the opening 45 minutes and Rafa Benitez will be delighted with his team's display.
  • 45
    Finally Ryan Babel extends Liverpool's lead as he beats two defenders before whipping the ball into the far corner past the despairing Bywater.
  • 43
    Billy Davies will be delighted if his team are able to go in at the break just a goal down and re-group for the second half.
  • 40
    Brilliant control and turn from Torres as he takes the ball on his chest and flicks it over Todd before volleying goalwards and it only just slices wide of Bywater's goal.
  • 39
    Andy Griffin is being run ragged by Jermaine Pennant as the winger again beats the full back numerous tumes before looking for Kuyt but once again Claude Davis is in the way for Derby.
  • 36
    Superb play by Pennant and Mascherano as Derby give the ball away cheaply and now Pennant finds Kuyt who somehow manages to miss the target from the edge of the six yard box.
  • 35
    However, the ball stays in play and Alonso feeds Torres and he gets to the byline, the cut back is towards Kuyt but Bywater, not for the first time, denies the Dutchman.
  • 34
    The visitors have managed to win a corner and Camara whips it beautifully towards the back post and Andy Todd almost gets on the end of it.
  • 32
    Derby are under real pressure at the minute and despite the fact Claude Davis is having a stormer a second goal is looking inevitable.
  • 30
    That goal was most definitely coming as Derby had begun to get penned back in their own half and you get the feeling that may have opened the floodgates.
  • 26
    Xabi Alonso scores his first of the season in fortuitous fashion as his curling free-kick towards the far post is missed by absolutely everybody and it evades Bywater as it finds the back of the net.
  • 22
    Great chance for Torres as he somehow escapes everybody in a Derby shirt but for once he fails to control it and Davis is able to get back and clear in the nick of time.
  • 20
    However, Liverpool are getting lots of strikes from range and Mascherano chances his arm this time and it skids just wide.
  • 19
    Derby are defending stoutly at the moment and Torres is constantly marked by two men it seems and if they can keep this up until the break then Liverpool might begin to get frustrated.
  • 15
    Liverpool are starting to really get on top of Derby now as Kuyt lets rip from 25 yards out and Bywater is beaten but fortunately for the visitors so is the cross bar.
  • 13
    Liverpool look dangerous on the counter attack as Pennant drives towards Mo Camara and Davis has to come across to stop him but Bywater scuffs his clearance and Alonso will strike it from 25 yards and its just wide.
  • 11
    Malcolm is dispossessed too easily by the hard working Kuyt and now the Dutchman tries to find Torres but the pass is not hard enough and Claude Davis steps in to intercept.
  • 8
    Jermaine Pennant does brilliantly down the right hand side and Torres has escaped his marker to meet the cross but Bywater makes a superb stop to deny the Spanish striker.
  • 6
    Fine work by Stephen Pearson as he robs Mascherano and then drives at Hyypia and into the penalty but looks for the pass when he could have shot and Agger is able to stop Oakley getting a strike oin goal.
  • 4
    Daniel Agger with what is becoming a trademark long range strike lets fly with his left foot and it takes a slight deflection off Bob Malcolm and Bywater is forced into a fine save at the expense of a corner.
  • 2
    The visitors have made a decent start without any major concerns and in fact Tyrone Mears has the first shot on his left foot from 30 yards but rathers scuffs it through to Reina.
  • 0
    Referee Alan Wiley gets the game underway and a sold out Anfield roars the two teams into action with Billy Davies surely hoping his side don't become intimidated by the atmosphere.
  • 0
    Derby: Bywater, Griffin, Malcolm, Davis, Camara, Todd, Fagan, Oakley, Mears, Pearson, Howard
  • 0
    Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Hyypia, Agger, Arbeloa, Pennant, Mascherano, Alonso, Babel, Torres, Kuyt
  • 0
    Billy Davies swooped to sign Kenny Miller from Celtic late last night but the Scottish striker was not registered in time to make his Derby debut today so Steve Howard continues up front while Robert Earnshaw takes his place on the bench.
  • 0
    Liverpool are again without captain Steven Gerrard for today's game as he nurses a toe injury, Javier Mascherano gets the nod, while Dirk Kuyt replaces Andriy Voronin alongside Fernando Torres in attack.
  • 0
    Here at Anfield today Derby are out to avoid a fourth successive Premier League defeat but Liverpool have lost just two of their last 46 home league games - against Chelsea and Manchester United respectively - so the Rams are up against it.

Statistics

Liverpool
Shots on target 10
Shots off target 10
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 10
Offsides 3
Corners 4

Derby County
Shots on target 3
Shots off target 5
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 14
Offsides 2
Corners 2

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