Liverpool Res 4, Blackburn Res 1

Mar 23 2007 Liverpool Daily Post

A STAR-STUDDED Liverpool reserve side cruised to a 4-1 win over Blackburn Rovers at the Racecourse Ground in the Barclays FA Premier Reserve League North last night.

Gary Ablett's side included Jerzy Dudek, Alvaro Arbeloa, Jermaine Pennant, Bolo Zenden, Javier Mascherano, Fabio Aurelio and Robbie Fowler, and they had far too much class for the young Rovers side.

Craig Lindfield put Liverpool in front after 18 minutes, finishing neatly after Fowler's perfect cushioned lay-off from Pennant's incisive pass.

Fowler added a glorious second seven minutes later, after Pennant had won possession in the Rovers half and picked him out in the box.

A nonchalant flick from the outside of Fowler's boot sent the ball nestling into the top corner.

The excellent Pennant added a third a minute before half-time with a powerful low shot from 25 yards.

The former Birmingham man then turned provider for the fourth goal 12 minutes into the second half, playing a glorious cross-field pass into the path of Zenden who found the net with a low finish. Fowler wasted a great chance and Hobbs was denied by the keeper before Rovers pulled a goal back through O'Keefe.

LIVERPOOL: Dudek (Padelli 60), Arbeloa, Insua, Hobbs, Paletta, Mascherano, Pennant, Zenden, Fowler, Lindfield (Anderson 76), Aurelio (Huth 60).

BLACKBURN: Fielding, Bateson, King (Patterson 58), Stopforth, Winnard, Pezzoni, Judge, O'Keefe (Haworth 64), Barker (Tsoumou 85), De Vita, Woods.