Liverpool 4, Arsenal 1 (D,Post)

Apr 2 2007 by Ian Doyle at Anfield

It opened a window of opportunity for others, none of whom reaped greater reward than Crouch.

The striker had missed the dire goalless draw at Aston Villa and England’s Euro 2008 qualifying double header with Israel and Andorra after opting to undergo an operation on a broken nose.

The surgery certainly hasn’t affected his nose for goal as he showed England what they’d been missing by netting the first hat-trick of his club career.

Remarkably, that’s 16 goals in 24 starts this season for Liverpool, and a timely treble against a renowned defence given Benitez will shake up his striking resources in the summer.

It was a perfect hat-trick, too. The first, with his right foot, set Liverpool on their way in the fourth minute. A clever back-heeled one-two between Alvaro Arbeloa and Jermaine Pennant bypassed both Gael Clichy and Abou Diaby and allowed Arbeloa time to whip in a low cross from the right that Crouch, arriving at the near post ahead of Kolo Toure, slipped home.

Ten minutes before the break came the kind of goal that would make Crouch a world beater if he could them score more often. Having won a free-kick quickly taken by Xabi Alonso to Fabio Aurelio, the striker made his way into the box before extending his 6ft 7ins frame to head home the Brazilian’s superb cross from the left.

Crouch’s third, nine minutes from time, was another gem. Pennant was found in space on the right from Javier Mascherano’s chipped pass and, after the winger’s cross missed out substitute Kuyt, Crouch transferred the ball from right foot to left, losing the attentions of Toure in the process before finishing clinically beyond Jens Lehmann.

Crouch, though, admits his goals will be no guarantee of a starting place in Eindhoven. Unplayable, says Wenger, but undroppable?

“For me, it is always important to use the right players for the right game,” explained Benitez, when quizzed on whether Crouch had earned a starting place for tomorrow.

“I can’t say whether he will play or he won’t play, but it is clear we need to score goals he was playing really well and has confidence.

“Maybe he will have more options than the others.

“The question is about the understanding with the other strikers and if the wingers play well, things like this.

“You know that if you have good crosses, you will have more options.

“We had good crossing against Arsenal. Fabio Aurelio and Pennant are really ood at crossing and the cross for the second goal was perfect and I think it is easier for Crouch if you can cross the ball properly.”