Charlton 0-3 Liverpool
Liverpool heaped more misery on lowly Charlton as they overpowered
their hosts to record a comfortable victory. A third-minute Xabi
Alonso penalty gave the Reds the lead after Djimi Traore's high
tackle on Jermaine Pennant.
The visitors wasted plenty of chances and were almost punished when
Hermann Hreidarsson shot over an empty net. Darren Ambrose and
Darren Bent also gave the Reds late scares but a Craig Bellamy
volley and Steven Gerrard curler secured a win for the
visitors.
Charlton had gathered in a group huddle before the game and
Traore's adrenalin seemed to have got the better of him as he
conceded an early penalty. The home side needlessly lost possession
and Traore was punished for catching Pennant with a raised foot as
the pair challenged for a Mark Gonzalez cross.
Alonso stroked in the penalty and more goals seemed inevitable as
the Reds took command against their tame rivals. But, while
Charlton fans will have been bemused at the ease with which
Liverpool sliced through their side, the visitors will have been
wondering how they did not put the game out of reach within the
first 20 minutes.
Bellamy raced through and evaded a joint challenge from Addicks
keeper Thomas Myrhe and centre-back Talal El-Karkhouri only to see
a sliding Luke Young clear his shot off the line. Kuyt fired a shot
across goal just wide of the far post after combining well with
Bellamy and Pennant had a another strike cleared off the line by
Traore's knee.
Charlton almost made the visitors pay for their missed chances but
Hreidarsson shot high with a gaping net in front of him when Andy
Reid's pull back came to him on his weaker right foot. Kuyt
side-footed another chance just wide as Charlton began to belatedly
muster up the murmurings of a challenge.
But the chances continued to flow for the Reds as Alonso and
Gerrard tested Myrhe with long range strikes. Kuyt hit the foot of
the post after the tireless and lively Bellamy again set him up for
a chance. Ambrose volleyed high and Bent squeezed a shot
agonisingly wide as Charlton looked to snatch something late in the
game and caused Liverpool some late nerves. But Bellamy raced clear
and volleyed across goal and Gerrard also got in on the goalscoring
act before Charlton were booed at the final whistle.
