Liverpool v
Bologna
The game is quiet for the first 10 minutes with no chances and simply a battle for the ball in midfield.
On 15 minutes, a simple ball is played from Marchetti back to Kirkland,
Kirkland is caught in possession as Cisse' easily dispossess him and knocks the
ball into an empty net.
No chance for kirkland after his unforced error
So, Liverpool (who finished 3rd last year) lead the treble winners at Anfield.
Liverpool attempt to settle unitil young Jamie Shaw gets on the ball and lofts
a ball over to Ronaldo who lets fly with a with a first time shot, off the the bar! bounces out to Shaw who plays it inside to Ronaldo easy finish.
Ronaldo celebrates with Jamie Shaw
1-1 after 25 minutes.
Surprisingly for Bologna they seem to be coping well with Liverpool's attack despite the departure of Pique'
HALF TIME.
How will the second half work out?
Bologna Substitution: Milner [off] Herrero [on]
Liverpool Substitution: Gerrard [off] Merlin [on]
The second half is underway as Merlin takes th e ball out wide swings a cross in to Baros.....................totally unmarked goal 2-1 as easy a goal as you will ever see. Terrible defending by Marchetti, totally lost his man.
Liverpool have identified a possible weakness and balls are being trown in the box from all over the place, merlin is the main provider.
3-1 ! This time from a right wing cross from Smicer and its Cisse' for his second of the game. Kirkland flapped at that one. But Cisse put it away so well.
another calm finish from Cisse
Liverpool are now keeping the ball passing it around as the treble winners run after them like Nottingham Forest.
Ronaldo, looks uncomfortable he's pulled with what looks like a sore hamstring.
He will have to come off.
Bologna substitution: Ronaldo [off] Di Canio [on]
Can Di Canio shake up the game?they've got a corner.........
Terrible corner from Jamie Shaw as Liverpool clear the ball staight out to Diouf (?), great run, takes its around Marchetti and chips the ball over Kirkland, its four, its a rout, its all over
Diouf celebrates his superb finish and Liverpool's fourth
That's it it's all over:
Liverpool 4
Bologna 1
After the game it was discovered that Ronaldo had infact pulled his hamstring
and will be out for eight weeks.
It's clear that Bologna will have to rethink thier strategy although they will have to do it without Ronaldo.