FOWLER AND PENNANT SHINE FOR RESERVES

Steve Hunter at Wrexham 23 March 2007 Fantastic goals from Robbie Fowler and Jermaine Pennant were the highlights of Liverpool Reserves' 4-1 win over Blackburn Rovers at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground on Thursday night.

Besides Fowler and Pennant, Gary Ablett fielded a very strong line-up featuring the likes of Jerzy Dudek, Alvaro Arbeloa, Javier Mascherano, Fabio Aurelio and Bolo Zenden. Jack Hobbs captained the team partnering Gabriel Paletta at the heart of the Reds defence. The attitude of the Liverpool team was superb and Pennant and Bolo Zenden in particular were in great form, while Fowler's link-play and movement was quite outstanding. Zenden and Craig Lindfield scored Liverpool's other goals. Pennant caused the Blackburn defence so many problems with his pace and willingness to take on defenders almost every time he got the ball. He linked up really well down the right hand side with Alvaro Arbeloa. Ablett's side took the lead after 22 minutes after a superbly worked team goal. Pennant started the move after a great run. He then found Fowler whose sublime lay-off found Lindfield and Monday's youth cup hero finished well from close range. Aurelio was then denied by a good save from Frank Fielding and Zenden headed just over the bar before Blackburn should have equalised when Raffaele De Vita shot wide. Fowler made it 2-0 after 26 minutes with an exquisite chip. Pennant was the provider again with a cross that found Fowler at the back post. He controlled the ball before sending a sweet chip over the top of Fielding and into the net. It was a goal that had the mark of class written all over it. Pennant then twice went close with one effort saved and one that he drilled just wide before he made it 3-0 with a sweet strike from 30-yards out. The winger then turned provider for the fourth goal after 57 minutes for Zenden's goal. Pennant's superb through ball sent the Dutch midfielder clean through and he finished well with a drilled effort. Ablett made his first changes of the evening after an hour when Daniele Padelli replaced Dudek in goal and Ronald Huth came on for Aurelio. This meant a reshuffle with Hobbs moved forward to midfield and Zenden going to the left flank. Four minutes later and the Italian goalkeeper's first duty was to pick the ball out of the net when Josh O'Keefe netted from close range to make it 4-1. Arbeloa was then booked for Liverpool when he kicked the ball away after a free-kick had been given against him. The second half wasn't as exciting as the first but overall it was a good night's entertainment and the goals from Fowler and Pennant were of exceptional quality. Liverpool Reserves: Dudek (Padelli 60), Arbeloa, Insua, Hobbs, Paletta, Mascherano, Pennant, Zenden, Fowler, Lindfield (Anderson 75), Aurelio (Huth 60). Subs unused: Darby, Threlfall. Blackburn Rovers Reserves: Fielding, Bateson, King (Patterson 59), Stopforth, Winnard, Pezzoni, Judge, O'Keefe, Barker, De Vita, Woods. Referee: K G Evans. Liverpoolfc.tv Man of the Match: Jermaine Pennant. Outstanding performance, especially in the first half when he was in exciting form.