The Hindu : Sport / Football : Crouch stars with a hat-trick

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Sunday, Apr 01, 2007
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Crouch stars with a hat-trick

LONDON: Peter Crouch scored a hat-trick for Liverpool in a 4-1 win over Arsenal on Saturday that lifted the club into third place in the Premier League and ended a four-game losing streak against the Gunners.

Crouch scored in the fourth, 35th and 81st minutes, with Daniel Agger heading in the other goal for Liverpool at Anfield. William Gallas pulled a late goal back for Arsenal.

The win was revenge for Liverpool after being knocked out of the FA Cup and League Cup by Arsenal within four days in January. It also gives the club momentum ahead of its Champions League quarterfinal first leg at PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday.

Crouch used his height well to score Liverpool's opening goals. Alvaro Arbeloa crossed from the right and Crouch slid in front of Arsenal defender Kolo Toure to turn the ball into the goal for his first.

Using his head

For Crouch's second, he leapt up past marker Abou Diaby to head in a cross from Fabio Aurelio into the far corner and out of reach of goalkeeper Jens Lehmann. The England striker scored his first club hat trick when he took a cross from former Arsenal midfielder Jermaine Pennant and sidefooted it in.

Agger took a cross from Aurelio, headed it down and the ball bounced into the net for Liverpool's third goal in the 60th minute. Gallas nudged the ball across the line for Arsenal in the 73rd.

Chance missed

Emmanuel Adebayor, returning from suspension, missed Arsenal's best chances. His header went just over the bar in the 15th and he hit the post in the 54th.

Arsenal was ousted from the Champions League by PSV and only has third place in the Premier League left to play for. Now it's fourth, with 55 points, with Liverpool third with 57. Arsenal has one extra game to play than the Reds.

Manchester United leads with 75 points, with Chelsea second with 69 ahead of their games later Saturday. United hosts Blackburn and Chelsea is at Watford. — AP

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