'Crouch Drought Over As Reds Go 2nd'

3 Dec 2005 Liverpool 3-0 Wigan - EPL

BBC - Crouch thought he had opened the scoring but his deflected shot, which was helped in by Mike Pollitt, was later credited to the Wigan keeper. But there were no doubts about the giant hitman's next effort, when he superbly lifted the ball over the advancing Pollitt to double the lead. Luis Garcia chested in from Fernando Morientes' header to seal the victory.

The win extended the Reds winning run in the Premiership to an impressive six games, saw them keep yet another clean sheet and moved them up into second place in the table.

Crouch: "I had a big slice of luck with the first one obviously. It was on target but went a bit higher than I planned. If it goes to the dubious goals committee I'll be telling them that it's definitely mine.

I am a buoyant person by nature but if I'm honest this goal drought as been getting me down at times. I've been getting a bit of stick lately but it's great to get the goals today and hopefully I can go on from here and score more."

5 Dec 2005 Liverpool.tv - Crouch Dedicates His Goals To The Fans

"The team-mates, manager and fans have been top class. It is much easier when the people who matter believe in you. But I also believe in myself and I believe I can go on a little run now. (While teeing up the first goal) I thought Carra and the rest of the lads were willing me to score. The manager has never had any problems. He has always said just keep doing what you are doing."

"I am lucky because there are an awful lot of people who have believed in me. When I have gone through a barren spell they have buoyed me up and I am sure that over the next few days people will be texting me and phoning me and I need to thank those people for keeping me going."