Goalkeeping crisis threatens Liverpool

POLICE in Sheffield last week orchestrated the perfect sting as they flushed out known criminals with the prospect of free gifts and then arrested them. On Saturday Liverpool followed suit by allowing Sheffield Wednesday to take the lead and then nicking the points.

The victory kept them in contention for a European place on three fronts but that campaign is being endangered by a goalkeeping crisis. David James effectively played one-legged after a first-half collision with Guy Whittingham, with manager Roy Evans reluctant to bring on the untried Tony Warner.

Asked if James would be fit for tomorrow's FA Cup replay at Wimbledon, Evans joked that he would have to be. It is a serious problem, however, with any reasonable alternatives Cup-tied although James coped admirably despite his handicap.

Wednesday's current handicap appears to be more deep-rooted than this single con. Three successive Premiership defeats have followed their penalty shoot-out fiasco against Wolves which not only knocked them out of the FA Cup but also seemed to knock the spirit out of the club.

The passion was missing from both team and crowd

Against Liverpool they surrendered their early lead from Chris Bart-Williams and were then profligte against the injured James. The passion was missing from both team and crowd. Rarely can the atmosphere around Hillsbrough been so muted.

The mutterings about the job tenure of Trevor Francis inevitably surfaced once more. He may advocate the Italian way but his relationship with the Hillsborough faithful is not simpatico. On Saturday his side could have done with some traditional English bulldog spirit; instead their performance was best summed up by Chris Waddle's half-time substitution for being "tired".

Liverpool employed an unseasonal Christmas tree formation to good effect, stifling any potential home enterprise and then taking a stranglehold with some sweet possession football. Their reward was a goal from John Barnes and a beauty from Steve McManaman.

Copyright - Mike Staniforth