Press Association match report

There was no miraculous comeback this time as Liverpool slumped to their their first League defeat at Anfield since February.

In Valencia in midweek, the Reds had staged an amazing recovery in the dying minutes to produce a famous UEFA Cup victory. But the euphoria of that tremendous result was swept away as Derby battled and fought for an unlikely victory.

No doubt, once again, the credibility of the joint management of Gerard Houllier and Roy Evans will be drawn into question. The partnership has taken a savaging in the past few weeks as Liverpool's title dreams have slowly turned into a nightmare.

But there are times when highly paid players must take some responsibility for their own shortcomings. Liverpool's stars were ragged and shambolic at times as they failed to make any meaningful use of a vast amount of possession.

And the front pairing of Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen rarely got the better of a stern, organised back-line of Steve Elliott, Horacio Carbonari and Jacob Laursen.

Liverpool's only player anywhere near top form was Steve McManaman, who twisted, turned and ran at a packed defence and deserved more than to finish on the losing side.

The Merseysiders, though, now have won only one of their last eight league games and taken just six from the last 24 points. That amounts to a crisis, and it will be the measure of Houllier and Evans just how they deal with it.

Derby grabbed two first-half goals through Kevin Harper and Paulo Wanchope, and withstood a second-half battering until Jamie Redknapp stole a late goal that almost set up another remarkable comeback.

But what had gone on before, with 22 year-old Harper doing brilliantly on his first full game for Derby on the right, cannot be papered over by suggestions that the late show Liverpool mounted merited a point.

Derby, who had not won at Anfield in 18 years, were supposedly crippled by a string of injuries. Igor Stimac, Dean Sturridge, Stefan Schnoor and Francesco Baiano were all sidelined. But they started in dramatic fashion by taking the lead after five minutes.

Tony Dorigo hoisted a centre in from the left and Harper - a £300,000 signing from Hibernian - arrived unmarked beyond the back post to place a perfect header across David James and the ball went in at the far post.

Liverpool were stung into an instant response and hit back. Redknapp put Robbie Fowler clear, but the striker lifted his shot over Russell Hoult only to see Elliott hack the ball away from an unguarded net.

McManaman then set up Owen, but his driven cross was also lashed behind by Elliott.

After 18 minutes another Redknapp ball into the box was headed against the foot of the post by Fowler, and then Berger volleyed wide of the far post.

But Liverpool's attacks were more frantic than decisive and when Derby broke out the awkward, pacy Wanchope caused considerable concern amid a shaky defence.

Liverpool got through again after 24 minutes when Owen's pass set Fowler up in the box, but once again Elliott produced a superb saving tackle as the Liverpool hitman was about to crash in his shot.

Liverpool's pressure was increasing, but Derby shocked Anfield again after 27 minutes. Harper went down the right, cut back from a Stig Bjornebye tackle and centred for Wanchope to surge in and smash a header past a helpless James from six yards, rising above Jamie Carragher.

After 30 minutes Berger was taken off and Jason McAteer took over in midfield. But Liverpool's composure now had virtually gone after having had most of the play but been mugged twice by superb counterattacks.

Redknapp sent another long range effort curling wide as the annoyance and anxiety from the crowd was beginning to affect players already feeling the pressure.

Derby were happy to sit back after the break and allow an increasingly desperate Liverpool to charge at them.

The chances were there, but were squandered alarmingly. Fowler nodded a Steve Staunton corner wide of a post, and then Owen got in the way of a Hoult kicked clearance.

But although the ball bounced back over the Derby keeper's head, no Liverpool player could get near enough to punish his error.

Staunton headed a McAteer corner over the bar and Hoult brilliantly blocked a fierce drive from Fowler, who was sadly a yard short of the pace all afternoon.

After 66 minutes Liverpool put on midfielder David Thompson and took off Vegard Heggem in an attempt to add some extra options.

But after 84 minutes Liverpool's only real dangerman, McManaman, got down the left, cut into the box and laid a simple tap-in on a plate for Redknapp.

A minute later McManaman did exactly the same thing - setting up Redknapp again - but this time the shot was lifted over the bar.

Derby were looking shattered now, and McManaman set up Fowler with two minutes left, but again the shot was wild and over the top.

Teams:

Liverpool: James, Staunton, McManaman, Fowler, Owen, Redknapp, Heggem (Thompson 67), Berger (McAteer 32), Ince, Bjornebye, Carragher.
Subs Not Used: Friedel, Kvarme, Harkness.
Booked: Berger, Redknapp.
Goals: Redknapp 84.

Derby: Hoult, Carbonari, Powell, Dorigo, Wanchope, Delap (Kozluk 73), Harper (Bridge-Wilkinson 90), Bohinen, Laursen, Elliot, Burton.
Subs Not Used: Launders, Christie, Poom.
Booked: Bohinen, Kozluk, Hoult.
Goals: Harper 6, Wanchope 27.

Ref: U Rennie (Sheffield).

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