Jeffers dive upsets Houllier

The year burns away to nothing with the integrity of the modern footballer again being questioned. Arsenal's Francis Jeffers, once of Everton, was accused of "conning" the referee by Gerard Houllier here yesterday after a theatrical fall inside the penalty area earned England's champions a late equaliser. The Liverpool manager thinks Jeffers should be hauled before the Football Association for deceit.

Liverpool dropped another two points but rose in self-esteem. Houllier's men are no longer destined to start a new year the way they finished the old one. From the depths of their recent miseries, they summoned 45 minutes of defiance and enterprise and can now turn the page in hope, though Michael Owen's departure in the 38th minute with a "tight" hamstring is a new worry.

Now sixth, and nine points behind Arsenal, who lead by five from Chelsea and Manchester United going into 2003, Liverpool were more recognisable after half-time as the strutting English aristocrats of old.

Not that the red half of Merseyside has shed its conservative image entirely. Caution again characterised their first-half performance and further dampened the morale of their rain-soaked supporters.

But once Danny Murphy had converted a 68th-minute penalty following Sol Campbell's sliding foul on Milan Baros, Liverpool seemed to decide that it was about time they ended the club's worst run in 50 years. Four points from a possible 27, and nine league games without a win, will hardly have Dom Perignon corks popping at Anfield tomorrow night; but at least this faltering Liverpool side now know how much damage they can inflict when they crawl out of their shell.

Defensively, they were tenacious, miserly and fearless. Stephane Henchoz and Sami Hyypia were colossal at centre-half. The one serious error at the back was, according to Houllier, not really an error at all but rather a depressing example of calculated thespianism.

With 11 minutes of Arsenal's magical year left, Jeffers surged into the box, felt John Arne Riise's hand on his side, took another stride and then chose to throw himself on Highbury's well-manicured turf. This was the way it looked to Houllier, who called Jeffers "a comedian". Riise was booked. From the spot, Thierry Henry scored his 97th goal for last season's Double winners.

"From my angle I thought Riise had pulled Jeffers' shirt. But he didn't pull the shirt at all," Houllier said gravely. "As soon as there is contact the player goes down. The yellow card should be for the diver. I have sympathy for the referee.

It's very difficult to see those incidents properly. I have sympathy for the ref but I'm very angry with Jeffers. He has more qualities than that." Houllier urged the FA's video advisory panel to examine the Jeffers 'dive'.

The festive spirit was conspicuously absent in this crossroads match for Liverpool, who were chasing their first league victory since Nov 2. Arsenal supporters saw the blood seeping from the away team's soul and were in no mood to help staunch the wound.

As Jamie Carragher tried to soothe his early nerves by launching long balls upfield, the Clock End began chanting "hoof, hoof" whenever a Liverpool defender took possession. The indignities were piling up for the Premiership's most becalmed team. In midfield Salif Diao and Bruno Cheyrou were passengers, watching the world go by. Diao, in particular, needs to demand the ball, join attacking moves and apply his physical talents more energetically.

At half-time, after Campbell's disallowed headed goal, it was tempting to believe those Sunday newspaper reports about Houllier sharpening his elbows for the January sales. A creative midfielder aside, more bodies are the last thing Liverpool need.

What was missing was crisp, short passing, ambition, and conviction and confidence in front of goal. All these are achievable from the current squad. "Too shy," is how Houllier described them in the first half.

But on the hour Ashley Cole cleared off the line from Owen's replacement, El-Hadji Diouf, and then Baros shot into the side netting after a defensive mix-up between David Seaman and Martin Keown. The 10-minute spell that produced Murphy's penalty was Liverpool's best. A swagger at last.

While Liverpool cling to the ankles of the leaders, Arsenal manage to consolidate their position at the head of the pack without dazzling or overrunning their victims. Arsene Wenger, their manager, was plainly displeased with Gilberto for missing from seven yards out in added time. "We had an open goal and we should have finished it," he said.

Not quite 'open', but you could see his point. Sometimes Arsenal push and probe but never quite shove the opposition over. "Everyone defends 100 per cent against us and these games are very tight," Wenger claimed. "If you don't find an opening it becomes very difficult."

Wenger defended his old friend Houllier against the accusation that Liverpool hide in a kind of defensive cocoon. "They are in the kind of psychological condition where you can't expect flamboyant football," he said. His own team's five-point lead is daunting without being bone-chilling for the other title contenders.

"The title race starts straight away in the new year," Houllier said. And the effigies of Jeffers, a true Evertonian, go into production today.
Match details

Arsenal: Seaman, Lauren, Campbell, Keown, Cole, Wiltord (Jeffers 76), Silva, Vieira, Pires (van Bronckhorst 84), Henry, Kanu (Bergkamp 65).
Subs Not Used: Taylor, Luzhny.
Booked: Campbell.
Goals: Henry 79 pen.

Liverpool: Kirkland, Carragher, Henchoz, Hyypia, Riise, Murphy, Gerrard, Diao, Cheyrou (Traore 80), Baros (Biscan 86), Owen (Diouf 33).
Subs Not Used: Arphexad, Mellor.
Booked: Diao, Murphy, Riise.
Goals: Murphy 70 pen.

Att: 38,074
Ref: J Winter (Cleveland).

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