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CRISIS? What crisis?
CRISIS? What crisis?
Presumably all those who have been sharpening their knives to plunge squarely between Gerard Houllier's shoulder blades over the past week are now ready to switch their attentions to David O'Leary.
After all, that's two defeats now for the Leeds manager; hardly the form of championship pretenders is it?
Houllier's emotional fist-shaking reaction at the final whistle said it all about a victory that owed much to a sensational performance from Titi Camara and a little evening out on the kind of luck that had so far been dealt the other way this season.
More than that, however, it was founded to a man upon an outstanding show of character and commitment that proves reports of Liverpool's demise have been greatly exaggerated.
Camara's curling strike on half-time and Lucas Radebe's own goal minutes after the interval eclipsed the feeling of deja-vu that had followed Rigobert Song's earlier mishap which had given Leeds and undeserved lead.
If Liverpool can maintain over the coming weeks a show of strength, which defied the prophets of doom who had them earmarked as lambs to the slaughter at Elland Road, then heavens knows what the return of Michael Owen, Dietmar Hamann, Vladimir Smicer and Stephane Henchoz and co could bring.
Once again, Houllier saw his team begin brightly but have nothing to show for their efforts except another hard luck story.
An incisive, flowing move on 12 minutes involving Dominic Matteo, David Thompson and Patrik Berger saw the Czech's low cross find Redknapp arriving late in the penalty area. He rounded Woodgate and fired a shot which beat Nigel Martyn but the midfielder, who excelled, was still left to cup his head in his hands as the covering Lee Bowyer flung himself across the goal-line to make an acrobatic clearance.
The failure to cash-in on another period of dominence, in which the passing was crisp and movement imaginative, brought predictable consequences, a Leeds goal after 20-minutes when upto then they have barely managed to construct a decent attack.
A covering tackle from the rock-like Sami Hyypia on the lively Darren Huckerby led to a corner and the re-appearance of Liverpool's continuing Achilles heel.
When Ian Harte's low centre came in Redknapp failed to cut out the cross, fooling Westerveld in the process, and leaving the unlucky Song unable to get out of the way before the ball struck his shins and trickled over the line.
A nation of Sky TV viewers no doubt waited for Liverpool to fold, but at no point did there look a lack of faith in the manager, his style or his methods.
Instead, his players shrugged off this cruelest of set-backs to simply reassert their authority over a Leeds side who on this form have a long way to go to live up to their billing as title contenders.
Much of the impetus going forward centred around the irrepressible talents of Camara, whose pace was a constant thorn; his flicks leaving defender after defender chasing shadows.
Whereas in previous outings he has looked erratic and unpredictable, so last night he looked a world beater and richly deserved his strike which is another contender for goal of the season.
Employed playing mainly as a lone striker, the Guinea striker had been far and away Liverpool's most dangerous player when his skills spectacularly came together in first-half injury time.
Collecting a quickly taken free-kick from Redknapp, Camara's attempts to slip Berger past the last line of defence were denied by Radebe's out-stretched leg.
But when the ball spun back to the former Marseille striker, he curled a breathtaking, brilliant instinctive shot with his right-foot that beat Nigel Martyn and restored parity via the underside of the crossbar.
It was no more than Liverpool deserved with Gerrard embellishing his blossoming pedigree by helping Redknapp tip an intriguing midfield battle Liverpool's way and David Thompson, recalled for Steve Staunton as the Reds fgdgfdfgd`reverted to 4-4-2, producing his usual non-stop display.
Houllier pulled off a tactical masterstroke by allowing Redknapp a freer role while asking his younger protege to anchor hings in front of the back four which went on to make up for thier failure to deal with yet another set piece.
Had Houllier watched his charges go into the break in the lead no one could have argued as they chased and battled for everything like men possessed.
As it was, the Frenchman only had to wait until nine minutes after the interval before Lady Luck for once intervened on Liverpool's side.
Matteo's pass gave Berger the opportunity to cross from the left and although Radebe reached the centre momentarily ahead of Fowler, he only succeeded in diverting the ball past Martyn.
For once this season recipients of their just rewards, Berger and Camara threatened to add to the advantage with drives from 30-yards that caused Martyn problems.
Despite the introduction of Alan Smith and Eirik Bakke, Leeds continued to struggle to make any headway as Liverpool fought and scrapped like demons to overcome the odds that had been so heavily stacked against them.
A free header from Jonathan Woodgate apart, which thankfully landed in Westerveld's mid-riff, there was little real danger as Leeds were simply prevented from finding any sort of rhythm.
If anything, Liverpool looked more like a top four side. But that is still in many ways as unrealistic a target as the hyperbole and exaggeration that greeted the defeats against Watford and Middlesbrough has been wickedly premature.
All of the problems are not suddenly solved with a victory that after all leaves Liverpool with only Arsenal and Manchester United to face now.
But this morning the burden doesn't seem so great. And nor should it be.
In the end, the giant banner draped across the Liverpool following prior to kick-off summed up an evening where brave hearts and minds came out on top.
Loosely translated it read: The cosmopolitan conquerers.
Indeed they were.
LEEDS UNITED (4-4-2): Martyn, Mills, Radebe, Woodgate, Harte; Batty, Bowyer, Hopkin (Bakke 68), Kewell; Bridges (Smith 56), Huckerby. Subs: Kelly, Robinson, Duberry.
LIVERPOOL (4-4-2): Westerveld, Song, Hyypia, Carragher, Matteo; Thompson, Redknapp, Gerrard, Berger; Fowler, Camara. Subs: Staunton, Meijer, Friedel, Murphy, Traore.
REFEREE: David Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill)
BOOKINGS: Bowyer (foul 17), Mills (foul 31), Song (foul 75), Camara (foul 79)
ATTENDANCE: 39,703.
©Liverpool Daily Post & Echo 1999 | [email protected]
Presumably all those who have been sharpening their knives to plunge squarely between Gerard Houllier's shoulder blades over the past week are now ready to switch their attentions to David O'Leary.
After all, that's two defeats now for the Leeds manager; hardly the form of championship pretenders is it?
Houllier's emotional fist-shaking reaction at the final whistle said it all about a victory that owed much to a sensational performance from Titi Camara and a little evening out on the kind of luck that had so far been dealt the other way this season.
More than that, however, it was founded to a man upon an outstanding show of character and commitment that proves reports of Liverpool's demise have been greatly exaggerated.
Camara's curling strike on half-time and Lucas Radebe's own goal minutes after the interval eclipsed the feeling of deja-vu that had followed Rigobert Song's earlier mishap which had given Leeds and undeserved lead.
If Liverpool can maintain over the coming weeks a show of strength, which defied the prophets of doom who had them earmarked as lambs to the slaughter at Elland Road, then heavens knows what the return of Michael Owen, Dietmar Hamann, Vladimir Smicer and Stephane Henchoz and co could bring.
Once again, Houllier saw his team begin brightly but have nothing to show for their efforts except another hard luck story.
An incisive, flowing move on 12 minutes involving Dominic Matteo, David Thompson and Patrik Berger saw the Czech's low cross find Redknapp arriving late in the penalty area. He rounded Woodgate and fired a shot which beat Nigel Martyn but the midfielder, who excelled, was still left to cup his head in his hands as the covering Lee Bowyer flung himself across the goal-line to make an acrobatic clearance.
The failure to cash-in on another period of dominence, in which the passing was crisp and movement imaginative, brought predictable consequences, a Leeds goal after 20-minutes when upto then they have barely managed to construct a decent attack.
A covering tackle from the rock-like Sami Hyypia on the lively Darren Huckerby led to a corner and the re-appearance of Liverpool's continuing Achilles heel.
When Ian Harte's low centre came in Redknapp failed to cut out the cross, fooling Westerveld in the process, and leaving the unlucky Song unable to get out of the way before the ball struck his shins and trickled over the line.
A nation of Sky TV viewers no doubt waited for Liverpool to fold, but at no point did there look a lack of faith in the manager, his style or his methods.
Instead, his players shrugged off this cruelest of set-backs to simply reassert their authority over a Leeds side who on this form have a long way to go to live up to their billing as title contenders.
Much of the impetus going forward centred around the irrepressible talents of Camara, whose pace was a constant thorn; his flicks leaving defender after defender chasing shadows.
Whereas in previous outings he has looked erratic and unpredictable, so last night he looked a world beater and richly deserved his strike which is another contender for goal of the season.
Employed playing mainly as a lone striker, the Guinea striker had been far and away Liverpool's most dangerous player when his skills spectacularly came together in first-half injury time.
Collecting a quickly taken free-kick from Redknapp, Camara's attempts to slip Berger past the last line of defence were denied by Radebe's out-stretched leg.
But when the ball spun back to the former Marseille striker, he curled a breathtaking, brilliant instinctive shot with his right-foot that beat Nigel Martyn and restored parity via the underside of the crossbar.
It was no more than Liverpool deserved with Gerrard embellishing his blossoming pedigree by helping Redknapp tip an intriguing midfield battle Liverpool's way and David Thompson, recalled for Steve Staunton as the Reds fgdgfdfgd`reverted to 4-4-2, producing his usual non-stop display.
Houllier pulled off a tactical masterstroke by allowing Redknapp a freer role while asking his younger protege to anchor hings in front of the back four which went on to make up for thier failure to deal with yet another set piece.
Had Houllier watched his charges go into the break in the lead no one could have argued as they chased and battled for everything like men possessed.
As it was, the Frenchman only had to wait until nine minutes after the interval before Lady Luck for once intervened on Liverpool's side.
Matteo's pass gave Berger the opportunity to cross from the left and although Radebe reached the centre momentarily ahead of Fowler, he only succeeded in diverting the ball past Martyn.
For once this season recipients of their just rewards, Berger and Camara threatened to add to the advantage with drives from 30-yards that caused Martyn problems.
Despite the introduction of Alan Smith and Eirik Bakke, Leeds continued to struggle to make any headway as Liverpool fought and scrapped like demons to overcome the odds that had been so heavily stacked against them.
A free header from Jonathan Woodgate apart, which thankfully landed in Westerveld's mid-riff, there was little real danger as Leeds were simply prevented from finding any sort of rhythm.
If anything, Liverpool looked more like a top four side. But that is still in many ways as unrealistic a target as the hyperbole and exaggeration that greeted the defeats against Watford and Middlesbrough has been wickedly premature.
All of the problems are not suddenly solved with a victory that after all leaves Liverpool with only Arsenal and Manchester United to face now.
But this morning the burden doesn't seem so great. And nor should it be.
In the end, the giant banner draped across the Liverpool following prior to kick-off summed up an evening where brave hearts and minds came out on top.
Loosely translated it read: The cosmopolitan conquerers.
Indeed they were.
LEEDS UNITED (4-4-2): Martyn, Mills, Radebe, Woodgate, Harte; Batty, Bowyer, Hopkin (Bakke 68), Kewell; Bridges (Smith 56), Huckerby. Subs: Kelly, Robinson, Duberry.
LIVERPOOL (4-4-2): Westerveld, Song, Hyypia, Carragher, Matteo; Thompson, Redknapp, Gerrard, Berger; Fowler, Camara. Subs: Staunton, Meijer, Friedel, Murphy, Traore.
REFEREE: David Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill)
BOOKINGS: Bowyer (foul 17), Mills (foul 31), Song (foul 75), Camara (foul 79)
ATTENDANCE: 39,703.
©Liverpool Daily Post & Echo 1999 | [email protected]
