Liverpool Daily Post report

IF it's not one thing, it's another. Having watched his players thrive in the face of supposed adversity, so Gerard Houllier now finds himself confronted by another weighty problem. And one which he may discover has got him beat.

All season he has been doing his level best to keep a lid on expectations and maintaining a place in the Champions' League is an unrealistic target for a club in the throes of transition.

Houllier was singing from a familiar hymn sheet as he basked in the afterglow of an impressive victory over Leeds United and delivered his latest sermon.

"We mustn't get carried away and we have got to stay very humble," he pleaded, before trying to insist, "Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Leeds are probably at times better sides than us."
Trouble is, it is becoming increasingly difficult to view a top three finish as simply just a pipedream, even if common sense says it should be.

If, as it is frequently accused of doing, the league table never lies then Liverpool's season may yet reap a richer reward than most expected.

If there is a frustration attached to the manner in which Liverpool applied a telling blow to Leeds' own hopes of out-stripping their pre-campaign expectations, then it comes with wondering exactly what the state of play would be had injuries not plagued Houllier's squad.

To be level on points with third-placed Arsenal given the run of bad luck they have been forced to endure, truly is a quite remarkable feat.

As unlikely as it sounds, however, the absence of Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen seemed to almost work in Liverpool's favour on Saturday. The odds were not just stacked, but piled, against them and it prompted a seige mentality.

It was a test of resources, yes, but more than that, a test of character.

They passed both, demonstrating in the process commendable spirit and heart two qualities as important as the need for depth in the modern-day squad.

Leeds, unnecessarily petulant, a trait typified by the sublimely talented Harry Kewell who seemed intent on undermining his own skills by constantly bitching to whoever was in ear-shot, were never allowed to settle. The cracks in their armour, evident in recent weeks, were teased a little wider by the sheer enthusiasm, rather than flowing football, Liverpool produced.

The source of much of their angst came from Steven Gerrard, who grows in stature with every appearance in a red shirt. Against the side widely regarded to be filled with some of best young hopefuls in the country, he shone brightest of all.

Currently the heartbeat of the team at just 19, Gerrard, whose impending elevation to the England squad is much deserved, was outstanding.

He patrols the midfield like a young Roy Keane, but arguably better than the Manchester United skipper was at the same age. They even share the occasional moment of recklessness and his unnecessary lunge at Lee Bowyer ensured the booking which means he will now be suspended for the trip to Old Trafford next month.

Shame that. Keane versus Gerrard - master versus apprentice would have been some battle.

While his hunger to win back the ball has always been evident, it was his distribution that excelled as he mixed up his passes to keep Leeds on the back-foot. One first-time, crossfield ball covered some 50-yards and ended with Erik Meijer flashing a volley just wide simply irresistible.

As the infuriatingly inconsistent Mike Reed signalled full-time, it was no surprise to find Gerrard, who had run for miles, prostrate on the turf suffering from cramp.

Asked about the prodigy afterwards, Houllier just laughed. No words were needed. Perhaps he was already mulling over what happens when Jamie Redknapp returns from his spell on the sidelines.

Had the youngster managed to score, it would have been close to the perfect performance. As it was, his midfield partners were able supply the perfect antidote to those well-documented striking deficiencies.

Dietmar Hamann's Anfield career has started at a fairly genteel pace, although his role in allowing Gerrard to express himself should not be under-estimated.

His ability to pick-off opposition passes was on this occasion complimented by his first goal for the club which will hopefully boost his confidence over the coming weeks.

It came on 19-minutes after Vladimir Smicer had been tripped by Jason Wilcox, a 25-yard free-kick taking a deflection off Jonathon Woodgate and whizzing past Nigel Martyn.

But having legitimately wondered from what source a goal would come beforehand, typically, the euphoria that greeted its arrival was quickly lost amid the need for a second.

As an enthralling match ebbed back and forth Kewell and Boweyer went close while Gerrard, the effervescent Patrik Berger and Dominic Matteo all squandered opportunities.

Smicer elected to pass when a shot was the only option, and Martyn conspired to keep everything else out and thus Leeds in touch.


In many ways, David O'Leary's side were the right opposition for Liverpool to face; their cavalier attitude far more suitable than Middlesbrough's defend-at-all-costs philosophy two weeks previous. In addition, the experience of Lucas Radebe and David Batty was missing, plus the guile of leading scorer Michael Bridges surprisingly left kicking his heels until the momentum had long been lost.

Without him, Leeds' threat was sporadic. Liverpool were cut open just once and that was enough to bring an equaliser.

Ian Harte fed Stephen McPhail, whose neat touch sent the over-lapping Jason Wilcox scampering down the right and he stood up a cross to the far post which Bowyer showed great agility in sending a stooping header past the wrong-footed Sander Westerveld.

The 62nd minute strike may not have appeared as stunning as those Leeds conceeded, but in its own way was every bit as good.

At times in the not too distant past the blow of letting the lead slip would have induced panic and anxiety in the Liverpool ranks. Now it flushes out every last ounce of disciplined effort.

"Even after the equaliser the team looked as if they wanted to go back onto the attack," boasted Houllier.

For seven brief minutes the outcome hung in the balance before Berger, whose unselfish running and distribution rivalled that of Gerrard, spectacularly reclaimed the initiative.

Having been twice previously denied by Martyn, he collected a pass from Smicer who had cleverly evaded the attentions of Wilcox and unleashed an unstoppable drive from 25-yards which pierced the net in a blur.

Westerveld, having charged out of his goal to join in the celebrations, produced a smart fingertip save from Kewell immediately after, but it was Liverpool's day.

Substitute Danny Murphy offered confirmation of that -�and Houllier's uncanny ability of ensuring his replacements always bring something positive � by sealing victory with an equally impressive drive after reacting first to Michael Duberry's header in injury time.

The goal ensured the reverse scoreline of the corresponding fixture last season which marked the dawning of a new era. The progress since Houllier's

first game in sole charge has been immense. He is certainly ahead of schedule.

It is a measure of the hope, as the anthem demands, Liverpool supporters currently hold in their hearts that the Frenchman's post-match admission that this victory has inadvertantly tightened Manchester United's grip on the Premiership crown failed to scratch any of the gloss off the performance.

United can wait, for a few weeks at least.

Bring on Arsenal. Liverpool (4-4-2): Westerveld, Carragher, Henchoz, Hyypia, Matteo; Smicer, Hamann, Gerrard, Berger; Camara (Murphy 72), Meijer. Subs: Nielsen, Newby, Staunton, Heggem.

Leeds United (4-4-2): Martyn, Kelly, Duberry, Woodgate, Harte; Bowyer, Bakke, McPhail (Huckerby 76), Wilcox; Kewell, Smith (Bridges 76). Subs: Robinson, Mills, Jones.

Referee: Mike Reed (Birmingham)

Bookings: Hamann (foul 16), Gerrard (foul 33), Harte (foul 45), Duberry (foul 55), Smith (foul 66)

© Liverpool Daily Post & Echo