Reds disappointed by point

SIR ALEX Ferguson may not be humble enough to admit it, but Liverpool left Old Trafford on Saturday unfortunate not to take three points.

There is considerable frustration in the ranks they didn’t, but this merely underlines the progress which the club is making. For the first 45 minutes of this game Liverpool dominated the play, and even when United did lift their tempo in the second half, the Reds missed two clear chances to take a deserved victory.

One can only put Ferguson’s childish "only we tried to win" outburst at the end of the game to the annoyance he felt at being tactically frustrated and seeing his side largely outplayed.

His disgust that Liverpool didn’t allow his side to win should be taken as the greatest of compliments by Gerard Houllier.

Indeed, if a "defensive" Liverpool team managed to cut through United’s defence so often, what does that say about United’s back four?

Liverpool began in almost identical fashion to that which had served them well at Highbury three weeks earlier.

Sami Hyypia and Stephane Henchoz make defending seem ridiculously easy at times, and their dominance in those early stages – ably protected by the outstanding Jamie Carragher – allowed the running of Camara, Berger and Hamann to regularly threaten a vulnerable United defence.

Liverpool were much the better team when Berger belted his 30-yard trademark free-kick beyond Raimond Van der Gouw midway through the half.

But the next 15 minutes proved crucial. Berger’s header from a Song cross and Jaap Stam’s block on Camara’s goalbound effort denied a second as Liverpool – defensive Liverpool indeed! – pinned United further and further back. Sander Westerveld had nothing to do for the first 45 minutes.

Then came one of those moments which the manager simply can’t legislate for. Ole Solksjaer’s late tackle on Hyypia – described somewhat ludicrously as "Hyypia accidentally kicking Solskjaer’s leg" by one commentator at the weekend – ultimately forced the skipper out of the action.

The decision to play on without him until half-time was understandable but very risky. In the end, the risk didn’t pay-off and the anger of the Liverpool players when Solksjaer provided the heaviest punishment was all too apparent. He took the goal like a natural, though.

It was ironic and cruel on a Liverpool side who deserved more than a one goal lead and could scarcely believe they were now forced to start all over again.

There’s no doubt United took a thunderbolt from their manager at half-time because they re-appeared showing more urgency and threat.

The tactics, however, should there be any doubt, were almost exclusively to pump as many high balls and crosses into the Liverpool box as possible.

Nothing wrong with that, and the calibre of crosses by Beckham are more often than not sensational. It’s called playing to your strengths and trying to expose the opposition’s perceived weakness. It is at times, however, no more than route one football.

Liverpool managed to survive the aerial bombardment, although there were one or two hairy moments at the back without the calming influence of the Finn to control matters.

Carragher – who had now moved back into defence – was also alert to clear a Solksjaer shot off the line following Giggs’ wonderful pass.

At the other end, Liverpool were less controlled going forward as they had been in the opening stages, but they still carved through a defence which at times looked like it was Jaap Stam versus the rest.

Camara sent the ever-improving Smicer clean through on 66 minutes, but Van der Gouw saved well.
But the best chance of all came when substitute Michael Owen accepted Danny Murphy’s perfect pass only to see his shot agonisingly swerve wide. It was the chance he’d been waiting for and it could have made it a memorable afternoon. But at least he’s back.

As the clock moved forward, there was almost a psychological trauma about the prospect of the added time sign appearing. When the number "3" appeared, it was inevitable that United would create at least one more clear chance as Liverpool started, for the first time, to settle for a draw.
How Sheringham missed in the second minute of injury time only he can explain, but credit to Carragher again for a clearance that should banish the memories of Anfield last September.

Perhaps Liverpool’s relief that they survived second-half injury-time dictated Ferguson’s bizarre interpretation of what happened in the previous 90 minutes.

A draw was an excellent result, and although United can highlight Sheringham’s miss, had they won it would have been an even greater injustice than last year’s cup win.

Liverpool must take a great deal from this game. To make the point really count and regain that third place, however, they must reinforce their growing stature in the forthcoming home games.

Giant strides have been made in the last three league games and the belief has now returned that Liverpool are back fighting with the big boys. So much so that draws at Old Trafford are tinged with some regret about what might have been.

It is also worth highlighting that although it’s good fun to mock Fergie’s rantings, the United boss also had some words of praise for Houllier and his side after the match which it would be unfair to ignore – even if it didn’t refer to Saturday’s game. Fergie acknowledged Houllier is a class act and sees Liverpool as a re-emerging force in English football.

Praise from Sir Alex Ferguson? That is indeed some result.

Liverpool: Westerveld, Heggem (sub Song 17), Hyypia (sub Murphy 45), Henchoz; Berger, Hamann, Carragher, Smicer; Camara (sub Owen 76), Meijer. Not used: Nielsen, Staunton

Manchester United: Van der Gouw, G. Neville, Stam, Silvestre, Irwin; Giggs, Keane, Butt, Beckham, Solksjaer (sub Cole), Yorke (sub Sheringham 85). Not used: Bosnich, Berg, P. Neville.

Ref Watch: Dermot Gallacher (Banbury): Missed the Solskjaer foul and gave United plenty of strange free-kicks in dangerous areas. But overall in keeping with the more intelligent refeering of recent weeks.

Bookings: Keane (foul)

Star man: Dietmar Hamann.

© Liverpool Daily Post & Echo