Liverpool Daily Post report

IT was apt that the hordes of Liverpool supporters should offer such a public appreciation of Gerard Houllier at a ground which shares its name with the one ingredient he has already restored to their club.

With all the gusto normally reserved for a blast at David Beckham, they sang, clapped, chanted and cheered like never before. Over and over and over again until he was forced to wave back meekly in submission.

It was a defining moment in a season which more and more makes yearning for the middle of May an attractive prospect, regardless of what the next nine games hold, if only so the middle of August and a new campaign will arrive that bit quicker.

If the noisy fanfare for a man in whom supporters have implicit faith was more akin to the sort of spontaneous acclaim which pours forth during a lap of honour rather than a comfortable away win at struggling Derby County, it merely succeeded to underline how times are changing.

Re-runs of Liverpool's nightmare-inducing previous visits to Pride Park were repeatedly played beforehand on the television screens dotted around the stadium. Gaping holes in the defence! Michael Thomas and Bjorn Tore Kvarme in red shirts! Paulo Wanchope scoring!

But at the same time the pictures provided a succinct insight into just what 'Gerard, Gerard Houllier' has achieved in little over a year.

"Last year we were absolutely hopeless," he said, momentarily reflecting upon the shambolic performance virtually 12 months to the day that handed Derby victory to help their challange for Europe.

"I was telling Phil Thompson before the game that there were a couple of places we went last season and I left the ground ashamed of myself and of my team."

There was little prospect, however, of another horror show unfolding despite Giorgi Kinkladze's seventh-minute penetrating run which ended with his shot shaving the outside of Sander Westerveld's post. Portrayed as the villain in midweek primarily for his penalty miss, Michael Owen demonstrated once again he is at his most dangerous when his small army of doubters believe they have at last spotted a chink in his armour.

It was ironic that having stuttered into a Champions League spot following a glut of missed chances, this time the merest hint of an opening ultimately enabled Liverpool to strengthen their hand in third place.

But then the ability to turn a half-chance into a stunning goal is the one quality separating Owen from many of his contemporaries.

Sami Hyypia - surely in the running for Footballer of the Year - played another precision pass, rather than simply a long ball, out of defence which Owen killed in an instant.

He turned, looked up, discovered Jacob Laursen fatally standing a yard off him and in a blur shimmied past to strike an expertly angled shot across Derby goalkeeper Mart Poom and into the corner of the net.

Owen's reaction said it all.

He could - perhaps should - have had Messrs Vialli and Wenger breaking out in a cold sweat by going on to claim a hat-trick.

Poom denied him with an excellent save shortly afterwards after Emile Heskey's flick from Westerveld's kick had ushered his partner beyond a statuesque rearguard, another effort curled just over the crossbar and then he showed one or two layers of rust still remain following his lay-off by slicing horribly wide when clear again after the break.

All in all, Owen's display was everything Houllier and his team-mates will have wanted and could have expected it to be. There was a swagger back in his performance and a pace about his game, as he intelligently darted in and out the shadows to leave his markers just about screaming for mercy when his afternoon was brought to its now anticipated early conclusion after 71 minutes.

Alongside him, Heskey was altogether more subdued; offering the occasional glimpse of his power and again contriving to produce his best work on the flanks.

It remains inconceivable, but sadly a symptom of modern-day football, that there are those already willing to challenge the wisdom of recruiting him.

The doubters should look upon it as a bonus that Heskey is here now, bedding into a new working environment and able to play a part in the the run-in to this season. By the time next term is here, Houllier and his coaching staff will have started smoothing down the rough edges and started applying the polish to his undoubted attributes. Only then will it be time to judge Heskey.

In the event, Liverpool's stranglehold on proceedings following Owen's strike meant they rarely had to hit the heights.

The immaculate Stephane Henchoz and Hyypia, ably supported by Dominic Matteo and Jamie Carragher, presumably left Westerveld wondering why he had even bothered to emerge for the second-half such was the calming influence they exuded if ever Derby threatened.

The professionalism continued in front of them where Thompson, Hamann, Gerrard and Berger ran around like wide-jawed Alsatians, usually snapping at Kinkladze's heels, and ensured the lead never looked likely to be thrown away.

So comfortable were they, in fact, a grain of complacency appeared to spread into the play with a succession of opportunities to launch counter-attacks fizzling out disappointingly before Poom was called upon to make a save. But dwelling on that would be hyper-critical.

As an omen for the rest of the season, it is no bad thing Liverpool's remaining fixture programme is heavily weighted with away trips sparing them the pressure and the tetchy impatience of a packed Anfield gallery.

Under-used recently, Titi Camara, on for Owen, sealed all three points when he gathered an astute pass from the ever-improving Matteo, danced around Steve Elliott and prodded home with six minutes left.

It was the perfect end to a perfect day, if , if perhaps not the perfect performance. Houllier left with plaudits ringing in his ears and safe in the knowledge he can sleep easy. "Ashamed" is is one emotion he is unlikely to feel again.

Derby County (3-5-2): Poom; Elliott, Carbonari (Schnoor 78), Laursen; Delap, Eranio, Powell (Sturridge 84), Kinkladze, Johnson; Strupar, Christie.

Subs: Oakes, Prior, Robinson.

Liverpool (4-4-2): Westerveld; Carragher, Hyypia, Henchoz, Matteo; Thompson, Gerrard, Hamann, Berger; Owen (Camara 71), Heskey (Redknapp 87).

Subs: Friedel, Staunton, Meijer.

Referee: Barry Knight (Kent)

Bookings: Carbonari (foul 44), Elliott (foul 83)

© Liverpool Daily Post & Echo