Articles
Owen saves Liverpool blushes
Dominic Fifield in Ljubljana
Michael Owen made history here last night but that was about the only aspect of Liverpool's evening to follow the anticipated script. A tie that should have been a formality has turned into something of an ordeal.
The England striker's 21st goal in continental competition, a header guided via his shoulder beyond the valiant Borut Mavric from John-Arne Riise's centre 12 minutes from time, broke Ian Rush's club record. More significantly it spared the visitors' blushes.
Rarely in Owen's 45 European appearances can Liverpool have been so sluggish and downright unimpressive.
If Gérard Houllier's side do recover their poise to claim a record fourth Uefa Cup next May, unlikely as that will seem today, it should never be forgotten that their passage to Gothenburg began with such a listless display in Slovenia.
For the moment the second round must remain the height of their ambitions and, with an away goal plundered, progress should be ensured at Anfield in a fortnight's time.
"They surprised my players but not me," said Houllier, whose praise for Olimpija's display masked concerns at the lack of rhythm in his own side. "In the back of their minds maybe they thought they were going to win but no tie is easy.
"That was a match of their lives for the Slovenians and they gave everything they had. But it's still a good result."
Yet for 11 minutes Liverpool had flirted with humiliation. With the visitors desperately trying to rouse themselves after a lethargic first-half performance, Jalen Pokorn wriggled away from Steven Gerrard midway through the second and fed Nedim Jusufbegovic. The busy midfielder, allowed to maraud across the area, battered a shot beyond Jerzy Dudek and on to the far post with Anton Zlogar thumping in the rebound.
The goal sent the home crowd into a state of delirium and the lead was no more than Olimpija deserved. So shoddy had Liverpool been through the first period - their play inexplicably sloppy on a testing surface - that the nearest they had come to forging a lead themselves had been Mavric's sliced clearance from a Branko Ilic back-pass which spun marginally wide of a post.
That Liverpool mustered little else was damning. Only when Gerrard, a 14th-minute replacement for Danny Murphy who retreated scowling to the bench with a dead leg, emerged from the huff and puff to drive the visitors forward did Liverpool whip up belated urgency.
Once goals had been traded, Gerrard was denied a winner by the home goalkeeper, though Liverpool would have been flattered by victory. "It's a good result away from home, a result that puts us in a good position to qualify," added Houllier. "We'll make sure we do a proper job at Anfield."
Thanks to Owen, Liverpool breathe again.
Copyright - The Guardian
Michael Owen made history here last night but that was about the only aspect of Liverpool's evening to follow the anticipated script. A tie that should have been a formality has turned into something of an ordeal.
The England striker's 21st goal in continental competition, a header guided via his shoulder beyond the valiant Borut Mavric from John-Arne Riise's centre 12 minutes from time, broke Ian Rush's club record. More significantly it spared the visitors' blushes.
Rarely in Owen's 45 European appearances can Liverpool have been so sluggish and downright unimpressive.
If Gérard Houllier's side do recover their poise to claim a record fourth Uefa Cup next May, unlikely as that will seem today, it should never be forgotten that their passage to Gothenburg began with such a listless display in Slovenia.
For the moment the second round must remain the height of their ambitions and, with an away goal plundered, progress should be ensured at Anfield in a fortnight's time.
"They surprised my players but not me," said Houllier, whose praise for Olimpija's display masked concerns at the lack of rhythm in his own side. "In the back of their minds maybe they thought they were going to win but no tie is easy.
"That was a match of their lives for the Slovenians and they gave everything they had. But it's still a good result."
Yet for 11 minutes Liverpool had flirted with humiliation. With the visitors desperately trying to rouse themselves after a lethargic first-half performance, Jalen Pokorn wriggled away from Steven Gerrard midway through the second and fed Nedim Jusufbegovic. The busy midfielder, allowed to maraud across the area, battered a shot beyond Jerzy Dudek and on to the far post with Anton Zlogar thumping in the rebound.
The goal sent the home crowd into a state of delirium and the lead was no more than Olimpija deserved. So shoddy had Liverpool been through the first period - their play inexplicably sloppy on a testing surface - that the nearest they had come to forging a lead themselves had been Mavric's sliced clearance from a Branko Ilic back-pass which spun marginally wide of a post.
That Liverpool mustered little else was damning. Only when Gerrard, a 14th-minute replacement for Danny Murphy who retreated scowling to the bench with a dead leg, emerged from the huff and puff to drive the visitors forward did Liverpool whip up belated urgency.
Once goals had been traded, Gerrard was denied a winner by the home goalkeeper, though Liverpool would have been flattered by victory. "It's a good result away from home, a result that puts us in a good position to qualify," added Houllier. "We'll make sure we do a proper job at Anfield."
Thanks to Owen, Liverpool breathe again.
Copyright - The Guardian
