Articles
Various reports from Press Association, Liverpool Daily Post and The Times
Berger's King!
by John Curtis of "Press Association"
Patrik Berger came off the substitute's bench to score a dramatic double as Liverpool survived a testing first-half battle to cruise to an easy victory.
Berger, signed from Borussia Dortmund for £2.25 million in the summer, replaced the ineffective Stan Collymore at half-time.
The Czech international, one of the stars of Euro '96, needed just 14 minutes to become an instant hero with the The Reds travelling army of supporters.
He dispossessed Julian Watts and played a one-two with Steve McManaman before planting a left-footed drive past Kasey Keller.
Berger, whose only previous action was as a substitute against Southampton, could hardly contain his delight as he raced across to the fans.
But there was more to come 13 minutes from time when he unleashed another blockbusting shot past the helpless Keller after being released by Robbie Fowler.
Berger drifted effectively in and out of attack and midfield and has left Roy Evans with the kind of selection poser every manager dreams about.
He transformed Liverpool performance as Evans's side totally dominated the second 45 minutes with a mistake by Keller gifting Michael Thomas a goal either side of Berger's one-two blast.
But it had been a different story in the first-half with Leicester edging proceedings and again creating a favourable impression.
Emile Heskey had a golden chance to put Leicester ahead after only 35 seconds after Neil Lennon's cross had picked him out at the far post.
The England Under-21 player looked certain to score but sent his header back towards David James who was able to tip it over the bar.
The home side were forced to reshuffle after central defender Spencer Prior was substituted with a leg injury after a clash with Collymore.
That allowed Liverpool to enjoy a spell of control and Collymore fired high and wide when well placed in the area after Phil Babb had headed down a Stig Bjornebye centre.
John Barnes and Collymore then combined to create an opening for McManaman but his low shot was blocked by Keller.
But Leicester enjoyed their own period of dominance in the final third of the half with Scott Taylor and Mustafa Izzet impressing in midfield.
A cross from Taylor eluded James but Steve Claridge, at full stretch at the far post, could only send his header over the bar.
Simon Grayson then burst clear in the penalty area after a neat one-two with Izzet but he lost control as danger loomed for Liverpool and the ball ran harmlessly out of play.
But straight from the start of the second period Liverpool assumed control and the writing was on the wall before Berger took centre stage.
Keller will have nightmares about Thomas's goal as he allowed a 25-yard shot to slip from his grasp and trickle over the line.
Liverpool manager Roy Evans saluted new hero Patrik Berger and claimed: "I can't remember a more dramatic introduction by anyone to the game."
Evans said: "Berger made all the difference. His goals were delightful and it is always going to be difficult to pick him up with the positions he gets into."
"I can't remember anyone making such an impact -- apart possibly from Ian St John scoring two goals against Everton at Goodison Park as a youngster."
Evans admitted: "Robbie Fowler and Stan Collymore aren't as sharp as normal and things are not working out at the moment, but I'm sure it will in the long run."
Berger was unable to comment on his heroics as he had to catch a plane at six o'clock from Birmingham for the Czech Republic's midweek World Cup tie with Malta.
"He's gone off with his country -- but I bet he can't wait to get off the plane when he gets back later in the week after what happened today," said Evans.
Regarding being top of the table, the manager insisted: "You get nothing for it at this stage of the season."
"But it has been nice to come to places like Coventry and Leicester, where we have struggled and criticised for the way things have gone in the last few years, and win."
"In the past we've been caught by teams that people would expect us to be -- with no disrespect intended to those clubs. We've talked about it and are pleased things are coming right."
Leicester manager Martin O'Neill said: "We played well in the first half. Emile Heskey should have scored in the first minute."
"At this stage of our develop we need to be scoring first. We played well first-half but gave them two goals from nothing situations."
"But the disappointing thing is that after going 3-0 up we stopped chasing although Simon Grayson deserves credit for keeping going."
When asked about Berger's performance, O'Neill added: "He scored a splendid second goal. It's just unfortunate he is not playing in my team."
--
Berger King!
by Vic Gibson of "The Liverpool Daily Post"
Czech international Patrik Berger sent Liverpool soaring to the top of the Premiership after opening his goal account with two stunning strikes at Filbert Street.
Berger - a half-time replacement for an out-of-touch Stan Collymore - needed just 13 minutes to put the Reds on the road to a fourth successive win.
And he completed the rout 13 minutes from time by blasting a venomous strike past Leicester's American international keeper Kasey Keller.
There was just no stopping Berger - who dashed straight down the tunnel at the final whistle to catch a plane bound for Prague and his country's mid-week World Cup game against Malta.
The 3-0 scoreline - and the style of Liverpool's Berger-inspired second-half display - will have sent shockwaves through the rest of the Premiership, not least to those already insisting that the title will remain at Old Trafford.
Chelsea's subsequent failure to beat Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge left the Reds top of the pile for the first time since August 1994.
Michael Thomas had followed Berger's lead by firing his first goal of the season courtesy of a howler by Keller just two minutes after the super sub's opener.
Berger - making only his second Liverpool appearance - had turned the game on its head after a dreadful first half display by the visitors.
Collymore was not the only player in a red shirt to turn in a performance which suggested they had only just stepped off the plane back from Finland.
Just like the first 45 minutes against MyPa 47, there was a total lack of urgency and a general sloppiness in everything Liverpool did.
It almost cost them dear after only 36 seconds when 18-year-old Emile Heskey forced a flying tip-over from David James after being allowed a free header in front of goal.
Julian Watts sent a header looping agonisingly over the bar as Liverpool struggled to make any impression.
The Reds' lethargy called for some drastic action and some harsh words at half-time, which is exactly what manager, Roy Evans came up with.
Berger was introduced to play alongside McManaman in an arrow-head attack, which had Fowler at the apex.
The switch almost paid instant dividends, John Barnes' goal bound shot being inadvertently blocked by Simon Grayson.
But Liverpool were ahead soon after. McManaman dispossessed Watts as the Leicester defender tried to dribble out of the defence and slipped the ball to his left for Berger to lash past the helpless Keller.
The keeper was badly at fault though when Thomas' 20-yard volley from Stig Inge Bjornebye crept under his body Gary Sprake-style.
Berger's second goal was an even fiercer strike after Fowler's dummy allowed Jason McAteer's pass to reach him.
Leicester's misery was complete when Steve Claridge had a goal disallowed for offside six minutes from time as the game ended with the visiting fans celebrating Liverpool's rise to the top.
---
Liverpool savour quality of Berger
by David Maddock of "The Times"
CRITICS had begun to wonder idly before this game about a Liverpool forward line strangely lacking the appetite of last season. Where is the beef? They need not have bothered, because it was there all right against Leicester City, served up in the form of a Berger.
Patrik Berger, to be precise. The Czech Republic international helped his new club to the top of the FA Carling Premiership with a wonderful display of football's finer arts. Berger was only introduced as a half-time substitute, but he required no more than 45 minutes to destroy the home team with two excellent goals.
Roy Evans, the Liverpool manager, believes his £3.6 million midsummer signing from Borussia Dortmund will ultimately find his calling as an attacking midfield player. Here, he provided the movement and touch in the front line that has been missing so far this season.
"Patrik made a real impact and he has now given me a real headache after just a half because he is pushing so hard to start," he said. "I brought him on to make a tactical change. I wanted someone coming from deeper and he did everything I asked of him."
Between them, Collymore and Fowler scored 55 goals last season. You would not have guessed it in a first half of which Evans admitted he had become bored with the way his side had wasted so much possession. The lines of communication were not so much down, as ripped to pieces, and even the untutored eye can spot a suggestion of a problem between the pair.
Liverpool passed the ball around well enough in the first half, with a swagger even, after overcoming the distress of almost conceding a goal within 35 seconds of the kick-off. The penetration was lacking to such an extent, though, that Leicester had looked the better, more direct, team.
It was only the second appearance Berger had made for the first team, the first coming also as a second half-substitute last week, but he looked as though he had been there half his life, such was his instant rapport with McManaman, in particular, and Fowler.
With his flowing locks and elegant balance, Berger has the look of a thoroughbred. His second goal bore the hallmark of a player with a genuine athletic talent. His movement then reminded one of George Best, a haunting quality to his running as he ghosted past startled defenders.
It was a fine goal, delivered after 77 minutes to give the scoreline an emphatic look that Liverpool's second-half performance deserved. An intelligent back-heel from Fowler sent Berger gliding over the turf and he waltzed around the challenge of three defenders before drilling the ball into the corner of the net with a ferocious left-foot drive.
By then Leicester were dead and buried, undone by a succession of mistakes that will have to be eradicated quickly if they are to maintain a hold on their precious Premiership status. Two errors cost goals and a third was equally telling, Heskey finding James from point-blank range when the Liverpool goalkeeper's net was a far easier target. That came in the first minute and even then one sensed that the home side would be forced to pay for such profligacy.
Liverpool always appeared the more menacing and, when Berger arrived to give them more of an edge, they assumed control of the game. The Czech immediately had one shot blocked, but when a second chance came along in the 58th minute, he, unlike the Leicester defence, made no mistake.
Watts rashly tried to dribble the ball from defence but was robbed by Berger, who gave the ball to McManaman, made an angle for the return on the left of the penalty box and dispatched his left-foot shot into the near corner with slide-rule precision.
Three minutes later and another mistake cost another goal. Fowler dummied a Bjornebye cross from the left to allow Thomas a shooting opportunity. The 25-yard drive was crisp enough, but Keller should have done better than to allow the ball to squirm under his body.
To Leicester it was a painful lesson. "What hurts most is that they weren't brilliant goals, but gifts from us," Martin O'Neill, the manager, said. "We gave goals away and with Liverpool as a yardstick we have a long way to go."
For Liverpool, the immmediate future is brighter. They are top and in Berger have found a forward with the movement to give licence to their intelligent passing play. Collymore may be the one to stand down, with Evans hinting that he has tired of waiting for he and Fowler to recapture their understanding of last season.
by John Curtis of "Press Association"
Patrik Berger came off the substitute's bench to score a dramatic double as Liverpool survived a testing first-half battle to cruise to an easy victory.
Berger, signed from Borussia Dortmund for £2.25 million in the summer, replaced the ineffective Stan Collymore at half-time.
The Czech international, one of the stars of Euro '96, needed just 14 minutes to become an instant hero with the The Reds travelling army of supporters.
He dispossessed Julian Watts and played a one-two with Steve McManaman before planting a left-footed drive past Kasey Keller.
Berger, whose only previous action was as a substitute against Southampton, could hardly contain his delight as he raced across to the fans.
But there was more to come 13 minutes from time when he unleashed another blockbusting shot past the helpless Keller after being released by Robbie Fowler.
Berger drifted effectively in and out of attack and midfield and has left Roy Evans with the kind of selection poser every manager dreams about.
He transformed Liverpool performance as Evans's side totally dominated the second 45 minutes with a mistake by Keller gifting Michael Thomas a goal either side of Berger's one-two blast.
But it had been a different story in the first-half with Leicester edging proceedings and again creating a favourable impression.
Emile Heskey had a golden chance to put Leicester ahead after only 35 seconds after Neil Lennon's cross had picked him out at the far post.
The England Under-21 player looked certain to score but sent his header back towards David James who was able to tip it over the bar.
The home side were forced to reshuffle after central defender Spencer Prior was substituted with a leg injury after a clash with Collymore.
That allowed Liverpool to enjoy a spell of control and Collymore fired high and wide when well placed in the area after Phil Babb had headed down a Stig Bjornebye centre.
John Barnes and Collymore then combined to create an opening for McManaman but his low shot was blocked by Keller.
But Leicester enjoyed their own period of dominance in the final third of the half with Scott Taylor and Mustafa Izzet impressing in midfield.
A cross from Taylor eluded James but Steve Claridge, at full stretch at the far post, could only send his header over the bar.
Simon Grayson then burst clear in the penalty area after a neat one-two with Izzet but he lost control as danger loomed for Liverpool and the ball ran harmlessly out of play.
But straight from the start of the second period Liverpool assumed control and the writing was on the wall before Berger took centre stage.
Keller will have nightmares about Thomas's goal as he allowed a 25-yard shot to slip from his grasp and trickle over the line.
Liverpool manager Roy Evans saluted new hero Patrik Berger and claimed: "I can't remember a more dramatic introduction by anyone to the game."
Evans said: "Berger made all the difference. His goals were delightful and it is always going to be difficult to pick him up with the positions he gets into."
"I can't remember anyone making such an impact -- apart possibly from Ian St John scoring two goals against Everton at Goodison Park as a youngster."
Evans admitted: "Robbie Fowler and Stan Collymore aren't as sharp as normal and things are not working out at the moment, but I'm sure it will in the long run."
Berger was unable to comment on his heroics as he had to catch a plane at six o'clock from Birmingham for the Czech Republic's midweek World Cup tie with Malta.
"He's gone off with his country -- but I bet he can't wait to get off the plane when he gets back later in the week after what happened today," said Evans.
Regarding being top of the table, the manager insisted: "You get nothing for it at this stage of the season."
"But it has been nice to come to places like Coventry and Leicester, where we have struggled and criticised for the way things have gone in the last few years, and win."
"In the past we've been caught by teams that people would expect us to be -- with no disrespect intended to those clubs. We've talked about it and are pleased things are coming right."
Leicester manager Martin O'Neill said: "We played well in the first half. Emile Heskey should have scored in the first minute."
"At this stage of our develop we need to be scoring first. We played well first-half but gave them two goals from nothing situations."
"But the disappointing thing is that after going 3-0 up we stopped chasing although Simon Grayson deserves credit for keeping going."
When asked about Berger's performance, O'Neill added: "He scored a splendid second goal. It's just unfortunate he is not playing in my team."
--
Berger King!
by Vic Gibson of "The Liverpool Daily Post"
Czech international Patrik Berger sent Liverpool soaring to the top of the Premiership after opening his goal account with two stunning strikes at Filbert Street.
Berger - a half-time replacement for an out-of-touch Stan Collymore - needed just 13 minutes to put the Reds on the road to a fourth successive win.
And he completed the rout 13 minutes from time by blasting a venomous strike past Leicester's American international keeper Kasey Keller.
There was just no stopping Berger - who dashed straight down the tunnel at the final whistle to catch a plane bound for Prague and his country's mid-week World Cup game against Malta.
The 3-0 scoreline - and the style of Liverpool's Berger-inspired second-half display - will have sent shockwaves through the rest of the Premiership, not least to those already insisting that the title will remain at Old Trafford.
Chelsea's subsequent failure to beat Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge left the Reds top of the pile for the first time since August 1994.
Michael Thomas had followed Berger's lead by firing his first goal of the season courtesy of a howler by Keller just two minutes after the super sub's opener.
Berger - making only his second Liverpool appearance - had turned the game on its head after a dreadful first half display by the visitors.
Collymore was not the only player in a red shirt to turn in a performance which suggested they had only just stepped off the plane back from Finland.
Just like the first 45 minutes against MyPa 47, there was a total lack of urgency and a general sloppiness in everything Liverpool did.
It almost cost them dear after only 36 seconds when 18-year-old Emile Heskey forced a flying tip-over from David James after being allowed a free header in front of goal.
Julian Watts sent a header looping agonisingly over the bar as Liverpool struggled to make any impression.
The Reds' lethargy called for some drastic action and some harsh words at half-time, which is exactly what manager, Roy Evans came up with.
Berger was introduced to play alongside McManaman in an arrow-head attack, which had Fowler at the apex.
The switch almost paid instant dividends, John Barnes' goal bound shot being inadvertently blocked by Simon Grayson.
But Liverpool were ahead soon after. McManaman dispossessed Watts as the Leicester defender tried to dribble out of the defence and slipped the ball to his left for Berger to lash past the helpless Keller.
The keeper was badly at fault though when Thomas' 20-yard volley from Stig Inge Bjornebye crept under his body Gary Sprake-style.
Berger's second goal was an even fiercer strike after Fowler's dummy allowed Jason McAteer's pass to reach him.
Leicester's misery was complete when Steve Claridge had a goal disallowed for offside six minutes from time as the game ended with the visiting fans celebrating Liverpool's rise to the top.
---
Liverpool savour quality of Berger
by David Maddock of "The Times"
CRITICS had begun to wonder idly before this game about a Liverpool forward line strangely lacking the appetite of last season. Where is the beef? They need not have bothered, because it was there all right against Leicester City, served up in the form of a Berger.
Patrik Berger, to be precise. The Czech Republic international helped his new club to the top of the FA Carling Premiership with a wonderful display of football's finer arts. Berger was only introduced as a half-time substitute, but he required no more than 45 minutes to destroy the home team with two excellent goals.
Roy Evans, the Liverpool manager, believes his £3.6 million midsummer signing from Borussia Dortmund will ultimately find his calling as an attacking midfield player. Here, he provided the movement and touch in the front line that has been missing so far this season.
"Patrik made a real impact and he has now given me a real headache after just a half because he is pushing so hard to start," he said. "I brought him on to make a tactical change. I wanted someone coming from deeper and he did everything I asked of him."
Between them, Collymore and Fowler scored 55 goals last season. You would not have guessed it in a first half of which Evans admitted he had become bored with the way his side had wasted so much possession. The lines of communication were not so much down, as ripped to pieces, and even the untutored eye can spot a suggestion of a problem between the pair.
Liverpool passed the ball around well enough in the first half, with a swagger even, after overcoming the distress of almost conceding a goal within 35 seconds of the kick-off. The penetration was lacking to such an extent, though, that Leicester had looked the better, more direct, team.
It was only the second appearance Berger had made for the first team, the first coming also as a second half-substitute last week, but he looked as though he had been there half his life, such was his instant rapport with McManaman, in particular, and Fowler.
With his flowing locks and elegant balance, Berger has the look of a thoroughbred. His second goal bore the hallmark of a player with a genuine athletic talent. His movement then reminded one of George Best, a haunting quality to his running as he ghosted past startled defenders.
It was a fine goal, delivered after 77 minutes to give the scoreline an emphatic look that Liverpool's second-half performance deserved. An intelligent back-heel from Fowler sent Berger gliding over the turf and he waltzed around the challenge of three defenders before drilling the ball into the corner of the net with a ferocious left-foot drive.
By then Leicester were dead and buried, undone by a succession of mistakes that will have to be eradicated quickly if they are to maintain a hold on their precious Premiership status. Two errors cost goals and a third was equally telling, Heskey finding James from point-blank range when the Liverpool goalkeeper's net was a far easier target. That came in the first minute and even then one sensed that the home side would be forced to pay for such profligacy.
Liverpool always appeared the more menacing and, when Berger arrived to give them more of an edge, they assumed control of the game. The Czech immediately had one shot blocked, but when a second chance came along in the 58th minute, he, unlike the Leicester defence, made no mistake.
Watts rashly tried to dribble the ball from defence but was robbed by Berger, who gave the ball to McManaman, made an angle for the return on the left of the penalty box and dispatched his left-foot shot into the near corner with slide-rule precision.
Three minutes later and another mistake cost another goal. Fowler dummied a Bjornebye cross from the left to allow Thomas a shooting opportunity. The 25-yard drive was crisp enough, but Keller should have done better than to allow the ball to squirm under his body.
To Leicester it was a painful lesson. "What hurts most is that they weren't brilliant goals, but gifts from us," Martin O'Neill, the manager, said. "We gave goals away and with Liverpool as a yardstick we have a long way to go."
For Liverpool, the immmediate future is brighter. They are top and in Berger have found a forward with the movement to give licence to their intelligent passing play. Collymore may be the one to stand down, with Evans hinting that he has tired of waiting for he and Fowler to recapture their understanding of last season.
