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Liverpool hold their lines
Germany has had quite enough of all things Liverpool. Having seen their national team humiliated in Munich by a five-goal salvo made on Merseyside, Borussia Dortmund fans were denied any semblance of revenge last night by an obstinate Reds' defensive display.
This was reminiscent of the regimented Liverpool that claimed a goalless draw at Barcelona in last season's Uefa Cup. After eight games without a clean sheet the performance will have warmed the visitors' dug-out.
Predictably enough in the aftermath of England's win in Munich this game had been billed as a chance for Dortmund to restore some national pride. The fact that Michael Owen, Emile Heskey and Steven Gerrard, who shared the goals against Germany, all started for Liverpool merely made it an opportunity that could not be passed up.
Owen was the Germans' chief tormentor that night, scoring three and running rings round increasingly forlorn opponents. The England striker, currently contracted until 2003, anticipates signing a new deal at Anfield by the end of next week. That should double his wages to more than £70,000 a week and keep him on Merseyside until 2006.
"We've had two positive meetings and a deal is very close," he said. "I want to sign as soon as possible and I'd rather it didn't drag on. The next meeting should complete it and I don't anticipate any problems."
Dortmund surely did. Their centre-half Christian Worns was so traumatised by the 45 minutes he endured in the Olympic stadium that he considered retiring from international football having been withdrawn from that fray at the interval. He picked his chin up in time to face his nemesis again last night, although he was soon grateful for Stefan Reuter's cover after Owen left him floundering in his vapour trail.
That came after 11 minutes of tentative jousting, mainly in the home half, which left the German partisans gnashing their teeth in frustration as possession was repeatedly frittered away. When Jan Derek Sorensen found rare space down the right, his cross was too high for Jan Koller. Evanilson followed his lead moments later, forcing Jamie Carragher to nod the ball to safety.
Koller is little short of a freak, a man mountain whose aerial ability is matched by slick skills on the ground. Having eased his way into the contest, the Czech muscled his way between defenders to make his presence felt.
His marker Stéphane Henchoz responded with a legal challenge that left Koller in a heap, the earth shuddering and Matthias Sammer flapping wildly on the touchline. The Swiss defender was cautioned for a similar challenge seconds later, although it was his defensive partner Sami Hyypia who came closest to opening the scoring in a tepid first period.
John Arne Riise's in-swinging corner was flicked goalwards by the Finn but Evanilson blocked the effort on the line. Owen might have earned a penalty before the break but Reuter's tug went unnoticed.
Dortmund's domestic form has been as patchy as Liverpool's with their runaway start of four successive wins being followed by defeats against Bayern Munich and Schalke 04. The latter stung local pride but, the livewire Tomas Rosicky aside, their lack of creativity was evident again here.
Indeed they relied on Liverpool to create their own problems. When Gregory Vignal sliced his clearance across the six-yard box Henchoz headed against a post. When the outstanding Rosicky smashed a 25-yard shot on to the same upright with 20 minutes left, Dortmunders must have sensed it was not their night.
Liverpool appeared happiest soaking up pressure before seeking out Heskey and pelting upfield on the break to support him. But, when Heskey laid the ball off to Danny Murphy, the midfielder blazed over. Heskey was soon motoring away from Worns down the left but Owen could find no space to turn.
The last time Liverpool had visited this arena their 20,000 travelling supporters watched in gleeful disbelief as nine goals rippled the net and the Reds won May's Uefa Cup final against Alaves 5-4. With barely 500 making the trip last night, there was never any danger of such rich entertainment again.
Borussia Dortmund (3-4-3): Lehmann; Worns, Reuter, Kohler; Evanilson, Stevic, Rosicky, Dede; Sorensen (Ricken, 86min), Koller, Amoroso (Bobic, 87).
Liverpool (4-4-2): Dudek; Carragher, Henchoz, Hyypia, Vignal; Murphy, Gerrard, Hamann, Riise (McAllister, 75); Heskey, Owen.
Referee: V Ivanov (Russia).
Copyright - The Guardian
This was reminiscent of the regimented Liverpool that claimed a goalless draw at Barcelona in last season's Uefa Cup. After eight games without a clean sheet the performance will have warmed the visitors' dug-out.
Predictably enough in the aftermath of England's win in Munich this game had been billed as a chance for Dortmund to restore some national pride. The fact that Michael Owen, Emile Heskey and Steven Gerrard, who shared the goals against Germany, all started for Liverpool merely made it an opportunity that could not be passed up.
Owen was the Germans' chief tormentor that night, scoring three and running rings round increasingly forlorn opponents. The England striker, currently contracted until 2003, anticipates signing a new deal at Anfield by the end of next week. That should double his wages to more than £70,000 a week and keep him on Merseyside until 2006.
"We've had two positive meetings and a deal is very close," he said. "I want to sign as soon as possible and I'd rather it didn't drag on. The next meeting should complete it and I don't anticipate any problems."
Dortmund surely did. Their centre-half Christian Worns was so traumatised by the 45 minutes he endured in the Olympic stadium that he considered retiring from international football having been withdrawn from that fray at the interval. He picked his chin up in time to face his nemesis again last night, although he was soon grateful for Stefan Reuter's cover after Owen left him floundering in his vapour trail.
That came after 11 minutes of tentative jousting, mainly in the home half, which left the German partisans gnashing their teeth in frustration as possession was repeatedly frittered away. When Jan Derek Sorensen found rare space down the right, his cross was too high for Jan Koller. Evanilson followed his lead moments later, forcing Jamie Carragher to nod the ball to safety.
Koller is little short of a freak, a man mountain whose aerial ability is matched by slick skills on the ground. Having eased his way into the contest, the Czech muscled his way between defenders to make his presence felt.
His marker Stéphane Henchoz responded with a legal challenge that left Koller in a heap, the earth shuddering and Matthias Sammer flapping wildly on the touchline. The Swiss defender was cautioned for a similar challenge seconds later, although it was his defensive partner Sami Hyypia who came closest to opening the scoring in a tepid first period.
John Arne Riise's in-swinging corner was flicked goalwards by the Finn but Evanilson blocked the effort on the line. Owen might have earned a penalty before the break but Reuter's tug went unnoticed.
Dortmund's domestic form has been as patchy as Liverpool's with their runaway start of four successive wins being followed by defeats against Bayern Munich and Schalke 04. The latter stung local pride but, the livewire Tomas Rosicky aside, their lack of creativity was evident again here.
Indeed they relied on Liverpool to create their own problems. When Gregory Vignal sliced his clearance across the six-yard box Henchoz headed against a post. When the outstanding Rosicky smashed a 25-yard shot on to the same upright with 20 minutes left, Dortmunders must have sensed it was not their night.
Liverpool appeared happiest soaking up pressure before seeking out Heskey and pelting upfield on the break to support him. But, when Heskey laid the ball off to Danny Murphy, the midfielder blazed over. Heskey was soon motoring away from Worns down the left but Owen could find no space to turn.
The last time Liverpool had visited this arena their 20,000 travelling supporters watched in gleeful disbelief as nine goals rippled the net and the Reds won May's Uefa Cup final against Alaves 5-4. With barely 500 making the trip last night, there was never any danger of such rich entertainment again.
Borussia Dortmund (3-4-3): Lehmann; Worns, Reuter, Kohler; Evanilson, Stevic, Rosicky, Dede; Sorensen (Ricken, 86min), Koller, Amoroso (Bobic, 87).
Liverpool (4-4-2): Dudek; Carragher, Henchoz, Hyypia, Vignal; Murphy, Gerrard, Hamann, Riise (McAllister, 75); Heskey, Owen.
Referee: V Ivanov (Russia).
Copyright - The Guardian
