Souness applies the pressure

Souness applies the pressure

from "Press Association"

Graeme Souness knows his best chance of being a League Championship-winning manager this season was staying at Scottish leaders Rangers, but his Liverpool team are putting the pressure on Arsenal.

His first match as an employee of Liverpool for seven years was a successful one, but the man that was given a standing ovation by their adoring fans is not used to anything else.

Souness, who earlier in the week rejoined the club with whom he won over a dozen top honours as a player, saw the new generation of Liverpool players destroy a team they are prone to struggle against.

In October Norwich ended Liverpool's one hundred percent record at their Carrow Road ground in a 1-1 draw.

But if Liverpool were to maintain a grip on the championship, a win was essential at this stage, and they delighted Souness by doing just that, and cutting Arsenal's lead to three points.

Imposing

It has been a memorable week for Liverpool. Their six year exile from European competition was ended by UEFA, which means they are likely to contest next season's UEFA Cup - or the European Cup if they can catch Arsenal.

Souness had asked for his men to "turn the screw on Arsenal", after imposing his own style of management immediately.

There was no place in the team for acting captain Glenn Hysen, the Swedish defender, Scottish international Steve Nicol was given the job.

John Barnes, who signed a new year-long contract while Ronnie Moran was in charge, scored the first goal of the Souness reign after half an hour. Barnes headed Steve Staunton's free kick past Bryan Gunn to capitalise on Liverpool's early pressure.

Five minutes later Ian Rush supplied the pass for Ray Houghton to turn in a second goal.

Norwich manager Dave Stringer surprisingly omitted England 'B' winger Dale Gordon from his team, prompting Gordon to say: "I came here expecting to play, and I am gutted. If it means the club is trying to bomb me out, so be it."

Stringer may have regretted this decision as he saw Norwich's best chances wasted. Tim Sherwood was one guilty player, his weak effort falling to Bruce Grobbelaar, back in the Liverpool goal after six weeks out with a wrist injury.

Proving some things never change at Anfield, their brand of neat compact football was on view throughout, and Ian Rush was on the scoresheet.

Rush's 85th-minute header was his 200th League goal and he could have notched number 300 in all if Gunn hadn't saved his injury-time shot.