Tony Coton came off second best, as he has so often against Ian Rush, and then spoke of Manchester City's urgent requirement to put safety first.
The defiant goalkeeper kept Liverpool waiting for victory at Anfield until Rush, who else, just 30 seconds into time added by referee Roger Milford to a completely one-sided 90 minutes. The build-up to that winner was a bone of contention. City manager Brian Horton tried to debate it with Mr Milford at the final whistle and had to be restrained by his assistant, David Moss. The City complaint was that Julian Dicks should have been penalised for a two-footed tackle on Kare Ingebrigsten.
Seconds later Liverpool were given a free-kick for Michel Vonk's foul on Nigel Clough, who picked himself up and rolled the ball across for Dicks to take the kick yards away from where the offence occurred. Dicks sent it across to Rob Jones, who exchanged passes with Steve McManaman, swept into the penalty area and crossed for Rush to leap and power in his header at the far post. The referee said he saw it all and insisted his decisions were correct.
It was hard on Coton, who pulled off a series of saves and earned the tribute from Liverpool manager Graeme Souness that `he is arguably the best around at the moment.' It was, as Horton conceded, just what the rest of the City team deserved. "If we play like we did in the first half we will be relegated," he said. He would have found few arguments if he had extended that to the whole game.
City, now in the bottom three, have horrendous problems. They still await the final settlement of the Francis Lee takeover. They have a pile of injuries and Horton has to play men out of position in a makeshift line-up. "Tell us about them," Liverpool could well be excused for saying with some irony. There wasn't much sympathy for City at Anfield.
Rush certainly didn't show any. He pounced for the equaliser - after Carl Griffiths' fourth-minute opener - in the 23rd minute when Coton pushed aside a low drive from Jamie Redknapp. He joyfully completed the victory just when City thought they had made their point. Rush has scored five goals in the last four meetings with Coton and City. "He's the scourge of me. He's probably the most prolific against me of all strikers," said Coton.
In 18 confrontations when on duty for Birmingham, Watford and City, Coton has conceded 15 goals to Rush. "I treasure the clean sheets," he added - and he has managed six.
Clearly Coton believes City have to be as determined and professional as Rush, who maintained his desire and concentration right to the end. He said: "Hopefully, after the boardroom things get sorted out the manager can go and use his cheque book. A fresh face gives everyone a lift." City need a few fresh faces.
Liverpool are still not singing the old harmonies. All their problems have not disappeared with an unbeaten run that goes back 11 games to December 4, apart from their Coca-Cola Cup elimination in a penalty shoot-out.
They still have a number of men injured and the latest - 2 million pound full-back Julian Dicks - had to have an X-ray on his injured ankle. "If it is cracked or there is ligament damage I will be out for a while, but hopefully it is nothing serious," he said.
But there are encouraging signs in midfield that Clough, Saturday's outstanding performer, and Redknapp are becoming attuned. Clough, signed for 2.275 million pounds as a striker, is revelling in his deeper role.
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