After Vladimir Smicer's dramatic late winner at Anfield, the crowd left with one word on their lips - Destiny. Looking back on last season, Gary Mac's winner at the pit, Owen's goals in Cardiff and the penalty that never was against Roma were all moments when we knew it was meant to be. In a game in which we barely looked like scoring will
we hold Vladi's sweet volley in similar esteem come Judgement day? The Czech internationals' stoppage time winner earned the Reds their fourth straight league triumph, taking them back to the top of the table at this crucial stage of the season.
Manchester United's waving of the white flag against Boro yesterday gave the Reds a superb opportunity to put them out of the picture and effectively - looking at the fixture lists - make the Championship a two horse race. So many times during the nightmare 90's we blew such opportunities, and in turn blew the chance of glory - but not this team. Not in the year 2002.
The expected return to the starting XI of Michael Owen was postponed as he took his place among the substitutes, but Nicolas Anelka returned after being cup-tied in midweek to partner Tuesday night's hero Emile Heskey in attack. The Reds watertight defence was faced with the most prolific strikeforce in the Premiership in Eider Gudjohnsen and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink as we looked forward to a classic.
The First half didn't exactly live up to expectations and was a cagey affair, with neither side ready to commit too many forward to the attack. It was the visitors who had the best of the chances, the first falling to Gudjohnsen who hit wide from close range after getting on the end of a Gronkjaer cross, a real warning for the Reds.
For the umpteenth time this season, we had a magnificent save from Jerzy Dudek to thank for keeping the scores level as he miraculously flew across his goal to deny Mario Stanic, as they Kop rose to acclaim the unbeatable Pole, the ball fell to a somewhat out of sorts Hasselbaink who blasted the ball over from 6 yards.
Just two minutes later the Reds suffered the blow of Steven Gerrard's withdrawal after the Huyton youngster's suspect groin let him down again, match winner Vladimir Smicer entered the fray in his place. Gerrard looked utterly dejected as he left the field, let us hope that his injury keeps him out of the England game and that's all.
Jesper Gronkjaer had a really impressive first half as did the central defensive duo of William Gallas and Marcel Desially; the French pair were ably assisted by left back Celestine Babayaro who dealt with the constant threat of Anelka pretty well.
In the Midfield Gerrard/Murphy and Hamann were controlling things, against fancy dan's Petit and that horrible little cockney wideboy Lampard. Danny was on a mission today after once again being scandalously omitted from the England squad along with Carra by the watching Sven and once again had a superb game, showing many flashes of skill and some great passing vision. SuperDan is a perfect understudy for Stevie in central midfield, Barry Ferguson? £10 million? Thanks, but no thanks!
Carra himself could have easily been sent off. After being somewhat harshly booked for a foul on Gronkjaer, JC committed a worse foul and had it not been for his earlier caution surely would have induced another Yellow card. Carra did amazingly well to go for the whole second half without committing the single foul which would have secured his early bath.
Liverpool were struggling to find the rhythm and intensity which served them so well on Tuesday and the lively Nicolas Anelka's long range effort that was easily saved by Cudicini was all they had to show from a first half in which they were second best for long periods. Heskey had more or less dropped back into midfield and it was difficult to see where a breakthrough was going to come from.
The Reds came out for the second half looking much brighter, especially after Michael entered the fray on 57 minutes. With Xavier going off, Carra switching to right back, Riise to left back and Heskey to the wing, the side had a much more attacking feel, similar to that which demolished Newcastle. This immediately forced the Londoners on to the back foot, begging the question as to why the Reds didn't adopt this positive approach from the outset.
The linesmen had been the nemeses of the Reds for most of the afternoon and never more so, when Anelka had the ball in the net, turning and sweeping a low shot past Cudicini. There were several other close calls in the second half, each of which going in favour of the inconsistent mercenaries from the Bridge.
With both managers facing up to the possibility of a stalemate, which was of no use to either, there was a wonderful moment as Jari Litmanen and Gianfranco Zola - arguably alongside Dennis Bergkamp the finest creative genius' in the Premiership - warmed up together on the touchline. Being perhaps the only two men with the ability to change the game these two men were both teams' final throw of the dice.
As he did last season the mercurial Italian received a warm reception from the Kop as he entered the action. I can't think of any outfield player who receives a similar ovation. It was a great tribute to Zola and one he fully deserves. The applause was louder however for one of the heroes of Tuesday night; Jari Litmanen was given another chance to pull something out for the Reds as he replaced the tiring Nicolas Anelka who had been marshaled superbly by Desially.
It was Zola who made the first real impact, playing a perfect through ball to Jimmy Hassel2pac (his resemblance to the late hip-hop star and my flatmate's all time hero, 2pac is really quite uncanny) who looked certain to score but Sami's last ditch challenge was enough to put him off as he lifted the ball on to the top of Jerzy's net.
Many people had already left by the 92nd minute as Jari's genial little ball set a marauding Emile free down the left. Heskey's gorgeous left foot cross arrived too late for Owen but as it flew behind the England star in came Vladi unmarked to smash home the winner from the penalty spot.
Cue absolute bedlam at Anfield, the bench go wild and the Chelsea fans kick off, and Vladi has one of the broadest smiles I've ever seen on his face. It's been a tough couple of months for Smicer, battling against poor form, niggling injuries and seemingly being able to do no right in the eyes of some Liverpool fans. I've criticised him in recent weeks, but he was excellent today and really deserves his moment in the sun, lets hope there are many more before the end of this unbelievable season.
As I said earlier, this wins sees us return to the top of the table, two points clear of Arsenal but having played 2 games more. It's an old cliché but I'd rather have points on the board rather than games in hand. It may come down to us needing the Mancs to beat to enable us to bring home title number 19 (finally!) in what would be a twisted turn of fate. What I do know is that if we need Everton to get something form Highbury on the last day then we can forget it.
But "enough negativity already, Chris" I hear you saying! The title may not be in our own hands but we are certainly in the best possible position and that's on top, with none of the top 6 left to play. Saddle up partners it's gonna be a bumpy ride!
Team: Jerzy Dudek; Abel Xavier (Michael Owen), Stephane Henchoz, Sami Hyypia, Jamie Carragher; Danny Murphy, Steven Gerrard (Vladimir Smicer), Didi Hamann, John Arne Riise; Nicolas Anelka (Jari Litmanen), Emile Heskey:
