There was a time not so long ago when the reds simply wouldn't have been able to perform under the pressure they're under at the moment. The prospect of going top of the table would see them produce shambolic, panic ridden displays which would leave the other title contenders pissing themselves with laughter. Coventry? Dion Dublin? Gary Mac near post corners? Jameo? Ring any bells? Then of course there was the infamous five games without a goal at the end of the 99/00 season which gift wrapped Leeds a place in the CL at our expense. Now though, the pressure doesn't get to our boys. The run-in to last years treble success was proof enough of that, but they've shown it time and again over recent weeks. For about the last six weeks we've been in a situation where we know that we can't really afford to drop ANY points. We need to win every game, and have indeed done just that. It's unfortunate for us that Arsenal are on a run which is just as impressive as our own. If we win all of our remaining games, but still fall short, it's still been an incredible effort and one which we should be proud of.
The game with Derby showed the best and worst of Liverpool in the same game. We played some excellent football at times, and created plenty of chances. However, this was an ideal opportunity to boost our goal difference which going into this game was inferior to Arsenal by five goals, and we failed to take it.
I wouldn't say that we sat back and played for the one-nil, as we did create several clear cut chances to increase our lead and thus pare us the nerve jangling last fifteen minutes that seem to accompany 75% of our games these days. What I would say though, was that we didn't go for it as much as we could (should?) have.
Derby were beaten as soon as Michael opened the scoring. They knew there was no way back and their minds were already on next seasons division one dogfight. They were there for the taking, yet were somehow still in with a chance of sneaking a point until Michael's second finished them off right at the end. In fact, had Jerzy not been fortunate with a double rebound after he'd spilled a shot, then this report could have taken on a completely different slant. The Big Pole had earned that slice of luck though with his consistent brilliance since coming here.
GH continued with the 4-3-1-2 formation which had been used at Sunderland last week, except this time Smicer was preferred to Jari 'in the hole.' That's been the story of Jari's Liverpool career really. He'll be selected for a game which is never really going to suit his style, and then dropped for a game which would have been tailor made for him. Vladi had a decent game, but Jari could have given us so much more in my opinion. I'm biased though.
We started pretty impressively, and Anelka almost opened the scoring within thirty seconds, but was just beaten to the ball by the Derby keeper. Owen and Anelka were both looking razor sharp, the main difference between the two being Michael's ability to stay onside. In terms of technique and skill, Anelka has the edge on Michael. When it comes to movement and satying onside, Michael is streets ahead.
Of course, Michael is the reigning European Footballer of the Year, and it was nice to see him presented with the Ballon D'or before kick off. The chant of "Europe's Number One" was quality too, and is something which we should hear a lot more of. It's better than 'there's only one Michael Owen' anyway. MOSAG is one of my favourite chants, but sadly it's always sung way too fast and always fizzles out because of it. Slow it down lads, and it will be an amazing song.
Michael was back to his brilliant best today. I wrote a few weeks ago (after Leverkusen at home I think) that Michael's indifferent form was no cause for concern, as he always takes a few games to get back into full stride. I'd hoped that would be in time for the return game in Leverkusen, but unfortunately it wasn't to be. Anyone who criticised Michael after that game can fuck off as far as I'm concerned. Four drunken gobshites had a go at Michael's family in the team hotel that night, and then there was the deluge of wankers ringing up radio phone ins etc to have a pop.
The usual shite about how he's saving himself for England was once again recycled, as indeed it is every time he is trying to play his way back to form after injury. How can anyone criticise Michael Owen after what he has done for us? The little man is an absolute gem, and nothing pisses me off more than hearing people question his commitment.
Today saw him back to his impudent best. His first goal may have had an elelement of good fortune to it, but the turn was wonderful as was the balance shown in the finish. The good fortune came with the ricochet off the unlucky Chris Riggott, but this goal was vintage Michael.
As for Riggott, I thought he had an excellent game, particularly given that his centre back partner was Danny Higginbottom. If he can look good alongside this clown, how would he look alongside Sami or Steph? We could find out next season if rumours are to be believed. Riggott looks to be a similar type of defender to Steph, and one last ditch tackle to deny Owen in the second half had Henchoz' hallmark all over it. Not sure if Riggott is as good a shot stopper as Steph though, and his 'Henchoz grimace' needs a lot of work too!
Up until we opened the scoring, we'd looked bright and busy, with Smicer involved a great deal and Riise charging forward down the left at every opportunity. Riise's agent had put him in an awkward spot this week (despite his denials, the agent did say those things and GH was extremely pissed about it), and the lad played like someone with a point to prove. He was excellent today. Up until recently I'd felt that his best position was left midfield, but I've changed my mind now. Such is his remarkable engine that he does as much attacking from left back as he does when he plays further forward, and that's where I'd play him.
After the goal though, we lost a lot of urgency. Smicer went about twenty minutes without getting a kick at one point, although in Vlad's defence I would have to add that he put more tackles in today than anyone else on the pitch, and yes, you did read that correctly!
The only real criticism I think we can have of this side is that they just don't kill teams off. Too often we score and then just sit on it, and often don't kill off the game until the dying minutes. An injection of a couple more creative players in the summer and that problem will hopefully be solved.
Derby seemed to take heart from our casualness after the goal, and although they never looked like troubling Jerzy, they did have more of the ball than they should have. At Pride Park they completely outplayed us, and on the evidence of what I saw that day, it's hard to believe they've been relegated. I'm sorry to see them go, as they play decent football and I've got no reason to dislike them. John Gregory is a really funny guy, and I'll miss him next season. However, when it looked as though the blues were on their way down, Derby shipped in four goals to them AT HOME! You do that you deserve to go I'm afraid. Good luck next season though.
The second half was better, but I still felt we should have been committing more men forward. Goal difference may not matter at the end of the season, but then again it might. We've lost out to Arsenal on that before, and we should be going all out to ensure that if it does come down to that, then we'll have the edge. That means pummelling the likes of Derby when you have them on the ropes.
We did have enough chances to do just that, with Owen missing three good ones, and Anelka a couple. Michael was so sharp he could have cut himself, and as Derby pushed up the field looking for an equaliser, they left space in behind for Owen to exploit. There's no-one better at doing that, and it was a surprise that he had to wait so long before getting his second goal.
He'd had a few sights of goal before that, but three times saw rasping drives clear the bar. One effort would have been a contender for goal of the season as he brought down a high ball and turned two defenders inside out before hitting a shot just a couple of feet over. That would have gone down as one of the best goals I'd ever seen. Sheer brilliance.
Anelka also put a shot over when he should have done better, although in fairness to him it was a difficult half volley. Still, he'll think that with his ability he should have scored. I'd have to say that on the whole Nico was disappointing today. The touch and skill was there, but how many times can someone get caught offside before doing something about it? Last week at Sunderland it was the same, and there's just no need for it. With his pace he doesn't need to go so early, and he could learn a lot from watching Owen. Michael is always half a yard onside. Always. When he is flagged offside, it's usually a mistake by the linesman. Anelka is always a yard offside. That's the only weakness I see in his game.
As all the chances went begging, I started to think that Derby might sneak one out of nothing. The atmosphere was shite, but at least it wasn't detrimental to the team. By that I mean that the crowd were quiet, but were not getting on anybody's back. Even Murphy was allowed the odd sloppy pass without the usual vitriol from certain sections of the crowd. However, if Derby had somehow drawn level, it would have turned nasty. And they almost did. Jerzy spilled a shot, then did well to block a follow up, and was then very lucky to see the ball hit Riise and bounce back into his arms. We came that close to blowing this game, and that's what I meant when I said we saw the best and the worst of Liverpool in this game.
That was all Derby offered, but it could so easily have been enough. They should have been well and truly beaten by that stage, but we squandered a series of chances, and almost paid the price. That's a lesson that has to be learned.
It was no surprise when Anelka was eventually replaced by Heskey, and Emile did himself no harm by setting up the killer goal for Owen, producing a good piece of control and early ball in behind for Michael, who did the rest with the minimum of fuss. A collective sigh of relief went up all around the ground, and the remarkable winning run continued. It's looking increasingly like it won't be enough, but all we can do is win our games and hope.
As for the star man award, it was an easy decision. Michael was electric, and was easily the best player on the pitch. Stevie G was excellent too, as was Riise. Vladi deserves a mention for his work rate, and Sami, Steph & Carra were.... well Sami, Steph & Carra basically.
Considering what we've been through this season with GH's illness, not to mention losing one of our best players for the whole season with a very rare condition, we deserve a break, and hopefully it will come with Arsenal slipping up twice in the run in. Can't see it though.
TEAM: Jerzy Dudek; Jamie Carragher, Stephane Henchoz, Sami Hyypia, John Arne Riise; Steven Gerrard, Danny Murphy, Didi Hamann, Vladimir Smicer (Patrik Berger); Michael Owen (Jari Litmanen), Nicolas Anelka (Emile Heskey):
