MATCH REPORT Almost inevitably following all of the press attention Michael Owen left Anfield one short of the 100 goals mark as his team mates left Anfield, failing to score in a premiership game for the first time this season.
Not through the want of trying, Michael tantalisingly remains on 99 as he bids to join the illustrious list of Reds centurions. Owen spurned three guilt edged chances and seemed as eager as ever as Liverpool missed the chance to increase their Premiership lead to six points.
ItŽs astounding that the scores remained goalless considering that this was perhaps the most open game of Football Anfield has seen all season. Jean Tigana's free flowing side certainly 'brought it' to Anfield choosing to play with three upfront and impressed with their attractive brand of one touch football, but gave Jerzy Dudek very little to worry about.
Liverpool's championship contenders will celebrate this victory as two points dropped, but as the reds' long awaited 'game in hand' any points taken from this fixture were a bonus, adding to their advantage. Liverpool themselves though will be disappointed not to have taken advantage after putting in a below par performance which lacked the
clinical element of Saturdays win against Boro. Despite this they created numerous chances and should have done enough to win the game.
Owen will be especially rueful after seeing Van Der Sar come to Fulham's rescue numerous times; firstly after the Liverpool number 10 span Melville on the edge of the six yard box but shot tamely at the giant Dutchman. The frustrating night continued for the future European footballer of the year as he carved his way through the Cottagers defence on three more occasions only to see his efforts foiled, either by the Dutch number 1 or some stubborn defending.
Stand in manager Phil Thompson insisted that it is only a matter of time before the elusive 100th goal arrives and that Michael has no need to worry: "There has been a lot written and said about Michael that you always wonder if it will affect him. He had his chances, and this time they just didn't go in. He had a tremendous game and his work-rate was outstanding. But he shouldn't worry, the goal will come sooner rather than later."
Steven Gerrard also came close, firstly from a header which grazed the post and secondly forcing Van Der Sar into a terrific save as he lobbed a shot destined for the top corner. Gary McAllister also hit the post from a free-kick that missed out everybody and Emile Heskey continued his poor run of goal scoring form, missing the chance of the night
following Owen's centre.
The disjointed nature of the performance cost Liverpool two points tonight, but they remain 4 points clear of the field in an enviable position. A few lone voices made their opinions known by booing the team at the final whistle. A ridiculous state of affairs and those who partook in such an atrocious act should be well and truly ashamed of themselves.
The late introduction of Jari Litmanen and Igor Biscan added a little spark to the floundering Reds effort, but in the end Fulham will feel they did enough to earn their point, their eighth draw of the campaign to date and for their brave approach it is difficult to argue against their case.
THE THOUGHTS OF THE BOY SMITH. Before this game I was convinced that if there was one team in the premiership that was tailor made for us it was Fulham. I was sure they would come to Anfield, all guns blazing leaving plenty of holes in their weak-assed defence that we would easily exploit, whist keeping it tight at the back as usual. I even predicted a 3-0 score line before the game and thought we'd knick it right up until the final whistle.
Reason not to rush to the bookies when I predict a score before the game: Number 236!
Rather than scandalously booing the team off at the end - as some knobheads including the little hick who was sat next to me chose to do - we should perhaps put things into perspective. We are four points clear at the top of the Premiership at the moment, being¤without our inspirational leader for most of the campaign and everybody seems to be worrying about what will happen when we have our sticky patch? Who says we are going to have a sticky patch?
At the moment we are the epitome of consistency and such is our style of play, that a sticky patch just 'aint gonna happen! For gods sake, is there no pleasing some people? OK so we put in a below par performance, and not everything went to plan, but what is there to complain about? There was certainly no lack of effort, just one or two more players than affordable had an off day, with Paddy, Stevie G, Heskey and Murphy all way below their best.
Credit also has to be given to Jean Tigana's boys. Who else would have the balls to come to Anfield and play three up front with one in behind? Not that it did them much good however; they played some really nice football around the penalty area - almost Barcelona style in fact - but as soon as it came to penetration, not a chance. (an interesting metaphor of my own life at the moment!) Sami and Stephane were again outstanding (© Phil Thompson) and in the five hours they have gone unbeaten they have barely looked like conceding, even when they have, the big Pole in our goal has stood firm.
In the two Louis - Boa Morte and Saha - Fulham have perhaps the most skilful strike partnership in the whole division, but Barry Hales kind of lowers the tone! Hales is nothing but a poor mans Emile Heskey (although Heskey himself was pretty poor). Actually that's too kind. He's a homeless smackhead mans Emile Heskey! A cheating, horrible, whinging, hulk of a man and yes I am talking about Hales here (Easy Tiger!!!) in case of any confusion.
Malbranque and Collins added some nice little touches, but that's all Fulham are at the moment, a series of nice touches without a great deal of end product to shows for it, hence, they have drawn 8 of their first 16 games in the top flight. Much of these draws have been due to the solidarity of their defence, which has really surprised me, conceding only 13 goals this term.
It was much the same tonight, apart from a few occasions when Michael weaved his magic, they were pretty hard to get through and handled Heskey and our marauding midfielders particularly well.
Moving on, Anfield was amass with frustrated souls tonight, and a great deal of this frustration was vented upon certain players. Danny Murphy's name does not need mentioning. Despite his recent run of superb form and individual award, as soon as one pass goes astray the jeering starts and to actually hear cheers when he was taken off wasn't nice at all.
The massively underappreciated Jamie Carragher also came into for a bit of stick tonight. Carra is in a no win situation. If he knocks the ball down the line, into space, because someone hasn't given him an option, then he gets yelled at, and similarly if he turns inside and knocks the ball back to retain possession then he still gets yelled at. Carra's footballing skills have improved a great deal over the last 12 months, but he's still no Vladimir Smicer, I mean what do people expect? For him to beat 3 players and play a killer ball for Owen to score? I don't think so!
ItŽs OK to be frustrated, but I think we shouldn't be at all downhearted about our title chances following tonight's game, Fulham are a good side, and given time will overtake the likes of Chelsea in the flashy fashionable Londoner stakes. Speaking of Chelsea, they will be a sterner test of our Championship credentials, I'd settle for a point, but it would be really nice to win there for the first time inÊ Well way longer than I can remember anyway.
Four points from our next two games against Chelsea and Arsenal would be a fine Christmas present, but again remaining unbeaten and maintaining our high levels of confidence and consistency will be the key to bringing home the title, so I wouldn't be gutted if we avoided defeat in both games.
The festive period has been traditionally fruitful for us over the past few years so hopefully Michael will get past the 100 milestone and be well on the way towards the next ton by the time we travel to Villa Park on Boxing Day, still maintaining our healthy advantage at the top.
On a lighter note, the cover of Thursdays ECHO was pretty amusing. "2 games. 0 goals. 1 arrest" I don't know? You leave him alone with those animals for five minutes and look what happens. He'll be shaving his head next! And that wouldn't be a pretty sight!
TEAM: Jerzy Dudek; Jamie Carragher, Stephane Henchoz, Sami Hyypia, John Arne Riise; Danny Murphy (Igor Biscan), Steven Gerrard, Gary McAllister, Patrik Berger (Jari Litmanen), Michael Owen, Emile Heskey:
