So yet again it wasn't pretty but it was a win. After 3 draws and 1 defeat in the last four games at Anfield, the Reds registered their league first win on home soil since Middlesborough left L4 empty handed way back on December 8th. That day it was Michael Owen who provided the inspiration but the boy wonder was dropped to the bench tonight, allowing Emile Heskey another chance to end his goal drought alongside Nicolas Anelka.
For once the former Leicester man didn't disappoint, scoring the only goal of the game, finishing coolly after a fine blocking challenge from Didi Hamann had sent him clear of the foxes defence. Following his goal that left most of Anfield as relieved as he so obviously was, Heskey looked like a completely different player. When previously clumsily clattering players whenever going up for a header and looking on a totally different wavelength to his team mates, the goal brought the big man renewed confidence as he won every header and caused havoc among the Midlanders depleted defence.
The game followed the consistent pattern of nearly every game at Anfield this season. The Reds in the ascendancy without ever looking spectacular but with a hard earned one goal lead to show for it their endeavours. As usual however we failed to build on the lead, leading to us sitting on one arse cheek for the last 10 minutes.
Seriously though, other than one first half chance which fell to Matt Elliott (who looks even more of a tool with hair than without) in the first half, Leicester never once looked like really testing Jerzy. Matthew Jones came pretty close with a curling drive on the half-hour mark drifting just wide.
The night didn't get any better for the former Leeds midfielder as he was later stretchered of with what looked like a serious leg injury following a nasty fall. The two injuries to Stewart and Jones could be considered rough justice for Dave Bassett's men who in the first half committed more fouls than any team I can ever remember watching, I suppose that can be expected though from a team coached by Bassett and captained by Elliott, who is the ultimate Yard dog.
The first half was business as usual at Anfield, limited entertainment value and a series of misplaced passes and very little for Ian Walker to contend with. With Vladdy and Paddy still not doing the business our main attacking threat proved to be the magnificent Steven Wright. In time I think Wrighty will be everything that Carra is only quicker and better going forward. In the last three games at Old Trafford, Highbury and tonight he has been outstanding and arguably our best player in all three. He certainly was tonight and almost gave us the lead midway through the first half as he turned beautifully following Smicer's throughball, but his cross was cut out when it seemed easier to go for goal himself.
Chances were at a premium in the first half, with only long range thunderbolts from Didi Hamann raising the extremely low decibel level inside Anfield. Learning that Leeds and Newcastle were losing and Arsenal drawing, the need to claim three points at home to the bottom side became even more essential.
Heskey's goal game more through Didi Hamann's midfield industry that any form of guile or creativity, but once beyond the last defender Heskey's finish was sublime and one wonders about how is goalscoring record is so poor.
HmmmmÊÊÊ... perhaps it's because he plays in a team that creates no chances whatsoever and a decent cross is a complete oddity and he is expected to play in midfield when still being classified as a striker? I've not been Emile's biggest fan recently but I was made up for him when it finally crossed the goal-line for him tonight. Somebody told me before the game that Ade Akinbyi had scored more league goals than him this season, that would be something I'd be trying to get the FBI to classify if I was him.
Leicester never looked like equalising until when with 5 minutes to go a dark ominous figure emerged from the dug out, a man which has struck fear into every defence he has ever faced. Anfield please welcome, the one, the only TTTTTTTTTTTrevor Benjamin!!!
Such has been the grief I'd given Trev in recent months, that was sure his first ever premiership goal was to come in stoppage time at Anfield. I'd been guilty of "Kevin Davies? Hahaha" before the Southampton game and was made to rue that outburst, surely Trev couldn't repeat the feat?
But just as it seemed that we were safe, our Trev picked up the ball on the half way line and beat three players and struck a vicous shot past Dudek for the leveller! Trev greeted the Leicester fans behind the goal; they invaded the pitch and mobbed him like he was Michael Owen. Trev then went on to the World Cup and fired England to victory, and as captain, lofted the trophy high above his head! And then Trev woke up.
Trev didn't even come close to levelling the scores and neither did any of his team mates. The Foxes wouldn't have scored given another 90 minutes; I only wish we had gone at them a little more, but hey why change the habit of a lifetime.
At the final whistle we heard that Newcastle, Chelsea and Arsenal had all pulled off victories and with United getting back to winning ways last night, our own victory became all the more important.
Bad week for Leeds though eh! Such a shame that! Lets hope we can compound their misery on Sunday.
TEAM: Jerzy Dudek; Stephen Wright, Stephane Henchoz, Sami Hyypia, Jamie Carragher; Vladimir Smicer, Gary McAllister (Danny Murphy), Didi Hamann, Patrik Berger (John Arne Riise); Nicolas Anelka, Emile Heskey:
