"We are top of the league say we are top of the league"
A depleted reds side took to the pitch at Leeds for the fourth consecutive Saturday lunchtime kick off between the two sides at Elland Road. For the third time in a row though we got the right result up there, following on from last season 4-0 win. Although not as fluent and pretty as that performance the three points are the most important thing and despite what the papers and ITV Sport might think it was well deserved and thanks to a certain 16 year old Evertonian it's enough to put us top.
After getting to our seats and hearing "Marching on together" blasting over the tannoy we got our first glimpse of the team sheet. No Owen, Gerrard, Henchoz or Heskey was a blow to the spine of the team you thought but the replacements coming in did a fine job. Jamie Carragher and John Arnse Riise lined up at full back with Sami and Djimi in the middle in the absence of Stephane Henchoz with the big pole Dudek behind them.
Salif Daio partnered Dietmar Hamann in the middle of the park with Stevie Gerrard picking up an injury for England in the week. Bruno Cheyrou and Danny Murphy completed the midfield quartet. With first choice pairing Owen and Heskey not included in the starting line up Milan Baros got the nod alongside El Hadj Diouf, the Senegalese striker back in favour again.
For the rejects, ex reds Robbie Fowler and Dominic Matteo were injured which left Nick Barmby as the only former red in the team to face his former club for the first time since his summer switch. One player who could have been playing in a red shirt today but thankfully wasn't, Mr Lee Bowyer, was subjected to deserved abuse from the travelling kopites, "You're not fit to play in red" and "You're supposed to be in jail" were shouted amongst others. Along with one of the funniest moments of the day when Liverpool fans put the "Kick racism out of football" cards right in front of Bowyer. Highly amusing.
We really dominated proceedings early on, asserting ourselves well on the game and playing some good stuff without really creating much. Bruno and Spud both had good opportunities in decent positions but on both occasions were well blocked by Jonathan Woodgate. Milan Baros was a real menace to the Leeds defence linking up well with Diouf and Cheyrou but it was getting frustrating seeing chances (and not many of them) go begging. The Leeds fans were as quiet as anything and all the singing was coming from the away end with good renditions of "Scouser Tommy" and "Fields of Anfield Road"
Leeds were spurred into action though on 25 minutes when Alan Smith had a deflected shot, which went just wide and hit the stantion. From where we were sat it looked in for a minute and it would have been typical after having all kinds of deflected efforts narrowly missed ourselves.
That chance galvanised Leeds a bit and they started to take control for the rest of the half creating the better chances, Harry Kewell had a looping header wonderfully saved by the big pole. A save, which was identical to one at Sunderland last season. Harry Kewell hit the crossbar as well before the break and Traore nearly sliced the ball into his own net and would have done but for Jerzy Dudek's reactions. Half time and probably a fair reflection in the end although we were in control for the first 25 minutes.
The 2nd half livened up a little bit as a physical battle for sure after that twat Bowyer followed through on Cheyrou needlessly with the ball well gone and a melee was to ensure between the two sets of players. In the first half Carragher had caught Smith with a rough challenge and Smith was his usual self, mouthing off to the ref shouting and swearing. Carra just stood there and got on with the game like he always does, although he'd easily twat the mouthy cunt given the chance.
There was also a set to earlier on between Barmby and Thommo I believe although I didn't see it myself, obviously parted on bad terms with the management did Nicky.
Just after Sami went close for us from a volley Traore seemed to be trying to throw the game away as he nearly scored another own goal, it was a powerful back pass which saw Jerzy desperately making the interception, it was certainly a heart in your mouth moment.
We took the lead soon after though courtesy of a through ball from the imperious (again!) Hamann to Diouf, who passed the ball to his fellow countryman Daio to coolly blast the ball into the next from close range. It was certainly a goal made in Senegal, and it put the red men one up.
We played a lot better after that and didn't just sit back on the lead like we've been known to do and were never in serious danger. The home fans were pissed off though and were even chanting for O'Leary, they must be desperate! He's about to try and sue the club for millions of pounds and the supporters still want him back as manager, senseless as that is he must be laughing his balls off.
There was still time for a late scare though as Riise was caught in possession and when Sami couldn't get the clearance in, Pie arse Viduka got down the byline crossed it in and Kewell was surely about to equalise, a bit of showboating or fannying about in lamens terms and he blasted it over the bar. Thank fuck for that.
After a long three minutes stoppage time the referee blew for time and we got the win we deserved to take us top as it proved. Now lets stay there.
As well deserved as it was, watching The Premiership show when I got back was ridiculous, it only showed our goal, while it near enough showed every attack Leeds made. It was like watching a different game.
TEAM: Jerzy Dudek; Jamie Carragher, Djimi Traore, Sami Hyypia, John Arne Riise; Danny Murphy, Salif Diao, Didi Hamann, Bruno Cheyrou; El Hadji Diouf, Milan Baros (Michael Owen):
