Match Reports
Leeds 0-4 Liverpool Liverpool continued their recent improvement in the league with a huge win away to fellow Championship contenders, Leeds. The game began in a similar way to the matches at Old Trafford and Highbury, with Steve Gerrard putting in a fierce challenge on his opposite number. This time it was Olivier Dacourt on the recieving end, but despite winning the ball well, Gerrard found a free kick being awardrd against him. There was a more important decision that went against Liverpool after 2 minutes though. Owen made his first run into the penalty area, and as he collected the ball, he was bundled over by Harte. Referee Graeme Poll waved away the protests, but replays clearly indicated that a penalty should have been awarded. Clear cut chances were few and far between in the first half, and it was a defensive mistake which gave Liverpool the lead. Murphy's free kick was turned into his own net by Rio Ferdinand, who was under pressure from both Gerrard and Hyypia. Following the goal, Leeds had the most of the ball in the remainder of the first half, but every member of Liverpool's defence were in top form and denied Leeds any real sight of goal in the first half. Steve Gerrard also helped out just in front of he defence and won everything he went for, as well as being involved in starting most of Liverpool's attacking play, as he ran the game with a world class display. That continued after the break, and it was Gerrard's pass which set Heskey away for Liverpool's second. After making a run towards goal, Heskey found himself with only Nigel Martyn to beat, Heskey rounded the Leeds' keeper and finished superbly from an extremely tight angle. With Leeds pushing forward in greater numbers, Liverpool were always likely to have more chances to score, but the next main talking point involved Robbie Fowler, on his first appearance in this fixture as a Leeds player. After knocking the ball past Henchoz, Fowler went down in the area. Despite not being touched by Henchoz, Fowler clearly would have been brought down if he had not jumped over the Liverpool defender to avoid being fouled, and Leeds' protests indicated that they felt a penalty should have been given. Liverpool kept their concentration though and within a couple of minutes after the penalty incident, the game was over. A corner from John Arne Riise was flicked on by Hamann, and after Owen's goalward header was blocked by Hyypia, Heskey reacted by slamming the ball into the roof of the net from 10 yards out. With 20 minutes to go and without having tested Dudek earlier in the game, it looked impossible for Leeds to come back, but a Mark Viduka header almost gave the home side a lifeline. After scoring four against the Reds in the same fixture last season, Viduka almost added another this time around with a looping header back across goal. But Dudek showed why he is considered as the best keeper in the world by his national team coach, with a terrific one handed save at full stretch, and push the ball out for a corner. The Pole had battled through the game despite picking up a groin injury early on which prevented him from being able to take goal kicks, but he produced the goods as he has done on so many occasions this season. Liverpool brought off Gerrard in the last minute to a standing ovation by the three and a half thousand away fans, and within a 10 seconds of Gary McAllister coming onto the pitch, Liverpool scored a fourth. A long throw by Carragher found Owen in front of goal, and after his first header came back off the bar, Owen made no mistake with the rebound and completed the rout which is Liverpool's biggest win of the season so far. The win moves Liverpool up to 3rd place, two points behind Man United, but Arsenal could move above Liverpool if they won their game in hand, while Newcastle could go one point ahead of United if they won their game in hand. In the other direction, a six point gap exists between Liverpool and Chelsea, who are the highest placed side not currently in a Champions League position.
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