Fowler doubles the dose

Last updated : 25 February 2007 By Sunday Telegraph

Except that this time it was even worse for Neil Warnock's team. Twice in the first half the Liverpool pair combined and this time they effectively put the points beyond reach.

Warnock probably had more legitimate cause for complaint when Gerrard tumbled in the area at Bramall Lane on the opening day of the season, when United were recompensed in the form of a creditable draw.

If United felt aggrieved about the first of yesterday's awards they should also direct their displeasure at Rob Kozluk for drawing attention to his close encounter with Gerrard.

The second penalty was confirmed without serious debate and Fowler's first goals in the Premiership since that trip to South Yorkshire sustained Liverpool's hopes of challenging Chelsea for second place, or at least holding on to third.

Liverpool made seven changes from the starting line-up in Barcelona and gave a debut to the erstwhile misplaced Javier Mascherano. The Argentine midfield player must have thought there was nothing to this Premiership business after all.

Rafael Benitez's team strolled through the rest of the afternoon and, almost incidentally, registered further goals by Sami Hyypia and the prodigious Gerrard.

United occasionally threatened to claim the first league goal by any team at Anfield in nine matches, though rarely appeared capable of reinforcing their quest for another season at this level. Rob Hulse was denied a goal for offside and hit the bar late in the match, but this was not one of their more defiant days.

Benitez said afterwards: "Sometimes making seven changes is a risk but the players were tired after Barcelona and I had to give them a rest. Mascherano showed his quality and commitment when the game opened up."

Warnock said he had no complaints about the crucial first penalty, then proceeded to complain that referee Steve Bennett was too insistent on following the letter of the law and that Gerrard had an eye for the main chance.

"I told Steve Gerrard I was disappointed in him," Warnock said. "I told Steve Bennett that 50 per cent of referees wouldn't have given that. He's a manufactured referee. Other referees understand the game. If he did, he'd be a top-class referee."

More pertinently, he added: "The penalty knocked the stuffing out of us. We could have given a better account of ourselves."

Bennett had pointed to the spot in the 20th minute, when Kozluk held out an arm to stop Gerrard's run from a corner kick, the Liverpool player tumbling to the ground. As Warnock conceded, Kozluk was "stupid".

As Fowler despatched the kick and put Liverpool in front, Peter Crouch was being carried off with a suspected broken nose and gashed forehead, after taking the force of Hulse's boot.

The threat from Gerrard yielded another penalty before United could regroup. He chased a header from Dirk Kuyt and was hauled down by Nick Montgomery. Fowler went for the other corner and Liverpool were two up.

Hyypia prodded the third and Gerrard swept in a splendid fourth from Fowler's equally outstanding pass.