In an ideal world, Houllier would seek to replace players such as Stephane Henchoz, Dietmar Hamann and Emile Heskey at the end of the season, yet all carried out their jobs yesterday with the utmost professionalism. The ultimate illustration of this strange phenomenon, though, is Danny Murphy, a player who has struggled to retain his place in Houllier’s affections for much of this season, but whose temperament and composure, underlined by another successful penalty yesterday, could make all the difference when the points are added up at the end of the season.
A couple of penalties might not be enough to stop Houllier looking for more creative midfield options in midfield this summer — Shaun Wright-Phillips, the Manchester City winger, is a known target — but Murphy, having fought so hard to make an impact at the club he supported as a boy, does not want to give up on his dream just yet. Other players might offer more mobility or penetration, but few have Murphy’s intelligence as a footballer, which is what sets him apart from El-Hadji Diouf, who will be offloaded this summer having failed to impress as an alternative.
Murphy’s composure was crucial for Liverpool as they probed in search of a breakthrough against a typically obdurate Middlesbrough team. Even without the influence of Gareth Southgate, Middlesbrough have a resolute defence, yet it was stretched from the first minute yesterday, with Steven Gerrard and his team-mates making a breathless start to the game. Harry Kewell and John Arne Riise each went close twice, with Mark Schwarzer in stubborn mood, while Owen shot against the foot of a post after winning a 50-50 challenge with Chris Riggott.
Minor injuries to Henchoz and Vladimir Smicer forced Houllier into a double substitution at half-time, but the two new arrivals, Heskey and Steve Finnan, were each to make an immediate impact. It was from Finnan’s right-wing cross that the lively Owen was brought down by Riggott four minutes into the second half, allowing Murphy to score from the penalty spot.
Steve McClaren, the Middlesbrough manager, felt that the decision was “very harsh”, but television replays suggested that Andy D’Urso, who had earlier disallowed a headed goal by Kewell, had little alternative.
Even before the goal, Liverpool’s football had been far better than the scoreline suggested — as it has been for much of this season — but suddenly their confidence was sky-high. Three minutes after Murphy’s goal, Heskey drove the ball past Schwarzer to make it 2-0 after a slick move between Kewell and Owen. After that, the result was never in doubt as Liverpool, having briefly been overtaken by Aston Villa, reclaimed fourth place. “We know that, if we win our last two games, we will finish fourth,” Houllier said, “and I think that we will.”
Nor was McClaren too disheartened. A third successive defeat may suggest that Middlesbrough are coasting towards the end of the season, having already won the Carling Cup, but he begged to differ. “No one can say our season is just fizzling out,” he said. Nor is Liverpool’s. A few players’ Anfield careers may be coming to an end, but they are determined to finish on a high.