United fall foul of Murphy's law

Last updated : 25 April 2004 By Sunday Times

Murphy’s Law, they call the result. Danny of that ilk scored the goal, from the penalty spot, which was the only way either goalkeeper seemed likely to be beaten. It extended a remarkable sequence by Murphy, who has now supplied the winner in three of Liverpool’s last four visits to Old Trafford.

Of more immediate significance to their manager, Gerard Houllier, this was Liverpool’s first away win in the league since they beat Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge on January 7. They have turned a corner, but on this form they are heading into a cul-de-sac.

Houllier hailed it as “a great performance and a great result against a great team”. Well, one out of three ain’t bad. Sir Alex Ferguson, for his part, complained about the “over-fussy” referee, who had made it a “stop-start” game, and criticised his strikers’ shoddy finishing. “Maybe some of the players are losing their way a bit with the Cup final coming up”, he said. But he did not begrudge his opposite number a result which lifts, temporarily, some of the pressure the Liverpool manager has been under.

“That’s a good result for Gerard,” Ferguson said. “He would be the first to admit that their season has not come up to expectations. But having said that, I still find it extraordinary that some of the criticism should be so hostile. Relegation battlers get better support.”

There was an interesting little cameo just before the kick-off when Sven-Göran Eriksson and Pini Zahavi, the so-called “super agent” who tried to take the England coach to Chelsea, were in animated conversation in the directors’ box with Rio Ferdinand, who is one of Zahavi’s clients.

Another incidental: the fixture list is such a moveable feast these days that this was the first time these adversaries had met at 3 o’clock on a Saturday afternoon since the “White Suit” FA Cup final in 1996.

In yet another attempt to invigorate his under-achieving team, Houllier dropped Vladimir Smicer and Bruno Cheyrou in favour of Murphy and Steve Finnan, the former Fulham right-back playing out of position on the right side of midfield. The experiment, which was unsuccessful, lasted an hour before Finnan gave way to Smicer.

United had a shuffle of their own, bringing back Roy Keane, Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs for Nicky Butt, Ruud van Nistelrooy and David Bellion. Ronaldo started on the left flank to accommodate young Darren Fletcher on the right, and with Van Nistelrooy injured, Giggs partnered Louis Saha in attack.

Liverpool began poorly, absurdly hitting long, high balls from deep for Michael Owen to contest with Wes Brown and Mikael Silvestre. No wonder Owen has all but ceased scoring, and looks thoroughly brassed off. Whatever happened to the passing game for which his club were once renowned? United were not much better, although Saha’s pace was a threat against Stephane Henchoz and Sami Hyypia, for whom the word ponderous might have been coined. An undistinguished first half was a catalogue of errors and half chances, with neither goalkeeper extended. Owen, from a near-impossible angle on the left, and John Arne Riise, from distance, were not far away for Liverpool; for United, Saha and Fletcher finished feebly and Giggs fired over on the run. Even the referee had an off day, booking Henchoz for a foul committed by Gerrard.

The shirt-sleeved crowd, weary even of Ronaldo’s step-overs, sought alternative entertainment in taunting the visitors with choruses of “Champions League? You’re Having A Laugh.” It was tempting to join in, but the last chuckle, of course, went to the Scouse legions.

The goal the game was crying out for arrived after 63 minutes, when Gerrard, cutting into the penalty area on the left, was brought down by Gary Neville. Liverpool had failed with their previous three penalties; who would take this one? A tough little nugget, Murphy stepped up and drove the ball hard, high and handsome past Howard’s left hand.

Ferguson’s response was to send on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in place of John O’Shea, and Giggs was desperately close to equalising in the 80th minute when, supplied by Saha, he shot against the inside of Jerzy Dudek’s right-hand post. Saha should certainly have scored a minute later when he headed a Giggs cross wastefully wide. And with United stamping hard on the accelerator, Dudek saved from Saha at the second attempt.

Liverpool feel a lot safer in fourth spot, United face a tougher battle with Chelsea for runners-up. Their meeting here on May 8 could be a cracker. The fans are due one after this.