What the broadsheets say

Three matches, two points, one goal, no wins; the nascent Barclaycard Premiership table makes disconcerting reading for Liverpool and, in particular, Gérard Houllier. If he was not feeling the pressure before Tottenham Hotspur arrived at Anfield last night, he certainly will be by the time he takes his disjointed team across Stanley Park to Everton on Saturday for the Merseyside derby, a fixture that would not have featured highly on his wish list at such an early stage of his critical sixth season in charge. Last night, Houllier challenged the perception of a manager who is too conservative for his own good. He made four changes to his starting line-up, fielding a team as offensive as any he has assembled at Anfield, but, with Harry Kewell still to show even fleeting glimpses of his vast talent, the result was not the cocktail of attacking football one might have expected. Liverpool had their moments, particularly in the second half, but Tottenham, for whom Ledley King and Rohan Ricketts excelled, were good value for their draw.
Oliver Kay, The Times

Liverpool have still not managed a goal in open play this season and the natives are growing restless as the planned assault on the supremacy of Manchester United and Arsenal fails to get off the ground. Beaten at home by Chelsea when a twice-taken Michael Owen penalty was their only consolation, they were kept in scoreless deadlock for the second time in four days as Tottenham comfortably answered what few questions the Merseysiders posed and threatened on occasions to snatch all three points. Gerard Houllier, Liverpool's manager whose future is becoming a major topic of debate on Merseyside, announced his intentions by selecting five forwards in an all-out effort to appease his critics. That, at least, was the theory. In practice Liverpool again struggled to find the right level of penetration.
William Johnson, Daily Telegraph

The grumbling will continue on the phone-ins, dissatisfaction creeping inexorably into Saturday's feisty derby across Stanley Park, but Gérard Houllier awakes this morning clinging to the hope that, at some stage, promise will prompt reward. The problem is that, by then, it may be too late. This was far from a mind-numbing scoreless grind, with both teams' poise and panache suggesting better times ahead. Yet, even 12 days into the new season, the murmurings - however ludicrous - are that the title is already out of reach, with Manchester United and Arsenal seven points clear and threatening to disappear prematurely over the Premiership horizon. Until promising performances yield results, every draw will be laced with that underlying disappointment. Most worryingly, Houllier's side - for all his bold attacking overhaul here - remain the only team in the division without a goal from open play.
Dominic Fifield, The Guardian

Liverpool's frustrations continued last night after being held at home to Tottenham and no doubt the fans' dissatisfaction at being winless in three games will be vocal. But there was much to be pleased about in an entertaining contest of umpteen chances where the only missing ingredient was a goal.
Nick Harris, Independent

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What the broadsheets say

Last updated : 28 August 2003 By Kevin Smith