Houllier finally finds safety in numbers
Gerard Houllier likes his statistics and at a time of supposed crisis would have been particularly pleased to read on Saturday that his average points record as Liverpool's manager is better than Bill Shankly's. He recently quoted The Independent's survey showing that only Tottenham (by a fraction) have a younger side than his own, and always has to hand the figures for attempts on goal, the latest of which had his increasingly adventurous team making almost 50 per cent more than Arsenal, Chelsea or Manchester United. Yesterday they rained plenty more in on Paul Robinson and finally achieved a decent return, with goals by Michael Owen, Danny Murphy and and the young French substitute Florent Sinama-Pongolle. Yet such have been the frustrations of the season to date that all that achieved was to push them into the top half of the table and end a run of three successive defeats. It was a deserved victory, offering hope of better things to come as injury problems slowly ease; the problem being since Shanks first set the standard that managers at Anfield are not supposed to start from 11th place in the table.
Steve Tongue, Independent on Sunday
Winter's tale stuns Reid
You could say that Gerard Houllier, who nearly lost his life after being taken to hospital during the corresponding fixture two years ago, was due a change of luck. And even the infinitely painstaking Liverpool manager could not claim that the goal that settled this match - a Danny Murphy free-kick which, if it had possessed a scrap of decency, would have apologised as it crept past Paul Robinson - was the product of hours of practice on the club's Melwood training ground.
Patrick Barclay, Sunday Telegraph
Owen sees Liverpool home
Gerard Houllier may not be out of the woods yet, but he is at least heading in the right direction again. Whether the Liverpool manager has found the path to renewed prosperity or just a clearing in the trees remains to be seen, but his team were too good for Leeds, and ended their run of three successive League defeats, which was deemed to have brought Houllier to crisis point. Recent results had been such that a team meeting was held at training on Friday to discuss diminishing confidence and morale. New captain Steven Gerrard reminded the players what was expected of them and was as inspirational on the pitch as he had been off it. The England midfielder was the man of the match by a distance.
Joe Lovejoy, Sunday Times
Murphy strike riles Reid
Liverpool's first points in four Premiership matches eased some of the pressure on Gérard Houllier, who also had the satisfaction of seeing a couple of his gambles pay off. The Liverpool manager has been pilloried in recent weeks for making excuses about missing players, yet no sooner were Michael Owen and Danny Murphy restored to the team than they provided the goals that secured victory, the latter also supplying the game's moment of controversy.
Paul Wilson, Observer