The prospect of moving on or rotting in the reserves, as threatened by Gerard Houllier after Liverpool's Carling Cup defeat by Bolton at Anfield, clearly does not appeal to his players. "They responded as I knew they would," Houllier said after this grittily achieved draw, "showing character and togetherness." Liverpool just about deserved a result that keeps the race for fourth place nicely bunched.
Patrick Barclay, Sunday Telegraph
Shearer spot on in battle of the also-rans
An hour before kick-off at St James' Park yesterday, Sir Bobby Robson could be found in the press room, glued to the television set, watching England's tail-enders hold off the wiles of Muttiah Muralitharan for a draw. Gérard Houllier was otherwise engaged. By the end of the lunchtime match, the Liverpool manager was watching his team desperately fend off the attacking clout of Newcastle United to cling on for a a draw. It was a result that confirmed both sides as mere contenders for the Premiership equivalent of the Crackerjack pencil. As Houllier acknowledged afterwards: "We've got to face reality. There's no point in dreaming. Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United are running away with it." Robson agreed: "We are all on bended knees hoping one of those three will slip up, but I can't see it happening. Positions one, two and three are sealed." As Newcastle's veteran manager knows from the painful experience of Partizan Belgrade's visit to Tyneside in August, position four can turn out to be a booby prize, but with the big three threatening to disappear on the horizon, a place in the final qualifying round for the Champions' League is as good as it is likely to get for these two long-time likely lads of the Premiership.
Simon Turnbull, Independent on Sunday
Shearer frustrates Liverpool
Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier asked his players to stand up and be counted after the holders’ tame surrender of the League Cup on Wednesday night. They did, but a draw against Newcastle leaves them fifth in the table this morning, 14 points behind Chelsea, and it was claimed after the match that Houllier could be on his way out of Anfield. Reports emerged that the Frenchman has been asked to head up a new national football academy in Australia. It has been claimed that he will leave at the end of the season.
Pete Oliver, Sunday Times
Houllier gets right response
Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal can continue their private battle for the title safe in the knowledge that neither of these teams is likely to escape from the pack to challenge them. A second-half revival by Newcastle United at least generated some entertainment in a game that was stifled for long periods by Liverpool's cautious approach.
John Wardle, Observer