Michael Owen started the day with his good name being defended by boss Roy
Evans in the wake of a strange attack by England chief Glenn Hoddle.
The 18 year-old kid ended the day as the hero, having scored a poachers' goal
and given Liverpool points and a victory they really struggled to achieve.
Owen had been confused and worried by Hoddle's remarks about his off-field
behaviour, and Evans had seen fit to describe the new England Under 21
international as a model professional.
Hoddle, no doubt concerned about the way his words were being interpreted, or
misinterpreted, was forced into an early morning call to Evans to explain his
words away.
Owen answered in the only way he knows, with an outstanding performance.
His goal came after 14 minutes when he arrived on the far post to stab home a
fine pass from Steve McManaman, who had jinxed and teased his way into the box.
That should have been the platform for a Liverpool show of power, in fact it
turned into a scrappy, worrying display that did nothing to underpin any belief
that they could seriously challenge for the title.
If Liverpool had lost this one, it would have been the first time in 34 years
that they had lost three home league games on the bounce.
After the shattering home defeats by Barnsley and Manchester United, Liverpool
are in an unenviable position now of having to win every time they set foot on
Anfield, so worrying is their position in the pack chasing leaders United.
Boss Roy Evans was again without groin injury victim Paul Ince, so he stuck
with the side that had produced a morale boosting victory at Crystal Palace last
weekend.
Coventry, with new Dutch Under-21 star George Boateng impressing in midfield,
were without four players through suspension and Gary McAllister with a long
term cartilage injury.
The Midlanders should have been there for the taking, but after Liverpool's
impressive opening 20 minutes in which they had produced some of their best
passing and movement of the season, the concentration and confidence started to
ebb away.
In the end it was an unsatisfactory performance, failing to inspire the belief
that this side can get onto the coat tails of United.
Had it not been for the sustained work rate and pace of Owen, and the
constantly impressive attacking play of Steve McManaman, Liverpool would have
been in deep trouble.
Their second half performance revealed all the known flaws in the side. David
James was over casual and prone to absurd distribution to nearby defenders who
frankly wanted nothing to do with the ball in their own box.
Coventry in the end had Liverpool on the rack - the Anfield men were hanging
on for dear life and the mistake-ridden Liverpool display had the crowd fuming.
Coventry tried to apply the pressure, it was clear that possession and good
quality ball into the box would cause mayhem.
Sadly for the Midlanders, they didn't possess the men of ability to unpick
Liverpool's defence.
In that first 20 minutes, Liverpool looked as good as they have done all
season.
McManaman was running riot, Owen frightened the life out of stand in centre
back Dion Dublin.
The pace was hot, the passing crisp and the movement impressive. Dominic
Matteo surged onto a Oyvind Leonhardsen square pass only to blaze a shot wide.
And Owen raced away onto a Jamie Carragher ball to outwit Richard Shaw and
blast his shot across the face of Magnus Hedman's goal.
Liverpool deservedly took the lead with that Owen effort, but then the fizz
went out of their play.
Coventry got their act together, started to compete in midfield, and slowly
worked their way into the game.
Noel Whelan cracked a 20-yarder over the top, Simon Haworth had a header
scrambled wide of the post by James, and Marcus Hall produced an acrobatic hook
volley that screamed over the bar.
McManaman made two openings for Fowler, and then saw a shot of his own skim
the bar.
But it was no longer a convincing display. The second half just emphasised the
point. Liverpool squandered possession time and again, looked tentative at the
back, and that fear spread like wildfire through the side.
Owen twice produced efforts that could have put the issue beyond doubt, but it
ended with Coventry pumping the ball forward. The anxiety from home fans, the
Liverpool bench, and the players was clear for all to see.
Teams:
Liverpool: James, Kvarme, McAteer, McManaman, Leonhardsen,
Fowler, Redknapp, Harkness, Owen, Matteo, Carragher.
Subs Not Used: Babb, Riedle, Berger, Bjornebye, Nielson.
Booked: Carragher, Kvarme.
Goals: Owen 14.
Coventry: Hedman, Shaw, Huckerby, Whelan, Dublin, Telfer,
Soltvedt (Strachan 82), Boateng, Hall, Haworth (Ducros 85),
Nilsson.
Subs Not Used: Ogrizovic, O'Neill, Prenderville.
Booked: Telfer, Boateng.
Att: 39,707
Ref: P E Alcock (Redhill).
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