Liverpool discovered their pride to win the 160th Mersey derby, but the
showdown was dominated by another amazing incident involving two-goal Robbie
Fowler.
Fowler has to face a FA disciplinary hearing on Friday into his rumpus with
Graeme Le Saux. Now he could be in trouble for a blatant display of goading
aimed at the Everton fans behind the Anfield Road goal after he had scored a
penalty to wipe out Everton's 41st-second opener from Olivier Dacourt.
TV slow motion replays will show Fowler dancing, goading and crawling on his
knees with his nose on the ground in front of the Everton fans in an astonishing
display.
It will lead to claims that he was getting his own back for months of
unjustified abuse he has suffered from Goodison Park fans following a scurrilous
drug-taking slur.
Fowler looked to push his nose along the white line of the penalty area, and
the incident enraged the visiting supporters.
An FA spokesman said: "We will await the referee's report and view
any video evidence before deciding if there is a case to answer."
A spokesman for Merseyside Police said: "Whilst he (Fowler) did involve
himself in some self-congratulation at the visitors' end we are not of our own
volition taking any action but should any complaints arise they will be
investigated in the normal manner."
The incident soured a breathtaking derby, which ended with Everton deeper in
relegation trouble.
But they were unlucky not to force a draw after an incredible comeback in the
dying minutes from two down which saw teenager Francis Jeffers score and then
Everton had two efforts hacked off the line.
But in the end Liverpool held on, went a long way to restoring the faith of
their fans and pushed their neighbours closer to the relegation trapdoor.
Liverpool returned to Anfield for the first time in six weeks of virtual
inactivity, and boss Gerard Houllier finally switched to a 4-4-2 formation, with
Steve McManaman in the side for what will be his last Mersey derby.
Everton gave debuts to deadline-day signings Kevin Campbell and Scott Gemmill,
while Walter Smith sprung a surprise by giving youngster Michael Branch his
first start of the season up front.
Before the kick-off, both sets of fans observed an impeccable minute's silence
to mark the 10th anniversary later this month of the Hillsborough disaster.
It was a staggering contrast the wall of sound that greeted the kick-off and
then an amazing Everton goal in just 41 seconds. Steve Staunton headed out a
long throw, but the ball fell to Dacourt some 30 yards out, who marked his derby
debut with a ferocious volley that skimmed off a Steve Staunton's head and
soared over David James into the top corner.
With so much local pride at stake, the tackling was ferocious bordering on GBH
at times. Gemmill was booked for clattering Robbie Fowler, while Michael Ball
and Paul Ince were lucky not to follow after two clashes in as many minutes.
Then Nicky Barmby was booked for sending Jamie Redknapp spinning into the air
after 14 minutes. But a minute later Liverpool were level from the spot after
Marco Materazzi had tripped Ince.
Fowler drilled home to penalty, and then caused uproar with his antics and
gestures in front of the Everton fans behind that goal.
He did a jig of joy in front of them. Goodison Park fans had taken great
delight over the past couple of years in goading Fowler with abuse.
It came to a point last season where Fowler was forced to make a public denial
of drug-taking allegations.
Everton fans were chanting at Fowler but he took great delight in sinking to
his knees in front of those fans and seamed to run his nose along the white line
of the penalty area.
The incident caused uproar behind the goal, police had to move in to quell
furious Everton fans.
After the recent bust-up involving Fowler and Chelsea's Le Saux, and next
week's FA hearing into the rumpus, Fowler surely could have avoided such a
reaction.
But after 21 minutes he had scored again. Berger's corner was helped on across
the box by Staunton and McManaman, and Fowler finished it off from inside the
six-yard box. This time there was no attempt to taunt the fans.
Then a Staunton foul on Branch after 28 minutes almost produced an Everton
equaliser. Materazzi stepped up to smash a 25-yard swerving effort that crashed
against James' right hand post. Then Owen almost made it three after Berger had
driven through three strong tackles and his pass had bounced into Owen's path.
He was forced wide, but the snap shot forced Thomas Myhre to block the shot
with some measure of desperation from point-blank range.
Everton were forced to make a change at half-time, with David Weir coming on
in defence for the injured Materazzi and after 50 minutes Liverpool contrived a
chance for Owen when McManaman sent Vegard Heggem down the line, and from the
Norwegian's cross, Owen's flicked header just cleared the far post.
Referee David Elleray, who had controlled a fierce battle with plenty of
commonsense, had to spend time talking to Ince and Barmby - the latter already
booked - for a flare-up in midfield.
Liverpool looked to have settled the issue after 82 minutes when Berger
drilled home a low 18-yarder after Dacourt had headed out a Redknapp corner.
Surely this was the end of Everton. But they found astonishing reserves of
courage to hit back within two minutes when Jeffers fired in from close range
after Campbell had created the chance with dogged battling in the box.
That set up a battle at the end. Youngster Steven Gerrard, on for the injured
Heggem, twice cleared off the line from Campbell and then Danny Cadamarteri and
somehow Liverpool held on against a savage barrage.
Teams
Liverpool: James, Heggem (Gerrard 71), Song, Staunton, Matteo,
McManaman, Redknapp, Ince, Berger, Fowler (Riedle 85), Owen.
Subs Not Used: Thompson, Bjornebye, Friedel.
Goals: Fowler 15 pen, 21, Berger 82.
Everton: Myhre, Short, Watson, Materazzi (Weir 46), Ball,
Gemmill, Dacourt, Unsworth, Barmby (Jeffers 76), Campbell,
Branch (Cadamarteri 64).
Subs Not Used: Grant, Simonsen.
Booked: Gemmill, Barmby, Campbell.
Goals: Dacourt 1, Jeffers 84.
Att: 44,852
Ref: D Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill).
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
Facebook