The dark shadow of yet another Michael Owen injury hung over this bitterly
frustrating afternoon for Liverpool.
The England youngster limped away in the first half with what looked like
another hamstring problem, and that could be serious news for Anfield and
England.
But while Liverpool were fretting and fading, the day was a points victory for
Paul Ince and Bryan Robson.
Ince, who left these parts spitting venom and bile in all directions last
summer, turned in a typically battling display to hold together a desperate Boro
side needing a shot of confidence after such a recent poor run.
That run has left boss Robson facing abuse from his own fans and calls for his
head.
But his team fought until they dropped and nicked a point that few would have
expected. Robson's tactics were predictably defensive, but hardly surprising
when a manager needs something, anything, quickly, to turn the tide.
At the back veteran Gary Pallister was outstanding, and all around him
colleagues fought for their lives.
Liverpool, already without Robbie Fowler, Titi Camara and Jamie Redknapp, did
not need to lose another striker. But that was the agony that befell them.
They ran out of ideas and found themselves battering against a wall of
defenders from almost the first whistle. There was no guile, no invention and no
firepower to give them what would have been their eighth straight home league
win.
Boro went away with a priceless point and Houllier was left to consider his
next move as he chases a Champions League place. But where he finds a top
quality striker at this stage of the season to plug the gap up front - surely
only a loan deal from abroad - is hard to imagine.
Ince got the expected abuse on his return to Anfield and it was hardly
surprising when he found himself booked after just 20 minutes for a tackle from
behind on Vladimir Smicer.
But he had cause to complain having been felled and kicked in a melee minutes
beforehand and seen Liverpool's David Thompson get away with a wild and late
challenge on Curtis Fleming early on.
Such are the vagaries now of refereeing and the supposed softer line from the
men in black. Referee Steve Dunn had overlooked plenty and then opted to book
Juninho for a mild piece of shirt pulling. No wonder players are left wondering
what on earth is going on these days!
Liverpool were confronted by a deep Boro defence from the start, inviting them
on and hoping to catch them on the break. It almost happened when Juninho got
away from Stephane Henchoz before firing in a shot that Sander Westerveld held,
and Ince found himself clear and blatantly offside - he even stopped to turn and
ask the referee - before running on and into a desperate Westerveld tackle
outside his box.
That apart it was all about Liverpool probing for the openings in a mass
defence, with Thompson and Steven Gerrard in particular, battling away well.
But it was the loss of Owen after just 26 minutes that overshadowed the half.
He chased a ball down the right, and crossed into the area. But nobody watched
where the ball had gone, only that Owen sat on the turf clutching his leg.
Not the left, which had caused him so much trouble since last season, but what
looked like another tweak of his right hamstring. He motioned instantly to the
bench that he wanted to come off, and another striker on his way back from
injury - Dutchman Erik Meijer - took over as Owen disappeared down the tunnel
with a wave to the Kop more in exasperation and frustration.
Still Liverpool poured forward, and Meijer just missed a Vladimir Smicer low
ball into the box before Gerrard sent a fine chip from 18 yards inches over the
bar.
The second half lacked the bite of the first, as Boro looked more comfortable
and Liverpool struggled for ideas.
Patrik Berger and Hamann, both with edge-of-the-box efforts that flashed
narrowly wide, were about the only real chances Liverpool created as the game
slipped into its final phase.
Danny Murphy came on up front for the energetic Thompson, Smicer moving back
to his usual right wing role before disappearing from the fray altogether with
15 minutes left to let teenager Jon Newby have a go up front.
Smicer, being championed consistently now by Houllier as a true class act just
can't seem to find the sort of consistency to justify such praise.
Boro were still content to sit back, defend in numbers and hope Juninho could
produce some Brazilian magic. Considering the recent mess Boro have found
themselves in it's really not surprising that they didn't want to take the
slightest risk.
Any point from Anfield is worthy of note and does wonders for morale and
confidence.
Teams
Liverpool: Westerveld, Carragher, Hyypia, Henchoz, Matteo,
Thompson (Murphy 57), Hamann, Gerrard, Berger,
Smicer (Newby 76), Owen (Meijer 28).
Subs Not Used: Staunton, Nielsen.
Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Mustoe, Festa, Pallister,
Vickers (Gavin 68), Fleming, Cooper, Ince, Summerbell, Juninho,
Campbell (Ricard 82).
Subs Not Used: Beresford, Maddison, Kilgannon.
Booked: Juninho, Ince, Ricard.
Att: 44,324.
Ref: S Dunn (Bristol).
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