Kevin Phillips upstaged £11million man Emile Heskey and salvaged a point for
Sunderland at Anfield on Saturday.
Heskey played the full 90 minutes following his big-money move from Leicester
and had a hand in the opening goal after just three minutes with Patrik Berger
scoring from the spot.
It seemed Heskey was on his way to a winning bonus on his debut and the Kop
wouldn't have begrudged him a penny. He settled in quickly to his new
surroundings and his pace and strength won over the home support.
However Sunderland have a hero of their own in Phillips and he grabbed his
25th goal of the season from the spot with 13 minutes remaining.
Phillips rattled the ball into the roof of the net after being brought down by
keeper Sander Westerveld.
Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier gave Heskey his chance from the start and
the 22-year-old striker partnered Erik Meijer in the front line.
Michael Owen, who played 90 minutes in the reserves in midweek after a
hamstring injury, was on the bench with Titi Camera.
Finland international Sami Hyypia had recovered from an ankle injury and
skippered the side.
The Kop were chanting `Bruno' after Heskey won a throw-in after a couple of
minutes off Darren Holloway.
But the noise was nothing compared to what happened a minute later when
Liverpool took the lead.
Heskey's pace and strength took him away from Holloway and the Sunderland
defender reacted by tripping him up.
Referee Graham Poll immediately pointed to the spot and the Kop raised the
roof.
Berger stepped up and rammed an unstoppable shot into the net, sending Danish
goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen the wrong way.
Sunderland were stunned and Niall Quinn appealed for a penalty himself in the
12th minute when he seemed to get a nudge from Stephane Henchoz - but referee
Poll would have none of it.
Heskey was proving to be a thorn in Sunderland's side for the second
successive week after scoring in Leicester's victory seven days ago.
He skipped away down the right after 14 minutes before delivering a marvellous
cross.
Meijer latched onto it, only to see his effort drift narrowly over the top and
into the crowd.
Liverpool stepped up the pace and skipper Hyypia saw a header flash wide of
the post following a corner from Berger.
Hamann thundered a shot wide then went close with another fierce effort - a
25-yard thunderbolt which was superbly tipped over by Sorensen.
Sunderland were being restricted to the occasional breakaways and rarely
tested keeper Westerveld.
Liverpool poured forward in numbers five minutes before the break and their
overall confidence was emphasised by Jamie Carragher, who was prepared to test
Sorensen from 25 yards out but his effort didn't match his optimism.
Liverpool finished the half in control with Berger going close after Dominic
Matteo had played the ball in.
Heskey went on another surging run three minutes into the second half and
Sunderland defender Darren Williams was grateful to concede a corner.
Hyypia should have extend Liverpool's lead in the 53rd minute but glanced a
header wide following a corner from Berger.
Sunderland almost pulled level five minutes later when Niall Quinn flicked the
ball on to Phillips, only for Westerveld to make a superb block.
Heskey then played the ball into the path of Meijer but his effort from just
outside the area was hopelessly off target.
Hyypia linked up with the attack again in the 75th minute, only to see his
shot from the edge of the area go narrowly over the top.
Owen came on for Meijer with 13 minutes remaining but Phillips stunned the Kop
with that equaliser.
Teams
Liverpool:
Westerveld, Matteo, Hyypia, Henchoz,
Song (Camara 82), Berger, Hamann, Carragher,
Gerrard (Murphy 46), Meijer (Owen 76), Heskey.
Subs Not Used: Staunton, Friedel.
Booked: Gerrard, Carragher.
Goals: Berger 2 pen.
Sunderland:
Sorensen, Makin, Williams, Craddock, Holloway,
Kilbane, Schwarz, Rae, Thirlwell, Phillips, Quinn.
Subs Not Used: P. Butler, Summerbee, Marriott, Roy, Reddy.
Booked: Williams, Thirlwell.
Goals: Phillips 77 pen.
Att: 44,693
Ref: G Poll (Tring).
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