ANOTHER REPORT FROM THE ARMCHAIR...
Workmanlike is the word to describe this performance I think. We weren't fluent, but the character of the side shone through, and when you've got the European Footballer of the Year in your ranks, you've always got a chance in any game.
Gerard had gone for a bold attacking line up on paper, but it didn't really click early on. Spartak had to be better than they were at a couple of weeks ago at Anfield, and they certainly were. They started brightly, and had us at sixes and sevens on occasion at the back in the opening minutes.
Despite Liverpool's slow start, Milan Baros went close to opening the scoring twice in a minute, first when a loose ball fell to him from a corner, and then with a snapshot from the edge of the box which went just wide. That was on 20 minutes, and the Russian's made him rue those misses just three minutes later when they went in front
They'd been causing a lot of problems down our left early on, and it wasn't a great shock when they took the lead. It was a bad goal to concede though. A poor header from Emile, who had been pressed into action on the left wing again due to an injury to Bruno Cheyrou, saw the ball fed to Danishevski, who was allowed far too much time in the box to blast a shot by the helpless Dudek.
The lead didn't last long however, as Owen released Carragher down the right, and thenraced into the box to meet the full back's excellent cross with a pinpoint header into the bottom corner. It was a goal of pure quality. Carra defied an horrendous bobble to somehow deliver a wonderful ball, and Owen's header was a lot harder than it looked. Michael may not be the biggest, but his heading ability is vastly under-rated. Alan Shearer would have been happy with this one.
The goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of Spartak, and the stage was set for the reds' (or silver and blacks as they were tonight) to push on and put the game out of sight. Strangely though, it never happened, as the passing was loose, and there was a lack of urgency.
Murphy carried the biggest threat with his trickery around the box, but he was also sloppy with some of his passing. The drive of Gerrard was clearly missed, but his understudy Salif Diao did a more than competant job in the young scouser's absence.
Milan Baros was coming in for very strong treatment from the Moscow defence, and he'll know he was in a game after this. The Russians were obviously wary of the threat posed by the Czech after the first meeting between the sides at Anfield, but the close attention paid to Milan meant more space for Owen. And you ignore Michael at your peril.
Gerard had introduced Gregory Vignal for the ailing Emile Heskey, and it was the young Frenchman who won the free-kick from which Michael put us in front. Murphy produced his usual quality delivery, Sami met it with a header which was deflected onto the bar, and after the skipper's second effort had been blocked, the ball fell to our little number 10 who was on the spot as usual to tap home with his left foot.
Baros was immediately replaced by Diouf, and the Senegal striker was very impressive in the 20 minutes or so he was on the field. 20 minutes was all young Vignal got too, as he was strangely replaced by Igor Biscan. Houllier later revealed that he expected Spartak to bombard us with high balls, and that he sent Igor on because of his aerial ability. Fair enough I suppose, although I doubt if Greg sees it that way. He'll probably feel it was a bit of a slap in the face.
It won't have done much for poor old Igor's confidence either. The lad visibly shits himself when he gets the ball these days, and being stuck out on the left wing doesn't help. He's clearly got ability, but has no confidence at all, and it's hard to see him getting it back whilst he's at Anfield. A fresh start for Igor may be in everyone's best interests.
But anyway, Spartak were throwing men forward in search of an equaliser, and Diouf was making the most of the gaps they were leaving at the back. He'd been a threat right from the moment he came on the field, and it was down to some great approach play from El Hadji that Murphy was able to surge into the box before delivering a great ball across the six yard box for the clever Owen to complete his hat-trick. Great movement from Michael, and lovely build up play from Diouf and Danny.
Owen was the star of the show, and not just because of his hat-trick. He held the ball up well, worked very hard and fully deserved his reward. Diao was impressive in midfield, and Djimi had another good game at the back. Djimi is developing into a really good understudy for Sami and Steph, and this run in the team will do him good. His only problems seem to be those of his own making. No opponents are getting the better of him, but he is giving himself the occasional problem. Once he cuts that out, which he surely will with more experience, he'll be some player.
Team: Jerzy Dudek; Jamie Carragher, Sami Hyypia, Djimi Traore, John Arne Riise; Danny Murphy, Salif Diao, Didi Haman, Emile Heskey (Gregory Vignal, Igor Biscan): Michael Owen, Milan Baros (El Hadji Diouf):
