If this evening was meant to be all about Michael Owen, then somebody forgot to tell Fulham. Jean Tigana’s easy-on-the-eye Premiership newcomers left Anfield with a point that might have been all three and delayed the England striker’s ascension to Liverpool’s hundred goal club. In truth, Owen had few chances to reach three figures and Liverpool’s more potent threat came from another homegrown youngster. Steven Gerrard rattled the woodwork twice, but a defeat would have been exceptionally hard on Fulham, who demonstrated fight to go alongside their undoubted flair.
Caretaker manager Phil Thompson claimed afterwards that Liverpool had done everything but score, but not even the home fans would have bought that particular interpretation of what they had just watched. The Premiership pacesetters looked lethargic in the final third, bar one prolonged ten-minute passage of pressure just before half time where Fulham’s resilient back line looked vulnerable to caving in, and it was the visitors who created the clearer chances. Neither Barry Hayles nor Steve Finnan could take the most presentable of them but Tigana won’t be particularly perturbed by the extension of their impressive unbeaten run to eight league games.
Fulham showed few signs of being overawed at the prospect of taking on the league leaders. Steed Malbranque offered an early indication of their ambition, swivelling away from Saami Hyypia before forcing a sharp save from Jerzy Dudek. The Polish goalkeeper could only parry the French midfielder’s effort, but Louis Saha couldn’t reach the rebound and there were sighs of relief all around Anfield when an ex-Everton man, John Collins, lashed the follow up over the bar.
Owen’s best opportunities came in quick succession as Liverpool looked to respond. His snapshot from an Emile Heskey flick on after Jamie Carragher’s long throw didn’t unduly trouble Edwin van der Sar and, when he was released by a perceptive pass from Danny Murphy, he could only shoot straight at the big Dutchman’s legs. Gerrard headed a free-kick from Gary McAllister onto a post and then saw van der Sar use all of his height to tip over an improvised chip from the lively midfielder. Fulham haven’t conceded a goal in the top flight for more than six hours – although they were fortunate to hang onto that record when Heskey miskicked in front of goal and Gerrard once again struck the frame of the goal having been teed up by McAllister once more.
Tigana acknowledged Fulham’s fortune afterwards, but lauded his players for adopting a slightly different game plan for this task. “We were lucky, the Frenchman told his post-match press conference, “but we adapted our game; we usually play a very offensive style but we knew Liverpool are strong on the counter, so I made the team slow down the tempo. This was encouraging. The team is progressing step by step and it was always going to be difficult in the first season, so to leave with a point is satisfying.”
LIVERPOOL (4-4-2): Dudek; Carragher, Henchoz, Hyypia, Riise; Murphy (Biscan 81), Gerrard, McAllister, Berger (Litmanen 66); Heskey, Owen. Subs (not used): Kirkland, Diomede, Wright.
FULHAM (4-4-2): van der Sar; Finnan, Brevett, Melville, Goma; Davis (Legwinski 59), Collins, Malbranque, Boa Morte; Saha, Hayles. Subs (not used): Taylor, Knight, Clark, Stolcers.
REFEREE: Jeff Winter (Cleveland).
ATTENDANCE: 37,163.
