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Liverpool were stung enough by criticism to go for the attacking
option against Tottenham but they still finished bitterly frustrated
at Anfield.
A second goalless draw in four days left them with just two points
and one goal from their opening three Barclaycard Premiership games.
Boss Gerard Houllier might say he is not bothered by the critics,
but he clearly set out to show the attacking side of his Anfield
squad.
But in the end he could not legislate for a poor display by Michael
Owen and only fleeting flashes from Harry Kewell.
Spurs secured their point with a solid team shape, good organisation
and a refusal to buckle when Liverpool's attacking flow threatened
to overpower them.
Liverpool brought in Vladimir Smicer and Milan Baros, El Hadji
Diouf was retained in a midfield that included Harry Kewell in a
free role with Danny Murphy dropped.
Houllier was missing the injured Emile Heskey and Stephane Henchoz,
and that meant playing Igor Biscan in the centre of defence, giving
adventurous full-back Steve Finnan his full debut and switching
Jamie Carragher from right to left-back. John Arne Riise was also
left out.
It was a refreshing change with the accent on mobility, pace and
neat, accurate passing.
But Spurs had their moments. Helder Postiga flashed a 25-yard effort
over and youngster Rohan Ricketts popped up unmarked on the corner
of the box to force Jerzy Dudek into a plunging save, palming the
ball out for Stephen Carr to drive the rebound wide of the far post.
Dudek was again in action on 20 minutes when he had to hurl himself
to his left again to push a Postiga shot wide of the post.
And only the swift intervention of Kewell forced Anthony Gardner
to shoot wide when the corner was not cleared properly.
But Liverpool slowly got into their stride. Smicer flashed a drive
over and a flying break from defence by Kewell almost caught Spurs
cold, with Smicer's edge-of-the-box drive from the Australian's
pass dipping inches over the top.
Dean Richards, Jamie Redknapp and Carr were all booked in the first
half as they fought to contain a Liverpool side growing in confidence
and relishing its new found freedom.
As if to underline Liverpool's new intent, there was the remarkable
sight of a home central defender, Biscan, charging out of defence
with the ball, linking with Baros and racing on into the box looking
for the return, which almost reached him.
Smicer showed instantly after the break that the policy was still
attack. He won possession on the edge of the centre circle, brushed
past two tackles and forced Kasey Keller into a diving save from
the edge of the box.
The danger for Liverpool was being caught on the break as they
sought to turn their positive approach into goals.
Such a break cost Finnan a 49th-minute booking when he tripped
Mauricio Taricco as the full-back threatened to storm away.
Liverpool then had a goal disallowed on 53 minutes when Sami Hyypia
climbed to head home a Diouf corner, but was rightly penalised for
pushing.
Ledley King was the next Spurs man to be booked for body-checking
Baros.
A touch of frustration was now creeping into Liverpool's play as
all their efforts to break Spurs down were failing. Kewell, running
from deep, launched a 20 yarder high over and Steven Gerrard surged
into the box to snatch at his shot and find only the side-netting.
Another Gerrard burst into the box, to meet a pass from substitute
Murphy, forced Keller into an excellent save before Gardner became
Spurs' fifth booking for a foul on Owen.
But in the end it was a dispirited Liverpool who finished in deep
frustration.
Gerrard had two more efforts, Baros likewise, but Spurs held on
for a point their organisation and commitment deserved.
Press Association
Teams
Liverpool Dudek, Finnan, Biscan, Hyypia, Carragher,
Diouf, Gerrard, Kewell, Smicer (Murphy 72), Owen, Baros.
Subs Not Used: Kirkland, Diao, Riise, Le Tallec.
Booked: Diouf, Finnan.
Tottenham Keller, Gardner, Richards, King, Carr,
Davies, Redknapp, Ricketts, Taricco, Zamora (Kanoute 66), Postiga
(Anderton 86).
Subs Not Used: Sullivan, Bunjevcevic, Marney.
Booked: Redknapp, Richards, Carr, King, Gardner.
Att: 43,778
Ref: U Rennie (S Yorkshire).
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