By Simon Mullock, PA Sport
Robbie Fowler struck at the double to fire Liverpool into third place in
the Premiership and leave Derby facing a long, hard winter.
The England striker broke the spirits of Jim Smith's side with two goals
in four early second half minutes at Anfield to make it four goals in three
games since he returned from an ankle injury and six for the season.
It meant that the 21-year-old Fowler has now scored 89 goals in 154
appearances since opening his account on his Coca-Cola Cup debut against
Fulham in 1993.
Derby were the latest team to feel the force of his awesome striking
power, and the Rams have now seen a bright start to the season disappear
completely after a dire run which has seen them now go seven league and cup
matches without a win.
Their last success came against Sunderland on September 14 and they face
an instant return to the first division unless manager Smith can find
someone to provide the goals to go with the strong defensive platform of
Igor Stimac and Paul McGrath and the intellegent midfield probings of Aljosa
Asanovic.
Ashley Ward grabbed a last-minute consolation with his first goal of the
season for the Rams in the last minute, but anything other than a Liverpool
win would have been a travesty.
Before the kick-off, both sides and sets of fans respectfully observed a
minute's silence for Chelsea vice-chairman Matthew Harding and the victims
of the recent Guatemala City stadium disaster.
Liverpool certainly found the going tough as Derby showed they intend to
stay in the Premiership despite arriving on Merseyside without a win at
Anfield since the 1969-70 season.
Stimac and McGrath kept a tight rein on Fowler, who still looked short of
match fitness after his recent ankle injury.
But things might have been easier had Patrik Berger accepted a golden
second-minute chance, the Czech Republic star slicing wildly wide after John
Barnes had sent him clear with a wonderfully weighted pass.
With Christian Dailly and Darryl Powell biting into every tackle, the
Reds were finding their usual routes through the midfield blocked off
repeatedly.
And when they did get a sight of Russell Hoult's goal, the Derby keeper
kept the home side out with plenty of skill and a little luck.
Hoult produced a fine save to tip away a Stig Bjornebye free kick from
just outside the area, but was fortunate not to be punished when he spilled
a corner from the Norwegian full-back and Gary Rowett hacked clear.
Phil Babb glanced a header just over, and Liverpool must have thought it
just wasn't their day when a stinging 20-yard drive from Fowler was beaten
out by Hoult and Steve McManaman sent the rebound against the post from an
acute angle.
But there was only going to be one outcome once Fowler had broken Derby's
resistance two minutes after half-time.
Barnes worked a corner back to Berger 25 yards out and when the Czech's
sweetly struck drive bounced back off Hoult's body, Fowler instinctively
slid in to score.
If the England striker had been a little sluggish in the first half, he
certainly had a spring in his step now and, four minutes later, he pounced
in devastating fashion again.
Jason McAteer swung in an inviting ball from the right and the diminutive
Fowler leapt between the imposing figures of Stimac and McGrath to power a
16-yard header into the corner.
Asanovic, at the heart of every Derby counter attack, almost found an
instant riposte when he fired straight at David James after a surging run
from deep.
But Liverpool were playing with a flourish now and, after linking up
superbly with Fowler, McManaman hooked a shot beyond the static Hoult but a
fraction wide.
Berger then brought the visitors' keeper into more action, whipping in an
angled drive that was beaten away, before Fowler swung a curling effort over
the angle.
Barnes then sent another long-range effort just over, but the Reds were
given an anxious last few moments after Ward gave the travelling Derby fans
in a 39,515 crowd something to cheer.
Asanovic wriggled past two challenges and delivered a low cross that was
swept against the body of James by Ward, with the ½1million former Norwich
striker scooping the rebound gratefully home.
But it was too little, too late from the visitors and they will be
praying for the swift return of three-goal top scorer Dean Sturridge from
injury, while Liverpool can keep on dreaming about the title.
TWO-GOAL FOWLER: I'M NOT FULLY FIT YET
Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler tried to play down the significance of
his side's 2-1 home victory against Derby today -- both in terms of the race
for the Premiership and his own international prospects.
Fowler struck twice in the space of four minutes early in the second half
to put his side in control and secure a win which gives the Anfield side a
point behind the leaders with a game in hand.
"It was the right time to score," said Fowler who has had to pull out of
the England squad twice this season through injury. "I am not 100% fit yet
and that showed in the first half.
"It is quite early days in the season, but important that we stay in
touch. We have just got to get as many wins as we can under our belt as we
can, there is a long way to go yet."
When asked about his own England prospects with Newcastle's Alan Shearer
now sidelined for several weeks, Fowler said: "It is pleasing to get a
mention. I have just got to keep playing well for Liverpool and anything
else is a bonus, to use a footballing cliche."
But Liverpool manager Roy Evans was disappointed his side finished the
match on the defensive after Ashley Ward's late goal gave Derby late hope of
snatching a point.
"We went 2-0 up today and then got a little bit careless and were hanging
on at the end. We are always on about being professional and had done a good
job on the day, and it would have been silly to spoil it," stated Evans.
"Once we lost that goal there was a chance of an equaliser, while at 2-0
they had no chance. It is important we benefited after yesterday's results."
Liverpool are being linked with several players, including
Middlesbrough's Nick Barmby, but Evans insisted: "We certainly would not be
telling the papers before we have made inquiries ourselves."
Derby boss Jim Smith commented: "We stayed with them, got the goal and
could possibly have got another one.
"We defended well in the first half and didn't do enough when we got the
ball but, second half, two bad defensive goals cost us.
"Overall we are pleased with our Premiership progress, but we have got to
start winning games."
By Simon Mullock, PA Sport
FOWLER LOOKS FIT TO FILL SHEARER'S BOOTS
Derby boss Jim Smith cast an envious eye over Robbie Fowler and then
tipped Liverpool to win the title.
Fowler scored twice in four early second half minutes to lift Liverpool
into third place in the Premiership with a 2-1 win over the struggling Rams
at Anfield, Ashley Ward netting a last-minute consolation.
It took the 21-year-old England striker's tally for the season to six --
he has scored four times in three outings since his return from an ankle
injury -- and he now has 89 goals in the 154 appearances since netting on
his debut against Fulham in a 1993 Coca-Cola Cup tie.
It was hard for Smith to take. His Derby side face a long, hard winter
unless they can find the firepower to add to a solid defensive and midfield
base that frustrated the Merseysiders until Fowler struck in decisive fashion.
But Smith had nothing but admiration for Roy Evans' side, saying: "We've
played Manchester United, Newcastle and now Liverpool and for me Liverpool
are the best side we have faced this season.
"Which ever team comes here they are going to find it difficult to get
the ball off them.
"The battle for the league is going to be tough, but I think that if
anybody finishes above Liverpool then they will win the league.
"We were happy to go in at 0-0 at half-time because we didn't play well.
"But our keeper, Russell Hoult, made a mistake for the first goal and
then then Fowler scored again with a great header."
The bookies obviously agree with Smith's assessment, immediately
installing Liverpool as 7-4 title favourites after this win.
Derby have scored just 10 goals in 11 Premiership outings and, with
three-goal top scorer Dean Sturridge sidelined with an ankle problem, they
posed little threat until Ward found a belated way through.
Smith added: "We are struggling to score goals, we are finding it a lot
harder in the Premier League than we did last year but that's to be expected.
"The only performance I was disappointed with was the home defeat by
Wimbledon.
"We know that picking points up at places like Liverpool would be a bonus
and the three home games we've got next month are crucial."
Liverpool boss Roy Evans paid tribute to both his team's performance and
Fowler, who showed watching Anfield legend Ian Rush just why he was allowed
to leave for Leeds in the summer.
"We were patient, it was a mature performance by us," said Evans. "We
created and missed chances, but the name of the game was to keep patient and
keep the ball moving.
"As a team we stress the need to be patient against teams that come here
and defend and look to hit you on the break.
"We did well for 75 minutes, but conceding that late goal wasn't good on
our part."
Evans believes that Fowler may be the man to replace injured Alan Shearer
when England face Georgia in a World Cup qualifier on November 9.
Today's two-goal hero still looks short of match fitness, but both goals
showed he has lost none of his predatory instincts.
Evans added: "Robbie's improving week by week and we've got another
couple of games before England play.
"He showed great awareness for his first goal and his second was a great
header -- for a little fella he's good in the air."
Evans also revealed that Liverpool are considering taking legal action
over newspaper allegations that claimed fringe player Mark Kennedy has a
drink problem.
He said: "I'm not going to comment other than to say that we are speaking
with our lawyers about taking legal action."
