The Blues marched to yet another famous victory as a superb Marcus Stewart goal won the day at Anfield. While it was backs to the wall at times, it was another huge performance showing spirit aplenty as well as some lovely passing.
Town lined up with James Scowcroft restored to the line-up with David Johnson dropping to the bench. Richard Wright returned after his wrist problem and new signing Alun Armstrong began the game as sub. Liverpool left out Emile Heskey, playing Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler up front.
Both sides had trouble with the pitch at times with passes going astray, balls missed and overhit. However, both sides had spells when they were passing at their best. Nick Barmby was finding space down the Liverpool left and was giving the Town defence more than a few problems. One such break led to a cross flying to an unmarked Michael Owen just a few yards in front of the Town goal. A goal seemed a formality, however Owen scuffed the ball past Wright’s left post. Town had the pitch to thank for helping out on this occasion.
Town gradually got more and more possession as the half wore on, but this was not being converted into chances. Every time a player seemed in a position to put a cross in they chose to either pass or go past a player.
There was the odd moment of showboating from Town with Jermaine Wright and Jim Magilton particularly flashy. At one point Magilton dispossessed Gary McAllister before backheeling the ball to Fabian Wilnis who slipped it inside to Jermaine Wright before the Dutchman received the return pass.
Hermann Hreidarsson made a strong run down the left before walloping a shot which was saved by Westerveld. Earlier he had made a couple of errors within a few seconds of each other that might have led to a Liverpool goal. First he missed the through ball, then he failed to get to the subsequent cross. Luckily for Hermann the other defenders were alive to the chance and the danger was cleared.
Town went ahead when Marcus Stewart picked up the ball about ten yards outside the penalty area. He played the ball to Jamie Clapham who returned the ball to him inside the area, but wide on the left. Stewart cut in past the defenders and Westerveld rushed out to him. Stewart always seems to come off best in these situations and with one shimmy the Town striker was past the Dutchman. He looked up and slipped the ball past the defender who had placed himself on the line. It was another excellent goal from a man who is clearly finding scoring as easy in the Premiership as he has every other division.
The half-time whistle went with the Town fans singing the Tractor Boys mantra to a rather miserable looking Anfield.
Town started the second half brightly and Jamie Clapham went close with a right foot shot well saved by Westerveld. James Scowcroft went close with a header.
The majority of the second period though was Town defending in depth as the home side tried to probe for a breakthrough. Town were breaking away when they could and Liverpool were creating very little of substance.
Michael Owen was replaced by Emile Heskey and immediately this had an effect. A ball was pumped through the Town defence with Heskey looking yards offside. He approached Richard Wright, but appeared to think he had more time and John McGreal and Mark Venus got back and put the ball out for a corner.
Shots rained in, but most were well away from the target. Sub Smicer hit one powerfully out for a throw. Referee Alan Wiley seemed very willing to give the home side freekicks. On a number of occasions the Town crowd hadn’t a clue what decisions were given for and the players didn’t seem any wiser. Mark Venus picked up a booking for arguing about one such freekick which was then moved ten yards forward.
The clock ticked towards the end and Richard Wright made his save of the day when he flew across his line to stop an effort smashed in from the left. Eventually the fourth official held up his board, two minutes. Unfortunately for Town fans he raised it again a few minutes later this time with three minutes being announced. Given that we had already played 48 minutes by this stage this seemed a little odd.
However, the nail-biting was almost at an end and as Town kept the ball in the Liverpool half Mr Wiley blew the whistle. Town had won at Anfield for the second time running and it had been a very similar game to the match in 1995.
The players ran over to the Town crowd to celebrate probably the best of the several excellent victories so far this season. Jim Magilton (ex-Liverpool player) hugged John McGreal (lifelong Liverpool fan) and Matt Holland did his usual stint applauding the crowd.
Up to third again, can this season get any better?
Town have drawn Morecambe away in the FA Cup third round date yet to be announced, but at some point over the first weekend of the new year. Expect a Sky game!