Manchester United and Chelsea might pack a bigger punch in the transfer market and possess squads which are the envy of their rivals, but only Liverpool have Steven Gerrard and when the title race is decided, his desperation for a Premier League winners’ medal could just tip the balance away from the power and riches at Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge.
Personal desire can be a potent ingredient and Liverpool are beginning to make a habit of turning draws into victories this season, especially at Anfield. Gerrard has been central to all of those dramatic late wins.
Against Portsmouth, the Liverpool captain sent Tony Adams back to the south coast with nothing to show for his top-flight managerial debut thanks to a 76th-minute penalty that sealed a deserved three points for the league leaders.
But Gerrard did more than merely score from the spot. Just as this game appeared to be drifting towards a costly draw for the home side, Gerrard did what he did best and dragged his team to victory, one which maintains their three-point lead at the Premier League summit.
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez said: “After the victory at Chelsea, three points tonight was really important. We changed four or five players and still won, so that sends a message to the squad, the players and everyone that we can change players and win games.
“We are still top of the table and we want to try to be at the top for a long time, but the most important thing for us now is to win the next three points. When you are top, it shows the confidence you have in yourself.”
In previous campaigns, this could have been a tale of what might have been for Liverpool, but Gerrard’s penalty ensured that it was points won, rather than points lost against the FA Cup holders.
Portsmouth’s woeful record at Anfield, a ground where they last secured a league victory in 1951, did not bode well for the visitors, but after surviving an early scare when Dirk Kuyt struck a post on 10 minutes, they proceeded to take charge of the first half with their five-man midfield stifling Liverpool.
Unbeaten this season and having ended Chelsea’s 86-game unbeaten Premier League home record at the weekend, Liverpool could have no complaints with Adams adopting a defensive approach. Dropping six-goal top scorer Jermain Defoe to the bench underlined what Adams wanted to get out of the game.
But despite soaking up pressure and carving out dangerous counter-attacks, Portsmouth began to be pushed deeper and deeper as Gerrard propelled Liverpool forward in the closing stages.
The big, red clock at the side of the Kop appears to inject mysterious powers into Liverpool, and Gerrard in particular, as it ticks down towards the 90th minute and once again he came to the rescue when referee Steve Tanner pointed to the penalty spot following a needless hand-ball by Papa Bouba Diop.
David James has form for saving penalties, but Gerrard doesn’t miss many and, though his England team-mate almost reached the ball as it flew into the net, Gerrard did just enough to score.
Adams said: “It’s hard to be pleased when you’ve lost 1-0, but if those players continue to show that level of commitment to me, they won’t go wrong.
“Steven Gerrard is one of the best midfielders in the world, though, and if he stays fit, Liverpool are going to do very well this season.” Source;
telegraph