Liverpool and Southampton played out a lifeless draw at Anfield this afternoon as the home sides Champions League hopes again took another bash. They may have gone back into third spot on goal difference, but only a miracle will keep Liverpool there now. Leeds, if they beat Everton tomorrow, will put themselves in pole position to grab that one last, lucrative place in Europe's elite competition. Liverpool have spent nine months battling to get themselves into the top three, and have all but thrown it away in 16 agonising days. Four games, just two points and no goals has seen Gerard Houllier's painstaking construction of a new Liverpool come apart at the seams.
The Liverpool players did the customary lap of honour after their last home game of a blossoming season, but the cheers and songs were hollow in the end as the Anfield side will probably have to settle for a UEFA Cup spot that was assured before a ball had been kicked. Houllier's promised shake-up saw Dietmar Hamann dropped from midfield, Michael Owen unable even to make the substitutes' bench while Jamie Carragher went back to his more orthodox midfield role with Rigobert Song at right -back. Liverpool's new formation, with Titi Camara and Emile Heskey wide, looked unbalanced, leaving Robbie Fowler, back for his first start since September, with little obvious support.
The Saints, with five across the middle and quick-breaking Kevin Davies and Jo Tessem finding space to attack the home centre backs, looked dangerous on the break. And their two central defenders, Dean Richards and Tahar El Khalej, got the sort of easy ride at times they could hardly have expected at Anfield. The majority of Liverpool's chances were confined to long range efforts, returned striker Robbie Fowler even being called ashore early, a decision the Kop didn't take too well to.
Southampton, on the other hand, were fluid and quick on the break, and with a little more composure could have really punished Liverpool as they strained for any hint of a breakthrough.
