Leeds completed a League double over Liverpool at Anfield today winning 2-1 and making them favourites to qualify for next season's Champions League. Leeds held onto a two-goal first half lead born out of total dominance of the first period.
Liverpool, who were outfought and outplayed in that crucial spell, hit back after the break with Steven Gerrard scoring the club's 100th goal of the season, before getting himself sent off for a second bookable offence.
The significance of that 70th-minute incident had a major say in the outcome. Gerrard, Liverpool's best player, was leading the recovery charge but without his influence, 10-man Liverpool just couldn't salvage something from a game that was so crucial to both camps.
It was only Liverpool's second home league defeat of the season, but it prove a very costly one. The Reds are now six points behind third-placed Leeds with two games in hand. Leeds were so much the better team before the break. Rio Ferdinand, outstanding throughout, had headed them ahead with Lee Bowyer adding a second before the break.
But although Liverpool mounted a brave comeback, Leeds deserved the points for the first half quality and second-half defiance. Leeds also had Dominic Matteo in superb form at the back on his first return to Anfield since Liverpool sold him last summer. The match was won in the first half when David O'Leary's men turned in a performance of sheer quality, faster to everything, more mobile and tenacious and far more together as a unit. Everything that Liverpool were not. (PA)
Filed by Seán Folan
