ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: Middlesbrough 2 Liverpool 0:ONLY A fool would make rash predictions about Rafael Benitez's Liverpool, but what the hell. Saturday 4.22pm, the Riverside Stadium, was the time and place when Liverpool's title aspirations breathed their last and the thought of Manchester United sitting alongside them on 18 championships could be ignored no longer. The lack of surprise was the least of their problems.
“We’ll mess it up at Middlesbrough now,” was one seasoned Kopite’s first words when the final whistle blew at the Bernabeu last Wednesday.
From the conquerors of Real Madrid to a disjointed, fragile and ultimately passionless victim of Middlesbrough within four days; the story of Benitez’s entire Anfield reign.
His team knew there was no margin for error in the challenge to United, that they had to close the gap to one point before the champions resume domestic duties on Wednesday.
They responded by rolling out the red carpet for United’s procession towards an 18th league title.
It was telling that the majority of the travelling support had long gone by the time Rob Styles confirmed Middlesbrough’s first league win since November 9th and a precious result in manager Gareth Southgate’s bid to retain top-flight status and his job.
There was no fight on Saturday in Liverpool, a team who have scripted their finest chapters through a stubborn refusal to wilt, and their opponents could even pinpoint the moment the title moved out of reach.
“When we scored our second goal their heads dropped a bit,” said Middlesbrough defender David Wheater. “They are a top-four team with a lot of quality all around, but we dealt with them well. You could almost say that when we scored our second goal it was the moment they lost the title. It’s Manchester United all the way, most people know that. They will push them, but they won’t win it.”
Soaking up pressure at the Bernabeu, sticking to a rigid game plan and punishing over-confident European giants suits Liverpool. Unfortunately for Benitez, they remain unable to find a solution against Premier League teams who do the same to them, especially when Fernando Torres is out injured and leaves a weak attack behind. The Riverside has staged many gruelling encounters for Liverpool down the years and this was among the most dispiriting. Steven Gerrard barely disguised his contempt for his errant team-mates during his 76 minutes on the pitch, before being withdrawn with cramp following a three-week absence with a hamstring strain.
Jamie Carragher cut a furious figure when substituted, glorious chances went begging, Xabi Alonso struggled to deliver the simplest pass, while Ryan Babel’s lack of endeavour was appalling. Pulling out of a 50-50 challenge with Gary O’Neil almost invited a reception committee from the away end.
The most damning verdict came in Southgate’s admission that his greatest fear before kick-off was over-confidence in Middlesbrough, a team on a winning run of one.
“I think the cup (defeat of West Ham) worked well for us and gave us confidence,” he said. “They were very relaxed and I was a bit concerned before the game that they were too relaxed and needed a bit of a gee up. You might find it hard to believe complacency sets in after one win, but it can do very quickly.”
For 30 minutes Middlesbrough looked every inch a team burdened with a club record 14 league games without a win and second-from bottom of the Premier League. Nervous and over-run as Liverpool created and missed three clear openings, another angst-ridden afternoon beckoned for Southgate.
Then Martin Skrtel, surprisingly played at right back instead of Carragher or the reserve team captain Stephen Darby, missed Stewart Downing’s corner, the ball flew beyond Jose Reina off Alonso’s thigh, and the title hopes of one club began to die while the survival prospects of another stirred.
“Carra told me he had heavy legs and so as a centre back he could run less,” Benitez explained. “At right back normally you run more, so he played at centre half and could play more. That was the idea.”
To no one’s great surprise, the Liverpool manager refused to concede the title to Alex Ferguson. His players’ body language, and lifeless response when Tuncay sealed Middlesbrough’s win with an assured finish from Jeremie Aliadiere’s cut-back, did that for him.
Guardian Service
