Hundreds of Coventry fans clapped Gary McAllister off but the sportsmanship barely hid their pain. With two late swings of his right boot the Scot had left Gordon Strachan so deep in the mire that only a few tufts of ginger hair are still visible. McAllister, who departed Highfield Road last summer for nothing, returned to ruin everything.
By taking the corner from which Sami Hyypia headed Liverpool in front in the 83rd minute and curling in a fine free-kick soon afterwards, McAllister nudged Coventry closer to the First Division.
His contributions kept Liverpool in the race for the third Champions League spot but the midfielder's celebrations were so muted it seemed even an Intertoto Cup place was beyond reach at Anfield.
"He was not overwhelmed with joy," explained Liverpool's manager Gerard Houllier. "He spent four years at Coventry and he likes the club, so it was sad for him to know he may have put an end to their presence in the Premier League." Hurting Strachan, his one-time Leeds and Scotland team-mate, must have heightened the emotions.
The four goals McAllister has scored in his past four matches, one of which took Liverpool into the UEFA Cup final, have highlighted not just the astuteness of Houllier's signing but how much the 36-year-old is missed at Highfield Road.
Strachan, of course, is not throwing in the towel, though he seemed ready to hurl various other objects at the officials on Saturday. Coventry are such masters of the great escape it is no wonder he feels a 35th consecutive top-flight season may be attainable. To stay up they must win at Aston Villa on Saturday and at home to Bradford a fortnight later and pray others slip up.
Coventry's display was both encouraging and deflating for their fans. They played with the energy and commitment Strachan demands. For long periods they matched and stifled Liverpool, applying pressure, but their failure to take chances cost them again.
Strachan felt matters would be decided at set pieces, and McAllister proved him right. "Gary hasn't played all the games," Houllier said, "and that's probably why his freshness now is giving so much to us." A 10-month absence in 1997-98 because of a knee ligament injury may have elongated his career.
McAllister may yet help Liverpool to two more cups and the third place which is their priority. Coventry's loss is Liverpool's gain.
COVENTRY: Kirkland, Quinn, Hall, Williams, Breen, Hadji, Telfer, Eustace, Chippo, Bellamy (Zuniga 64), Hartson. Subs Not Used: Hedman, Edworthy, Guerrero, Strachan. Booked: Breen, Quinn, Williams.
LIVERPOOL: Westerveld, Babbel, Hyypia, Henchoz, Carragher, Murphy, McAllister, Hamann, Berger (Ziege 74), Heskey (Biscan 86), Fowler (Owen 62). Subs Not Used: Arphexad, Wright. Booked: Heskey. Goals: Hyypia 83, McAllister 86.
Referee: S Bennett (Kent).
