Liverpool 2; Middlesbrough 0: A season's grumbling discontent has not dissipated, but at least Liverpool have coaxed an element of reassuring familiarity from the dregs of their campaign. "We've always been a side who, when we have to get a result, tend to produce," said Danny Murphy and, for once, produce they did.
Had the Merseysiders been true to the midfielder's word, then the gulf between them and the pinnacle would not gape at 27 points. But, given that Liverpool's campaign has long since degenerated into a grinding pursuit of fourth place, this victory was nothing if not timely.
Breathing space has been chiselled between them and Newcastle, who are saddled by a dire away record. Hold off Aston Villa over the final two games and the season's only remaining objective will almost certainly be met.
The omens look promising largely because Liverpool will play host to Newcastle on the final afternoon: Bobby Robson has never won in this arena and, more significantly, Michael Owen has found a belated spark.
The England striker's long-term future at Anfield remains in doubt, and the key negotiations are likely to be prolonged beyond Euro 2004 when his reputation as a world-class striker could be restored across Europe, but his pesky presence was too much for Middlesbrough.
Liverpool's Champions League prospects have been improved as a result. For all the frantic energy with which the home side began this contest, they prised obdurate opponents apart only once confirmation of Villa's victory over Tottenham had swept through the dressing-room at half-time to spread jitters across the Kop. Cue Owen's intervention to settle the nerves.
The 24-year-old had twice spun and forced Mark Schwarzer to block from close range as the visitors struggled to restore their rhythm after the interval. That set an up-beat tone which substitute Steve Finnan maintained by bursting beyond Franck Queudrue to the by-line from Dietmar Hamann's pass, with Owen gathering the Limerick man's cross. The striker was shielded by Chris Riggott, only to twist and anticipate the contact. When it came, he duly crumpled to the turf.
"It was very harsh," growled Steve McClaren, dismayed on the touchline as Andy D'Urso answered the crowd's holler by pointing to the spot. Murphy stroked the penalty into the corner, Gerard Houllier punched the air in the dug-out and Liverpool breathed again.
The goal punctured the tension and victory was assured within four minutes. Harry Kewell slipped Owen into the area and, with defenders in panic, his touch freed Emile Heskey. The maligned striker steered a low finish beyond Schwarzer from 10 yards for his 11th goal of the season to give the home side breathing space.
"Our confidence is back now and I've got the belief that the boys will make it," said Houllier. "We knew the Villa result but the fight for fourth will go right to the end. We were a bit too hurried initially but had more penetrating movement in the second half."
McLaren said: "We matched their desire, attitude and intensity but our finishing didn't deserve the football we played. But for a five-minute spell after half-time we matched them throughout. Still, we're looking forward to Europe next year."
On this evidence, so too can Liverpool.
Guardian Service
