ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE:OUT ON his own an hour after the final whistle Robbie Keane was completing an exhaustive series of shuttle-runs inside a deserted Anfield. The stadium could have been full, the striker could have stayed out there all weekend and Rafael Benitez would have still chosen not to notice.
It is difficult to sympathise with a €22.7 million Premier League forward and somewhat remiss to again dwell on Keane's torment when he played no part in an enthralling spectacle built on Hull City's exuberance, Liverpool errors and their refusal to wilt. That he played no part, however, drove Liverpool players and supporters to distraction on Saturday when Benitez undermined his claim the club would be 80 per cent certain of the title if they remained top at Christmas with his idiosyncratic substitutions.
When they work, even through accident as much as design (Istanbul), the Liverpool manager is visibly affronted that anyone could doubt his tactical acumen. When they don't, and for the third home league game in succession Liverpool failed to resolve the puzzle of stoic defending, he adopts exactly the same stance. Arrogance is a prerequisite of all leading managers but there are times when it creates unnecessary problems for Benitez.
The Liverpool manager appeared to be almost toying with a disconsolate Keane as he sought to inject new life, new purpose and new ideas into a revival that, unlike so many others this season, faded out with a whimper.
Having spiked Hull's euphoria to draw level through two Steven Gerrard goals, Benitez overlooked the Republic of Ireland captain for first Nabil El Zhar and then Ryan Babel from his substitutes. Anfield kept its misgivings in check. With four minutes remaining, Dirk Kuyt exhausted and opportunities drying up, Benitez surveyed the options to his right one final time and introduced Lucas Leiva for Javier Mascherano. Disbelief poured down around him.
A furious Mascherano sprinted off before his number came up while Keane shook his head and spread his arms in response to questions from the crowd. Liverpool's supporters were condemned for jeering Lucas's display against Fulham and the goalless draw against West Ham, yet their criticism here was not directed at the Brazilian midfielder personally, or at the result. The jeers this time were for Benitez' ears. He remained unbowed.
"Mascherano is a defensive midfielder, Lucas is more offensive. He can pass the ball and he is more precise," Benitez explained. "The best thing was to use wingers and an offensive midfielder that could pass the ball better, because in the last minutes of the game you need someone calm who can pass the ball better. To put more people into the box and start playing long balls is not the solution for this team."
Neither were El Zhar, Babel or Lucas, the inexperienced, inconsistent trio preferred ahead of a 28-year-old forward with 171 club goals to his name.
Benitez' infallibility contrasted starkly with Phil Brown's admission Hull could have notched another remarkable away win here had he another right-back on his bench. Bernard Mendy menaced Liverpool left-back Andrea Dossena, until he reverted to defence, winning the free-kick against Sami Hyypia that produced Paul McShane's headed breakthrough and leaving the Italian trailing in the approach to Jamie Carragher's own goal. "Are you Arsenal in disguise?" asked the travelling legion.
With McShane dazed by a blow to the head, and Anfield charged in Liverpool's favour, Gerrard started his latest recovery act when he converted Kuyt's cross from close range. A push from Albert Riera on Michael Turner in the build-up went unpunished and the visitors' misfortune was compounded by Mendy having to replace McShane at right-back.
Hull appealed for another foul on Turner when Kuyt towered above the centre-half and Yossi Benayoun picked out Gerrard for the equaliser. "All we are after is a level playing field . . ," said Brown. "I'm not saying the 'no' decisions from the referee was down to anything untoward, but they have cost us two points. There was also a handball in the early minutes that wasn't given against Mascherano, but I don't think we are allowed to go 3-0 up here, are we?"
- Guardian Service
