Liverpool - 2 Derby County - 0SOCCER: Liverpool progress, Derby regress and Arsenal had better beware. Arsene Wenger's side were mugged by Michael Owen in last season's FA Cup final and now the Merseysiders and their England striker in particular are threatening a repeat in the league.
Owen replaced David Beckham as England captain last week and, as European footballer of the year, he was presented with his trophy before kick-off on Saturday. After that heady build-up his brace of goals, snaffled amid a plethora of missed opportunities, was about as inevitable as Derby's relegation. By the end, with Arsenal idle until yesterday, Liverpool sat top; Derby sank into the Nationwide.
"We still feel we can win the title," said Owen, whose tally for the club this season stands at a personal best of 27. "Of course Arsenal are in with the best chance because they have the games in hand but, if they slip up, then we are there waiting and they know that. That puts on its own pressures."
The visiting manager John Gregory sees the denouement differently. "United will win it," he said, "because they're the best team." But Gerard Houllier's side are doing little wrong in pursuit. They have conceded only two in their past 12 league games, 11 of which have been won.
Against Derby they began at whirlwind tempo, John Arne Riise and Nicolas Anelka forcing Andy Oakes to intercept before Owen wriggled away from Chris Riggott and Warren Barton to lift in the opener. That prompted a lull but even in a scrappy second half they might have added four or five more before Owen, fed by the substitute Emile Heskey late on, motored goalwards, skipped past the unfortunate Oakes and stroked in a second.
The Derby goalkeeper was outstanding from the opening 30 seconds, when he saved at Anelka's feet, to the last, when his side's faint hopes of Premiership salvation were extinguished.
Demotion will be crippling for a club around £24 million in debt, many of whose more underachieving players are locked into lucrative long-term contracts.
The youngsters departed Anfield in tears. "I'm committed," said Riggott, "but it may not be up to me." "They're the future for this club," said Gregory. "We have to try to hold on to them but that's not going to be easy. There are one or two of our lads who would enhance other Premiership sides and maybe we'll lose them in the end.
Others were conspicuous in their absence, most notably Fabrizio Ravanelli, who was apparently floored by a foot injury in training. "We need people who are totally committed to the team," added Gregory. "Those who want to leave can leave. I've got no time for part-time players who don't give a monkey's."
LIVERPOOL: Dudek, Carragher, Henchoz, Hyypia, Riise, Gerrard, Hamann, Murphy (Litmanen 89), Smicer (Berger 82), Anelka (Heskey 65), Owen. Subs Not Used: Xavier, Kirkland. Goals: Owen 16, 90.
DERBY CO: Oakes, Barton, Riggott, Higginbotham, Jackson, Kinkladze, Lee, Boertien, Morris, Christie, Strupar. Subs Not Used: Zavagno, Elliott, Foletti, Evatt, Bolder. Booked: Boertien, Morris, Kinkladze.
Referee: M Riley (Leeds).
