English FA Premiership: The Wolves refused to be driven from Liverpool's door and now, where there was merely vain hope, there is genuine belief in the Black Country.
Kenny Miller's stunning last-minute volley, struck crisply across the exposed Jerzy Dudek just as Liverpool thought they had shattered Wolverhampton's four-month unbeaten home run, earned his Wolves side a deserved draw. On the back of 11 home matches without defeat, this was another point gleaned towards safety.
For Gerard Houllier, the occasionally apologetic game of catch-up stumbles on. Though they emerged with a point from a place where Manchester United got none on Saturday, this morning they trail fourth-placed Charlton by four points and will be cursing a late miss which saw Danny Murphy hit a post when he should have settled their nerves.
While Wolves' feisty workaholic approach of Saturday was maintained, early on Liverpool proved less accommodating than United had been in front of goal.
This was the first time Houllier was able to call upon his key quartet - Steven Gerrard, Harry Kewell, Michael Owen and Dietmar Hamann - for a Premiership game this term. Add to that the returning full-backs Steve Finnan and Jamie Carragher and this was a more recognisable Reds side, and initially they purred. By the interval, they led.
Finnan's had been a reassuring presence on the right and it was the Irishman's angled pass three minutes from half-time which sent Bruno Cheyrou spinning away from Paul Butler to lift a right-foot volley over Michael Oakes and into the net. In terms of what preceded his recent run in the first-team, the Frenchman's career on Merseyside is enjoying something of a renaissance, though it was Gerrard's energy and Owen's eager running which had tormented the home side.
For all that Wolves snarled into the tackle and emulated their work-rate of Saturday, Liverpool eked out too many chances for comfort. Oakes was forced to palm away Emile Heskey's close-range volley while Owen, skipping around two challenges and wriggling into view of goal, forced the goalkeeper to smother from close-range. A more eager Heskey might have gobbled up the rebound.
How Dave Jones must have wished Carl Cort, sitting in the stand hoping to complete a £1.5 million move from Newcastle today, could add much needed bite to his team's front-line. While Miller and Steffen Iversen displayed admirable understanding, their effectiveness appeared limited.
Only when Miller flicked an awkwardly bouncing ball over the prone Igor Biscan to free his partner did reward beckon, but the Norwegian laboured over his first touch and allowed the recalled Dudek to smother.
The Pole had returned to the side despite Houllier's attempts to extend Paul Jones's loan from Southampton until the end of the season, with Dudek gathering Lee Naylor's free-kick to preserve the visitors' advantage. Only Arsenal and United have lost fewer home games than Wolves and, as the crowd bayed, the visitors retreated into their shell.
Stephane Henchoz had replaced the ponderous Biscan at half-time but neither he nor his defensive partner, Sami Hyypia, exuded much confidence. When Colin Cameron danced unhindered into space on the edge of the area, Dudek was forced to save. The Scot's subsequent cross was flicked on by Miller and Iversen, alone in front of goal and with the goalkeeper helpless, sliced horrendously over the bar.
Houllier said afterwards about Miller's equaliser: "I am very annoyed with the referee because it wasn't a corner. I don't know why the referee gave a corner but we have to be disappointed with ourselves as well. The players were angry that a corner was given but we should have forgot about that and kept our concentration. We were nervous at times."
Guardian Service
WOLVERHAMPTON: Oakes, Irwin, Craddock, Butler, Naylor, Newton (Cameron 20), Rae, Ince, Kennedy (Silas 72), Iversen (Ganea 82), Miller. Subs Not Used: Clyde, Ikeme. Booked: Ince, Rae. Goals: Miller 90.
LIVERPOOL: Dudek, Finnan, Biscan (Henchoz 45), Hyypia, Carragher, Cheyrou (Murphy 75), Hamann, Gerrard, Kewell, Heskey, Owen. Subs Not Used: Jones, Riise, Le Tallec. Booked: Carragher. Goals: Cheyrou 42.
Referee: B Knight (Kent).
