Liverpool ... 1 Bayer Leverkusen ... 0:Champions League Quarter-Finals, First Leg: A goal from Sami Hyypia, a gamekeeper turned poacher, took Liverpool part way towards the last four of the Champions League here last night, just when Anfield was despairing at their inability to break down Bayer Leverkusen's well-organised, disciplined defence. But with such a narrow lead, Liverpool themselves still have much defending to do.
While motivation was never going to be a problem for Liverpool, the enhanced prospect of a semi-final against Manchester United must have intensified the concentration of Gerard Houllier's side.
However poorly Bayer might have performed at Arsenal in the second phase, they were still the German league leaders and amply equipped to punish any defensive lapses.
Not that the Liverpool defence can often be accused of taking their eye off the ball. Consistency at the back has been fundamental to their success and last night they looked to the counter-attacking strengths of Steven Gerrard, Dietmar Hamann, Danny Murphy and Vladimir Smicer to support Michael Owen and Emile Heskey up front.
Bayer set out to crowd Liverpool in midfield, leaving the lanky Bulgarian, Dimitar Berbatov, up front while seeking to get Oliver Neuville and Ze Roberto forward on the flanks whenever possible.
Their readiness to defend in depth also demanded an accuracy of approach from Liverpool which was not immediately forthcoming.
Nevertheless, Heskey did have Jorg Butt moving quickly after 10 minutes to push wide a shot which was mishit but still on target.
Liverpool were prepared to be patient, keeping possession as they probed for an opening. But it was some time before they produced a pass of sufficient penetration to disturb the Bayer defenders.
Leverkusen, meanwhile, offered little more than token attacks although, when Yildiray Basturk, Bernd Schneider and Michael Ballack did begin to string passes together, the makings of a threat was there. Not that Hyypia and Stephane Henchoz were going to be easily disturbed.
The more the game progressed the more Liverpool's situation demanded someone, Gerrard ideally, with the confidence and determination to bring the ball forward strongly from midfield.
Too often the Bayer defence were allowed to wait for passes hit high and long in the vague direction of Heskey or Owen.
Towards half-time, Bayer sensed that, in their attacking haste, Liverpool might start to leave themselves exposed. Certainly Leverkusen were now prepared to get more men forward.
Liverpool could well have been in serious trouble after Gerrard had given the ball away on the right, for Ze Roberto's angled pass found Berbatov striding clear and onside. But, having drifted to the left with Ze Roberto now waiting in the middle for a return, the Bulgarian's poor delivery wasted their one real opening of the first half.
Liverpool might have taken the lead three minutes before half-time had the recipient of Gerrard's raking centre been Heskey rather than Smicer, who met it with an inconsequential shake of the head, the ball flying high and wide.
No matter. Another two minutes and they were in front, and in circumstances which Bayer's defence should have prevented.
John Arne Riise's long, searching corner from the right defeated Diego Placente's leap at the far post and fell to Owen, who drove it back across the goal for the unforgiveably unmarked Hyypia to turn in from a yard out.
For Liverpool the denial of an away goal was as important as scoring another themselves. So there was no concerted rush after half-time to capitalise on a slightly unexpected lead. Even when one of Gerrard's inspired through passes sent Murphy clear after 52 minutes, nobody seemed anxious to race up in support.
The next time Murphy broke away, however, he was able to set up Heskey to force a corner which Riise met with a smart overhead shot that Butt pushed wide.
LIVERPOOL: Dudek, Carragher, Henchoz, Hyypia, Riise, Murphy, Hamann, Gerrard, Smicer (Berger 76), Owen (Litmanen 70), Heskey. Subs Not Used: Arphexad, Barmby, McAllister, Biscan, Wright. Booked: Carragher, Hyypia. Goals: Hyypia 44.
BAYER LEVERKUSEN: Butt, Sebescen, Lucio, Ramelow, Placente, Schneider, Ballack, Basturk, Ze Roberto, Neuville (Kirsten 74), Berbatov (Zivkovic 66). Subs Not Used: Juric, Babic, Dzaka, Burkhardt, Kleine. Booked: Lucio.
Referee: A Frisk (Sweden).
Guardian Service
