Liverpool to let Barnes go

Liverpool are ready to let John Barnes go after a 10-year career on Merseyside. Sartorially speaking, Anfield will be the duller for his departure but the decision confirms the club's recognition of the fact that if they are to deny Manchester United a hat-trick of Premier League titles the team will need to achieve a change of gear at least as dramatic as Barnes's jackets.

Roy Evans announced the news after Liverpool's performance in drawing 1-1 with Wimbledon at Selhurst Park on Saturday had posed immediate questions about what role, if any, Barnes might have in a team galvanised by the arrival of Paul Ince and the extra attacking pace of their 17-year-old prodigy, Michael Owen.

"If an offer comes in for John we will be prepared to accept it," the Liverpool manager explained, which was as good as saying that Barnes would be allowed a free transfer. Evans also made it clear that the player was unlikely to play a significant part in this season's campaign.

"Obviously John wants to be in the starting line-up," he said, "as a player of his calibre would be at most clubs. In the latter years of his career he doesn't want to go on sitting on the bench."

It will be surprising if the 33-year-old Barnes does not find a first-team place elsewhere in the Premier League although, paradoxically, his patient, watchful habit of dwelling on the ball until an opening presented itself, began to be seen as a weakness in Liverpool's football last season. They were often accused of trying to pass the ball into the net.

If Barnes had not already received the message Saturday's match spelt it out in unequivocal terms. In Liverpool's midfield where, until recently, Barnes was the anchor, Ince has wasted no time reviving Anchors Aweigh.

Compared to last season, even in Saturday's oppressive heat, Liverpool's football was fast forward compared to frame hold. Yet their passing lost nothing of its accuracy or imagination, and on an afternoon when it was essential that the ball did the work Liverpool, not surprisingly, looked the less exhausted side.

While Barnes is the player most immediately affected by Anfield's change of tack other, younger members of Evans's squad have little room for complacency. Steve McManaman, for example, is now a valuable option rather than the only option.

McManaman had Kenny Cunningham dogging his footsteps and he consistently dragged the defender across field, leaving more room for Stig Bjornebye to advance on the left. McManaman gave a sound, unselfish performance and one well-timed beating of the offside trap might have brought him a goal early in the second half.

The prospect of Owen forming an emergency partnership up front with Karl-Heinz Riedle, a German international 14 years his senior, clearly held no fears for this cool-headed youngster.

True, Evans did feel moved to point out that "with a little bit more experience he'll look up and realise that Karl-Heinz has moved into a better scoring position." But when Liverpool were awarded a penalty 19 minutes from the end, after Riedle had been fouled by Vinnie Jones, the ease with which Owen sent Neil Sullivan the wrong way was a touch of ice on the griddle.

Liverpool could have created a winning lead by half-time but instead fell behind in the 55th minute to an inspired free kick from Marcus Gayle, whose shot from just beyond the penalty arc beat David James off the underside of the bar. Still a draw with Wimbledon, whom they have beaten only once in the Premier League over the last six seasons, was not a bad way for Evans to begin the latest long march.

The bad news was that Neil Ruddock twisted a knee trying to turn with Efan Ekoku and is likely to be out for quite some time.

Wimbledon: Sullivan, Cunningham, Kimble, Jones (Castledine 78), Blackwell, Earle, Ekoku, Holdsworth (Hughes 60), Gayle (Clarke 67), Perry, Ardley. Subs not used: Thatcher, Heald. Booked: Jones, Castledine. Goals: Gayle 55.

Liverpool: James, Jones (McAteer 82), Wright, Babb, McManaman, Riedle, Ruddock (Harkness 23), Thomas, Ince, Owen, Bjornebye (Murphy 67). Subs not used: Barnes, Warner. Booked: Babb, Harkness. Goals: Owen 71 pen.

Referee: G S Willard (Worthing).