Liverpool 1 Manchester City 0:SVEN-GORAN ERIKSSON offered a staunch defence of his reign as Manchester City's manager last night, insisting the guaranteed top-nine finish represented a fine return from his first campaign at the club. Yet the Swede suggested he still expects to be sacked at the end of the season by the owner Thaksin Shinawatra.
The farcical end to what should have been an encouraging first year at Eastlands saw City's 2,000 travelling supporters bellowing their support of Eriksson as his side slipped to narrow defeat. They came draped in Sweden flags, some banners declaring "Save Our Sven" and chanted their dismay at the potential appointment of either Felipe Scolari or Jose Mourinho in Eriksson's stead.
Asked whether the vocal show of support could possibly dissuade the absent Thaksin from curtailing his stay at the club one season into a three-year contract, Eriksson replied: "I don't think so."
Ridiculously, he is still required to take the side on a post-season tour of Thailand and Hong Kong.
"I suppose we all go to Thailand," he added. "It's a tour programme, and I don't think that's changed. I'd prefer only to talk about things after the last game [against Middlesbrough]. I've not been told not to say anything. I'm too old to be told what to do."
That hinted at much. Thaksin's representatives, the director Sasin Monvoisin and executive director, Taveesuk Jack Srisumird, saw precious little to excite them here, Elano's free-kick which clipped the post and a battered attempt from Benjani Mwaruwari aside. They turned a deaf ear to the din emanating from the visiting fans.
Liverpool fans hollered Rafael Benitez's name through the hosts' post-match lap of honour. Liverpool always had the edge, forcing the visitors into deep defence. Even so, City might have survived had they not been sliced open by Fernando Torres. The Spaniard's first season in England has been revelatory. Michael Ball's error and Dirk Kuyt's pass liberated him here, the forward eluding Richard Dunne to work an angle then drill the winner past Joe Hart.
It was Torres's 23rd league goal, matching Ruud van Nistelrooy's best tally for a foreigner in his debut season in England and the most by a Liverpool player in his first campaign at the club in 61 years. He has also registered in eight successive home matches, matching Roger Hunt's feat from 1961-62.
Others were not so clinical, Kuyt clipping the bar and the outstanding Hart turning aside a curled effort from Steven Gerrard.
Peter Crouch, Jermaine Pennant and John Arne Riise did not join their team-mates for the walkabout at the end. Benitez insisted those not included in the match day squad had "freedom" not to attend the post-match celebrations. But the trio are unlikely to be at the club next season. Benitez can plan to reinforce. Eriksson, in contrast, will only retreat.
