Trouble brewing as Liverpool lack fire

AS THEY headed, lemming like, towards the nearest bar after last week's Merseyside derby, it is unlikely the players and management of Liverpool were actually aware of the discontent which was rolling over Anfield like morning mist.

Then, as on Saturday, it was not the disappointment of defeat but the manner of a draw which had prompted the faithful to bark out awkward, almost rebellious questions, all of which fell on deaf or, perhaps, uncaring ears.

On Wednesday night, Liverpool had almost allowed Everton to punish their own impoverished, barren football. To a man, those with long memories and short tempers wished to know why it was manager Roy Evans had not seen fit to shuffle a pack which, in their opinion, boasted aces on the substitutes' bench but jokers on the pitch.

Evans has based a brief managerial career on unswerving loyalty to a select few. Until his recent public humiliation, Stan Collymore was stoically defended while perpetrating indefensible acts of gross arrogance. John Barnes, the worn cog at the heart of a slowing wheel, can do no wrong even when he is doing previous little right.

Barnes, and more worrying Jamie Redknapp, were heckled throughout on Saturday by those who can recall the halcyon days when the Liverpool midfield was a minefield patrolled by the likes of Jimmy Case, Graeme Souness, Ronnie Whelan and Steve McMahon.

Mind you, to decry the modern Wimbledon as hit and hope merchants who trade on the shortcomings of others is to do them an injustice. "They can play, you know," said Evans afterwards. It was hardly an excuse for his own side's lamentable performance.

To think Liverpool would have displaced Newcastle United at the top of the Premiership had they won. Not that they ever seemed likely to even though Collymore drove them in front inside the opening minute after he had capitalised on Blackwell's first and last error of the afternoon.

Oyvind Leonhardsen's goal midway through the second half was unspectacular, but deserved and sufficient to extend to 15 matches Wimbledon's unbeaten sequence.