Nothing has ever energised the Australian nation more than the unquenchable spirit of the Sydney Olympics and nowhere has that been more apparent than in the case of Mark Viduka. The Olyroos were an Australian rarity in Sydney - they flopped - but Viduka has returned to Leeds like a man possessed.
With an entire team of injuries and a central defence that looked wholly inadequate, it required something spectacular for Leeds to conjure up a victory over Liverpool. Viduka produced it: four goals in a performance as impressive for its effort, for which he has not always been renowned, as its craft, which is unmistakable. As one Leeds fan playfully inquired on an internet message board: "Did someone in Sydney give Viduka an illegal Olympic super drug?"
What Viduka did benefit from in Sydney was a legal Olympic drug - the overpowering sense of sporting pride and spirit that permeated the Games, and fulfilled Australians more than most. Viduka wanted to bask in that acclaim and recognised, after the Olyroos' failure, that his reputation could only be made in the Premiership.
Ten goals in nine matches since returning from Sydney suggests that Viduka's reputation is advancing by the week. Each of his four goals on Saturday needed scoring.
He clipped back Liverpool's two-goal lead midway through the first half with a deft hook over Sander Westerveld after Alan Smith had barged down Christian Ziege's clearance. Then came a thudding near-post header from Gary Kelly's cross to equalise just after the interval; a glorious swivel away from Patrik Berger and precise finish to equalise a second time; and then the winner, an element of offside perhaps, but a neat chip over Westerveld after Olivier Dacourt's shot had been blocked.
Jonathan Woodgate was the latest casualty in David O'Leary's lengthy injury list, and is likely to miss out in Milan on Wednesday after suffering a thigh injury early in the game. But that was ample time to ascertain that the court case due next January, in which he and Lee Bowyer face charges of affray and causing grievous bodily harm against an Asian student, continues to undermine his form. Bowyer remains indefatigable, comfortably the best English box-to-box midfield player around, but there remains a disturbingly thuggish element to his game that forever threatens self-destruction.
Liverpool toyed with Leeds until Viduka's first goal, scoring with unchallenged headers from Sami Hyypia and the strangely dyed locks of Ziege, a case of Finnish blond followed by unfinished blond.
A booking for Bowyer - a rash foul on Vladimir Smicer followed by the usual abuse - predictably intervened. Another two-footed lunge at Emile Heskey might have had Bowyer dismissed. Two miraculous headed interceptions by Kelly prevented a Leeds disaster.
Liverpool again had the match won at 3-2, Smicer evading Dominic Matteo to finish off Berger's cross. Smith had blown a chance to put Leeds in front when Jamie Carragher intercepted his rolled finish but Viduka ensured a quite different story.
In the countless great clashes between these sides, few have had such an unexpected outcome. Gerard Houllier, Liverpool's manager, hinted at tiredness. Tired? It is impossible to remember when Leeds were not close to exhaustion.
Leeds United: Robinson, Kelly, Harte, Woodgate (Hay 16), Matteo, Bowyer, Bakke, Dacourt, Burns, Smith, Viduka. Subs Not Used: Jones, Milosevic, Evans. Booked: Bowyer. Goals: Viduka 24, 47, 73, 75.
Liverpool: Westerveld, Carragher, Ziege, Babbel, Hyypia, Smicer, Murphy (Fowler 67), McAllister (Gerrard 68), Hamann, Berger (Barmby 74), Heskey. Subs Not Used: Henchoz, Arphexad. Booked: Ziege, Berger, Babbel, Gerrard. Goals: Hyypia 2, Ziege 18, Smicer 61.
Referee: D Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill).
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