Monday, February 22, 1999

Frank Lampard will become a £10million summer target for Liverpool as manager Gerard Houllier continues his Anfield overhaul. 

Houllier believes the 20-year-old West Ham midfielder can take over in the long-term from captain Paul Ince and link with cousin Jamie Redknapp in midfield.

 Lampard signed a five-year contract earlier this season and the Hammers will be determined not to lose someone who, along with Rio Ferdinand and Joe Cole, represents the future of the club. 

But Houllier is keen to bring in a big-name player and knows he can finance a move for Lampard out of pre-season ticket sales. Liverpool are set to lose Steve McManaman, who is expected to sign for Real Madrid officially this week, while Ince is 32 in October. 

Lampard competes well in the physical side of his game and also possesses excellent passing technique. His display against Liverpool at the weekend, when he scored from the penalty spot in a 2-2 draw, will have done nothing to diminish Houllier's admiration for him.

 Blackburn will this week pursue their interest in another West Ham midfielder, Steve Lomas, but no deal is expected before the sides meet at Upton Park on Saturday.

 Rovers manager Brian Kidd has admitted he has to act fast to bring in a strongman following the sale of Tim Sherwood to Tottenham and the loss of Billy McKinlay, who is expected to have surgery on his injured groin this week. 

Kidd, who has spent more than £14m on four players since arriving two months ago, still has £3m for Lomas but might also consider a player-exchange deal.


Furious Kop turn on their old hero in Bosman backlash 
 

Monday, February 22, 1999

In the eyes of many fervent Liverpool fans, Steve McManaman forfeited any right to their sympathy for a subdued performance when he decided to swap Mersey-side for Madrid. 

When his number was illuminated to announce his premature removal from the 2-2 draw with West Ham, the Kop could barely conceal their delight at saying Adios to a player who is no longer motivated by the Premiership. 

It sums up the absolute nonsense of the Bosman era when players can sign pre-contracts rendering them virtually worthless on the pitch in the run-up to their eventual departure. 

The selling club is left with a player who, however genuine his efforts to prove otherwise, is merely serving out his notice. 

It's an experience which most of the working population can identify with. 

You tell the boss you're leaving and promise to do your best in the weeks that remain, only for the mind to focus on the new challenge ahead while you plan the leaving party. 

Many would like to see Anfield manager Gerard Houllier dump McManaman, who contributed little to this untidy match, in favour of someone who has committed himself to the Liverpool cause. 

Those feelings were graphically illustrated when Patrik Berger replaced McManaman to a huge roar from the Kop. On his day, McManaman is a highly destructive force able to feed the ravenous goalscoring appetites of Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler. 

To mothball those talents in the final months of the season could be construed as lunacy given the Anfield obsession with European qualification. 

Houllier insists that McManaman is merely suffering the usual rollercoaster form which follows any lengthy lay-off. The England man was out for three months. 

'All managers will tell you that any player coming back from injury will start well, then he will dip before going up again,' explained the French coach. 'I'm not surprised that Steve's not as lively or creative as he was a fortnight ago. But it will come back. He is very committed and works well in training.' 

McManaman did make Liverpool's second goal, with Owen's deflected shot deceiving Shaka Hislop. Liverpool had taken the lead with a blistering finish from Fowler, only for Frank Lampard to equalise from the penalty spot. 

The Hammers deserved to gain parity again from a Marc Keller corner which goalkeeper David James fumbled to underline the Anfield defensive frailties, despite the encouraging presence of Cameroon international Rigobert Song. 

Harry Redknapp's side might even have won if the hard-working Trevor Sinclair and substitute Gavin Holligan had not wasted clear-cut openings. 

Redknapp, clearly upset by recent criticism of his injury-ravaged team, saw this as payback time. 'I have proved that I have built a decent side at West Ham,' he said. 'From being among the favourites to get relegated every season, we haven't been in the bottom half for two years. 

'That must be good and people should appreciate the team they've got now. I sold John Hartson for a fantastic amount of money (£7.5million) and brought in three new players. They must be allowed to settle in. 'I was annoyed at the criticism that Marc-Vivien Foe took after only one game. Suddenly he's no good, he can't play. Well, against Liverpool he was superb and my choice as best player. 'We've just had a bad month. You have three or four bad results and everyone is on your case. 

'I hope we've proved against Liverpool what a load of rubbish all that talk was.' 

Maybe. But on the vexed subject of McManaman you get the feeling there's still plenty of debate ahead surrounding his uneasy alliance with the club he is due to leave in the summer.


Liverpool 2-2 West Ham United: Honours shared in family affair 
 

Saturday, February 20, 1999

West Ham made light of all their problems to lift themselves for two equalisers from a Frank Lampard penalty and substitute Marc Keller's first kick from a corner in reply to strikes from Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen. 

The visitors could have won but Trevor Sinclair shot over five minutes from time when clean through. 

The Hammers' chances of a first Anfield win since 1963 were slim enough at the start as manager Harry Redknapp's options were restricted by injuries to nine members of his squad. 

They were even slimmer after 21 minutes when son Jamie, promoted to captain in the absence of the suspended Paul Ince, helped to set up the Liverpool opener for Fowler. The striker hammered in his 99th senior goal at the stadium with his left foot after a back-heel from Vegard Heggem. 

Two minutes later at the other end Scott Minto won a penalty after a confrontation with Heggem. Frank Lampard, nephew of Harry and cousin of Jamie, stepped forward to drive in West Ham's first goal at Anfield for almost 10 years. 

But the Londoners fell behind again in first-half injury time after a slick Liverpool build-up. The ball passed from Jamie Carragher to Steve McManaman and then to Owen, who made space for himself by going wide of Steve Potts. Owen's low left-foot shot rather luckily deflected off Rio Ferdinand for his 20th goal of the season. 

Six minutes into the second half Owen was denied by the combined efforts of Ferdinand and Potts. 

After 73 minutes the equaliser came - and Liverpool had to ask themselves why they allowed a corner from Keller, his first touch two minutes after coming off the bench, to creep inside the near post. The defenders clearly felt it was going into the side netting - and their mistake cost the team dear.


Redknapp puts Cole into the firing line 

By Brian Scovell
Saturday, February 20, 1999

Joe Cole, just 17 and without a single Premiership goal, may find himself leading the attack at Anfield today as West Ham attempt to end their worst scoring run at any away ground. 

They have failed to score on 14 of their last 16 visits to Anfield and their last win there was in 1963. Last season, Liverpool won 5-0. 

But West Ham manager Harry Redknapp has no reservations about sending Cole, who has been considered more of an attacking midfielder than a striker, into a shoot-out with Michael Owen. 

Redknapp said: 'He's a good finisher, a Zola type who can play off the front man. I'm hoping he can take their defenders on. He loves a challenge. He is a very confident kid. The bigger the challenge, the better he likes it.' 

Unless Paul Kitson recovers from injury or Trevor Sinclair from flu, Redknapp will struggle to find a partner for Cole. Paolo di Canio, Ian Wright and Manny Omoyimni are injured and Samassi Abou has flu. 

Redknapp said: 'Cole can't play on his own. I've got to find someone to play with him and I don't know who yet. They tell me Ian Pearce used to be a striker but if I put him up there we won't have a centre half. 

'Four young lads will be coming with us because we're down to 10 fit first-team play-ers but none of them will start. I've just got to juggle things around. It could be Eyal Berkovic. He'll like that.' 

Berkovic caused more problems for Hammers by announcing he is '70 per cent sure' of joining Liverpool this summer. 

Anfield manager Gerard Houllier is believed to be preparing a £5m bid for the Israeli, who said: 'I don't think any player would refuse the chance to play for Liverpool.'


On-fire Fowler tipped for England recall 

By Peter Ferguson
Saturday, February 20, 1999

Gerard Houllier last night urged Kevin Keegan to watch Robbie Fowler's progress towards a key role in England's Euro 2000 challenge. 

England's caretaker coach has already mentioned Fowler's name among those who might expect more of a look-in than they enjoyed under Glenn Hoddle and Liverpool boss Houllier is not about to dissuade him. 

The 23-year-old Liverpool striker, overtaken in the international stakes by club-mate Michael Owen, has been on the periphery of England's starting lineup since battling back from a serious knee injury in November. 

But Houllier believes his determination and drive can propel him deep into the heart of Keegan's plans. 

Houllier said: 'Robbie is very near the level required for a top international player and he will reach that because he is very committed and very eager to do it. 

'I know as a head coach that you don't select players on the basis of medals or goals scored in the past. You need to perform with consistency, whatever your record in the game. 

'But Robbie knows exactly what he has to work on. He is leaner and sharper and he will be a tremendous asset for the national team.' 

Jamie Redknapp, who skippers Liverpool against his father's West Ham side at Anfield today, has been promoted to club vice-captain by Houllier in the light of Steve McManaman's decision to join Real Madrid next season. Houllier said: 'Jamie embodies the future.'
 

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