Defensive duo help to see off Fulham

13 April 2012

No one can deny Phil Thompson the pleasure he gets from seeing the great tradition of Liverpool centre- backs being carried proudly into the new era.

An elegant enforcer during his own playing days, the assistant manager swells with pride at the sight of Sami Hyypia and Stephane Henchoz repelling everything that attempts to cross their path.

It was perhaps inevitable then that the most memorable sequence of Saturday's win over Fulham was not Nicolas Anelka's curling opener or even Jari Litmanen's exquisite finish for the second. No, it was a tackle.

No ordinary tackle mind, but an intervention so perfect it could be framed and used as the muse for the art of defending.

Steve Marlet had nothing between him and Jerzy Dudek but space to run into and set himself to score.

From nowhere, Henchoz arrived - or more accurately his leg did - and he wrapped a foot around the ball from behind, preventing a goal and stealing possession. Thompson was effusive. 'I always remember a tackle from Mark Lawrenson on Eric Gates of Ipswich many years ago and that has stuck in my mind because it was astonishing,' he said. 'But that one which Stephane had was one of the best of the season. They show the best goals, free kicks and saves but if they showed tackles then that would be up there.

'I'm in the centre-backs' union, I'm one of them and a lot gets said about strikers and they get all the headlines but we have a defensive pairing who are as good as anybody.

'Sami Hyypia was great and Stephane Henchoz's performance was absolutely first class. He's as tough as anyone and it's great having defenders who are good on the ball and who can dribble.

'But defenders are only worth what they can do in the penalty box and Stephane is in the top three in the country for that. I'd like to see the statistic of how many blocks he makes.

'Others need to shout to exert their influence on a team but these two command respect.'

And they are the most consistent performers at Anfield.

Thompson said: 'We rested Michael Owen for this match and Emile Heskey last week and it's great to have Anelka and Jari. We couldn't rest the centre-halves though. Everyone says that defenders have an easy time but they work really hard. Something which Joe Fagan always stressed to me is that as long as your centre-backs are on form then the rest of your team can be having a nightmare and you will get a result.'

That sums up Saturday pretty accurately, though this team are not even a pale imitation of Fagan's great side. They have talent but no imagination to let skill express itself. Instead, new Liverpool are like old Arsenal; efficient, boring and automatic.

Alain Goma, who has now played against both those title pretenders was in no doubt about who he believes are the better team. 'Arsenal are the better of the two,' he said. 'They are the best I've played against and definitely have the potential to win the championship.'

Fulham, though, are struggling from a lack of belief, as well as Jean Tigana's penchant for changing players' positions and team shape, as they search for a win. Even a British record six French players in the starting lineup did not give them enough artistry to worry Liverpool's strident backline.

Anelka produced an instinctive left-foot finish when his right-footed first attempt rebounded back off Rufus Brevett after 13 minutes. Edwin Van Der Sar was caught in two minds about clearing in stoppage time and Litmanen rounded a fairly dull afternoon off with an imaginitive goal.

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David Jones (Footballer)

Defensive duo help to see off Fulham

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