Heskey puts Liverpool in second spot

13 April 2012

Nicolas Anelka produced a stylish finish at Anfield last night to underline his desire - and reinforce his argument - to stay at Liverpool next season.

The former Arsenal forward conjured a strike that helped put Liverpool in second place in the Premiership and a step closer to automatic entry into the Champions League.

Paris St- Germain do not want the one-time £23million Real Madrid misfit back, and Anelka has also been disbarred by the World Cup holders for next month's Far East defence.

But his goal last night, which gave Liverpool back the lead after Damien Duff's brilliant equaliser for Blackburn, will not have done him any harm in the eyes of manager Gerard Houllier as he contemplates giving the striker a longterm contract. Anelka says it is only a matter of awaiting the manager's decision as to whether the £12m-rated striker, who wants £60,000-a-week wages, will remain at Anfield.

He said: 'I'm happy at Liverpool. I'd like to stay here, not just for a year or two but for a long time. Everything about the place impresses me - I have a good relationship with Phil Thompson and Sammy Lee. In fact, I have a good relationship with everyone.'

England coach Sven Goran Eriksson was at Anfield to check out his fringe candidates, but it was a player whose World Cup trip is guaranteed who took the first decisive action of the game.

Alan Kelly, named on Tuesday in the Republic of Ireland squad, was in Blackburn's goal only because No.1 choice Brad Friedel, a former Anfield player, has joined the United States training camp. But he was as reliable as ever when Emile Heskey sent a great first-time cross to the far post. Michael Owen powered in a downward header that found Kelly instinctively in the way.

Matt Jansen, one of those sweating on Eriksson's squad announcement, went close to giving the England coach a nudge when he sent Finland centre half Sami Hyypia all ways before flashing a shot just over the angle.

But the first England candidate to make a firm impression was Danny Murphy, even though his 23rd-minute opener came in somewhat bizarre fashion, slipping in the penalty area going for John Arne Riise's cross but still hooking a left-foot shot past the surprised Kelly as he hit the ground.

Liverpool's lead and the Anfield crowd's delight lasted all of five minutes before Duff produced the sort of magic that has made him an automatic choice for Republic of Ireland boss Mick McCarthy. The in-form winger followed his initial one-two with Jansen by repeating the trick with Henning Berg before his crisp low finish beat Jerzy Dudek for a fine equaliser.

Murphy hurled himself at a super cross from Steven Gerrard and met the ball with such force that his header reared up off the turf and cleared the bar. But Rovers might have taken the lead minutes later when Jansen freed Andy Cole but the striker - one of Eriksson's discards - hit a tame shot that was already veering wide when Dudek saved.

Anelka showed the way to finish in the 39th minute when he took Riise's pass, skipped beyond Craig Short to leave the former Everton defender on the deck, and calmly fired across Kelly and inside the far post for the fourth goal of his Anfield loan spell.

Cole gave Eriksson a reminder of his ability in the 49th minute, even though Dudek should probably have kept out the striker's powerful header, having got both hands to the ball.

Rovers were level for just three minutes before Hyypia headed Liverpool's third goal from a Murphy free-kick after the midfielder had been fouled.

Anelka was denied only by a great Kelly save soon after as the Frenchman unleashed a rocket of a drive that looked destined for the bottom corner.

Jansen confirmed Eriksson's faith in his talents by arriving at the far post in the 80th minute to convert substitute Keith Gillespie's searching low cross.

Heskey won the game for Liverpool with a brilliant turn and shot inside the area four minutes from time.

Liverpool set sights on a silver lining

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Heskey puts Liverpool in second spot

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