Royle gets mad over spot-kick

Just like Sir Alex Ferguson's allconquering side, Liverpool now display an insatiable thirst for success and Houllier has constructed a squad big enough and good enough to compete on four fronts, if you include the battle for a Champions League spot rather than the title itself.

But while there is likely to be a clatter of cups within the Anfield trophy room this summer, there is also the foundation for an intensive assault on United's Premiership territory.

Litmanen drove home his second goal for the club since arriving from Barcelona but his influence is now far more important than his scoring output.

That was perfectly illustrated in the 12th minute when the Finnish link-man gathered the ball before delivering a curving pass into the path of Heskey, who merely had to allow the ball to settle before beating Weaver from the edge of the box for his 18th goal of the season.

But with the majority of Liverpool supporters now wondering how many their heroes would run in, Andrei Kanchelskis put a spanner in the works, albeit temporarily.

The Russia winger, a thorn in Liverpool's side during his time with both United and Everton, collected a long corner from Danny Tiatto on 28 minutes and drove the ball through a ruck of players. While Darren Huckerby's attempt to back-heel the ball failed, his nuisance value meant that Sander Westerveld was distracted and City were back in it.

However, Liverpool's anxiety evaporated seven minutes into the second half when Smicer and Weaver again did battle and this time there was no doubt that the keeper brought down the Czech.

With Litmanen having retired with a minor calf strain, it was Smicer himself who powered home the penalty and Liverpool were once more in charge.

Huckerby should have given City another foothold in the game but shot over before Babbel headed past Weaver from Christian Ziege's free-kick to bring Liverpool's goal tally for the last nine games to 21.

Shaun Goater prodded home a second for Joe Royle's relegationthreatened side near the end but the former Evertonian's recorded belief that Liverpool are again to be a major force was never threatened.

Liverpool will now rest before facing Roma in Thursday night's UEFA Cup fourth-round, second leg but Houllier can be certain that whoever faces the Italians will be up for the job. That is the way of things at Anfield these days.