SOCCER: The Viduka Show Leaves Liverpool In Tatters

Saturday may have been one of the most remarkable days in the life of Australian star Mark Viduka, when he netted four times to bury a tough Liverpool team. Viduka who is one of three Aussies in the Leeds United camp showed just how much damage he can do when he single handedly tore apart Liverpool’s defense and morale by taking every chance he was presented.

The Red’s who at one stage held two goal lead maybe should have done better to hold the young Leeds team, but after leading for most of the match were undone by the towering figure of Viduka. The powerful striker had not yet exploded on to the English football scene, but taking full advantage of his opportunities, is now one of the leading goal scorers.

Liverpool’s demise may well be due to lack of finishing in front of goals, and it must be said that the scoring boots of one of England’s most successful clubs were not on, despite bagging three goals. Credit however must go to the 21 year-old Leeds keeper Paul Robinson for pulling off a string of saves.

The match was never fully dominated by one team as both teams played attacking end to end football. Liverpool took the lead just 41 seconds into the match through a Sami Hyppia header, and after 18 minutes lead 2-0 through a similar goal by German wingback Christian Ziege. The home team hit back with goals in the 24th minute and then two minutes after play resumed after the interval. Vladimir Smicer took his chance in the 60th minute but when Viduka scored two further goals in the 73rd and 75th minutes, Leeds now looked the goods.

Although the final of Viduka’s goals was a controversial offside decision that was not given, Leeds welcomed the three points with open arms as they had now gained points on one of the title contenders. Liverpool will have seen the loss as devastating, especially after leading for so much of the game. The loss now left them trailing Manchester United and Arsenal by 6 points.

A sour note that Liverpool took from the game was the injury that has been hampering Patrick Berger this season, has now taken its toll. The knee injury will require surgery and Berger will fly to Colorado to begin his treatment and rehabilitation. He is expected to miss more than three months and possibly the whole season.

On a brighter note Michael Owen will be back this week for European competition after his concussion two weeks ago caused a brain scare for the young striker, his club and the supporters. Owen was given the all clear and will hope to renew his partnership with Emile Heskey and Robbie Fowler.

Liverpool will need to get back into winning ways. The team from Merseyside has had little success in recent years, but now is the time to silence the critics and put right what has been going wrong in the last decade. The trophy cabinet has gathered plenty of dust, but from the fans point of view all will go well and the Red’s will be victorious once more!!!