Heskey's heroics inspire Liverpool

Liverpool 1 Sunderland

For the second time in a week Liverpool were required to play mostly without the ball. Fortunately it is something they do rather well. Also helpful was the fact the artisan Sunderland proved distinctly less masterful in possession than the Hidalgos of Barcelona.

It meant that Liverpool's loss of Dietmar Hamann in the 43rd minute for a two-footed lunge on Bernt Haas never looked likely to be more than a passing inconvenience.

Indeed, Liverpool maintained themselves at the top of the Premiership in largely the way they had got there. They had resilience, blanket defence and a midfield-stifling operation that reduced Sunderland to the most optimistic of long-range sniper fire.

The missing staple was the telling speed and assurance in front of goal of Michael Owen, who was rested as a "precaution'' after feeling tightness in the back of his leg after training on Thursday and Friday. So in place of the rapier Liverpool had to produce a bludgeon. It worked well enough.

Owen's absence required a particularly prodigious effort by Emile Heskey, one which was redoubled in it's demands when caretaker manager Phil Thompson withdraw Robbie Fowler at half-time for Gary McAllister.

With Hamann gone, Liverpool needed another body in midfield – and a commitment from the big man which by the end was little short of stupendous. Buoyed by the confidence which came with his first goal in 18 games for Liverpool – a firm header from a free-kick by Danny Murphy as the Sunderland cover dissolved in the 21st minute – Heskey proved more than equal to the challenge. He ran endlessly, held up the ball with finely measured strength and there were several occasions when he displayed touches of skill that could only be described as delicate. His reward was a chorus of cheers and whistles from his team-mates as he returned to the dressing room. Few players are so dependent on a surge of confidence and the effect of his goal radiated into every vital phase of his performance.

Thompson was understandably delighted with Liverpool's re-established work ethic after the savage tutorial inflicted by Barça in the Champions' League and again he was quick to say it was more evidence of the "unity'' forged by the convalescing manager Gérard Houllier. Certainly Heskey and the entire defence underlined the extent of Liverpool's journey from the irresolution that marked so much of their work as recently as two years ago.

Implicit now is an appetite for competitive action which, however, Hamann plainly exceeded when he flew at the Swiss defender Haas with both feet extended. Most of his contact, it is true, was with the ball, and it may also have been that Haas's reaction was well on the wrong side of melodramatic. However, the referee Steve Bennett was left with little option but to brandish a red card, and it is a fact that even Thompson seemed ready to concede half an hour after his angry and abusive reaction to Haas's proffered hand at the end of the game.

"I had been very involved in the game,'' said Thompson. "I was emotional and passionate and I got carried away. But I will apologise to the player. I was upset for Dietmar, but I don't want to leave it like that.''

Sunderland's manager Peter Reid was predictably downcast at his team's failure to build on the recent victory over Leeds United. He said : "I think we had an advantage when they had somebody sent off but we didn't have the quality to break them down.''

Sunderland never properly exploited the aerial potential of Niall Quinn and, but for some waspish work by Kevin Phillips, who shot just wide when Quinn won the ball for him on the edge of the Liverpool box, the authority of a defence led with unswerving attention by Sami Hyypia was never seriously challenged.

For Liverpool, Heskey loomed above all in his selfless work. McAllister might just have made it less onerous in the final, gut-wrenching stages if he had converted an easy chance when Vladimir Smicer, who was otherwise anonymous, cut the ball back in front of goal. The veteran McAllister later confessed to excitement which he normally keeps under much stricter control. He said that as the ball rolled into his path he had 20 different options in his mind as he prepared to run jubilantly into the great maw of The Kop. None of them worked as the ball sailed harmlessly over the bar.

The Kop, though were philosophical enough. The fare had been mostly dour but plainly they have a team of fighters, which in modern football they know can take them a long way. Certainly the top of the Premiership will do nicely enough for the time being.

Goal: Heskey (21) 1-0

Liverpool (4-4-2): Dudek 5; Carragher 5, Henchoz 7, Hyypia 8, Riise 5; Gerrard 5, Hamann 5, Murphy 5, (Berger 6, 68), Smicer 4 (Wright 5, 75); Heskey 9, Fowler 5 (McAllister 5, h-t). Substitutes not used: Kirkland (gk), Litmanen.

Sunderland (4-4-2): Sorensen 5; Haas 5, Thome 4, Williams 4 (McCartney 5, 72), Gray 5; McAteer 6, McCann 5; Thirlwell 4 (Laslandes 5, 75) Arca 4 (Butler 5, 58); Quinn 5, Phillips 6. Substitutes not used: Macho (gk), Schwarz.

Referee: S Bennett (Kent) 5.

Bookings: Liverpool: Gerrard, Hamann. Sunderland: Haas, Thome, McAteer. Sending off Liverpool: Hamann.

Man of the match: Heskey.

Attendance: 43, 537.