SEPTEMBER 20
Heskey unites rival bosses
Ananova
Gerard Houllier and Mickey Adams were united in
praise of Emile Heskey after he scored the killer goal
that gave Liverpool a 2-1 home win over Leicester.
Foxes boss Adams hailed the big striker for his donation
to Leicester's financial crisis last season and reckoned
he would now go on and score a hatful this season.
Anfield chief Houllier insisted: "That should be the
start of things, he is on the scoresheet now and that
will give him plenty of confidence."
Heskey gave Leicester, his boyhood club, £100,000 last
season and Adams added: "I think I have to call him boss
after that!"
He said: "He is a great kid, it showed what he is all
about with what he did for Leicester last season.
"He is a willing lad, and I hope that is the beginning
of a lot of goals this season for him at Liverpool, I am
sure it will be."
Adams was less happy about a first half incident when
Steven Gerrard and Marcus Bent tangled in the box, right
in front of the Kop, and no penalty was awarded.
The Leicester boss added: "I thought it was a penalty,
but you do not get them in front of The Kop.
"It did not make it any better when they went straight
to the other end and got their spot-kick, although I
have no complaints about that decision."
Houllier was just relieved to have got Liverpool's
first home win of the season.
He said: "The pressure was on the lads a bit before the
game, it has been a long time since we have won here.
"And have no doubt that we have beaten a good side. They
did really well to put four past Leeds and only just
lost 2-1 at Chelsea.
"They kept going even when we went 2-0 up. That is what
is good about English football.
"On the continent, a team 2-0 down gives up, but not
here, they just keep going and they got a goal from
about their only real chance and made it a bit nervy for
us at the end."
But Houllier had praise for Heskey.
He said: "He has power, pace and strikes a ball
superbly. He plays with finesse when maybe I am looking
for something else from him.
"But he is not a nasty person and you are not going to
change that - but he needs to use his attributes more
often than he does."
SEPTEMBER 20
Liverpool fend
off Leicester
BBC Sport Online
Liverpool earned their first home win of the season
by beating battling Leicester as striker Emile Heskey
also got off the mark.
Michael Owen put Liverpool ahead from the penalty spot
after Vladimir Smicer was fouled by Ben Thatcher.
Leicester fought their way back into the game but
suffered a setback when former striker Heskey extended
Liverpool's lead.
The visitors caused some nervy late moments for the home
side after Marcus Bent's late strike but Gerard
Houllier's side held on for the three points after an
exciting finale.
Liverpool had the poorest home record of the top five
last season as they failed to find the creativity to
break down defensive-minded teams at Anfield.
Leicester arrived with similar tactics by keeping plenty
of players behind the ball but found it hard to contain
an enterprising Liverpool.
The visitors also had to to deal with Craig Hignett
having to go off after six minutes because of a
hamstring injury and he was replaced by Jordan Stewart.
Liverpool were impressively passing the ball around and
Foxes defender Gerry Taggart had to be at his sharpest
to get in a crucial 13th minute tackle to block a shot
from Smicer.
Owen seemed certain make the breakthrough minutes later
but somehow keeper Ian Walker saved when the ball struck
his legs before bouncing into his arms.
Liverpool intensified the pressure on the Leicester goal
and took the lead from the penalty spot after Smicer had
been brought down.
Owen stepped up to send Walker the wrong way and score
his 16th goal in his last 16 Premiership games.
Harry Kewell went close with a shot and a header while
Owen and El-Hadji Diouf also had chances to extend
Liverpool's lead without success.
Leicester almost made Gerard Houllier's team pay for
their misses as they battled their way back into the
match.
But centre-back Igor Biscan blocked a well-struck
goalbound shot from Bent just before half-time.
Leicester continued to frustrate Liverpool after the
break as the home side failed to reproduce the football
which helped earn them the lead.
James Scowcroft will be disappointed he did not do
better with a header across the face of goal for
Leicester while Steven Gerrard and Owen went close at
the other end.
There was an edgy atmosphere at Anfield at 1-0 but that
was relieved when Heskey added a second after 75
minutes.
Heskey scored against his former club, who grabbed a
late goal through Bent which proved to be a consolation
effort.
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