King Italy
10-12-2001, 10:33 AM
Liverpool, unceremoniously dumped out of the League Cup by first division upstart Grimsby in midweek, faces an even tougher soccer examination against premiership leader Leeds at Anfield on Saturday.
While the Merseysiders were losing their grip on the trophy they won last season together with the UEFA Cup and FA Cup, Leeds was thumping Leicester 6-0 at Filbert Street to go comfortably through to round four.
But despite the teams' contrasting cup fortunes, Leeds and England goalkeeper Nigel Martyn was expecting a backlash from Gerard Houllier's team.
"Liverpool's defeat was the shock result of the night but I have no doubt that it will be a different situation entirely on Saturday," said Martyn on his personal website.
"We'll see a very different Liverpool side, if not in personnel then in mental attitude, I'm sure."
Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler, who was expected to play in the absence of the injured Michael Owen, believed a good result against Leeds would bury the memory of Tuesday's ignominious defeat.
"Someone once said that football is a funny game and it's results like ours last night which prove that it is," he said.
"But if we get a good result against Leeds on Saturday, then I think everyone will forget about that defeat. Not only that, a win would give us a lot of confidence for when we play away to Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League next Tuesday."
Fowler missed the League Cup match because of a heavy cold but resumed training on Wednesday.
"Hopefully I will be available for the Leeds game. I didn't feel too bad after my workout in the gym," he said.
Leeds topped the premiership with 17 points from seven games, five points ahead of sixth-placed Liverpool which has a game in hand on the Yorkshire men.
Arsenal, in second place, travels to the south coast to tackle Southampton, which has failed to win at its new St Mary's Stadium this season since moving from The Dell.
Worryingly for the Saints, Arsenal has not yet lost on the road, with three wins and a draw to its credit.
Reigning champion Manchester United faces a tough test at the Stadium of Light against Sunderland.
However, with captain David Beckham in sparkling form for club and country it's no wonder the Old Trafford club starts as favourite.
Basement dweller Leicester, which appointed former Wimbledon boss Dave Bassett as their new manager this week, travels to unbeaten Chelsea, yet to win at home in the premiership.
The Londoners, who had to wait seven months before chalking up their first away victory last season, are performing better away from Stamford Bridge this campaign.
The Blues have won twice on their travels but have drawn all three league games on home soil.
Derby, which parted company with manager Jim Smith after seven years, visits Tottenham with new boss Colin Todd at the helm.
Todd's first game in charge came on Wednesday when he saw his side thumped 5-2 at Fulham in the League Cup.
While the Merseysiders were losing their grip on the trophy they won last season together with the UEFA Cup and FA Cup, Leeds was thumping Leicester 6-0 at Filbert Street to go comfortably through to round four.
But despite the teams' contrasting cup fortunes, Leeds and England goalkeeper Nigel Martyn was expecting a backlash from Gerard Houllier's team.
"Liverpool's defeat was the shock result of the night but I have no doubt that it will be a different situation entirely on Saturday," said Martyn on his personal website.
"We'll see a very different Liverpool side, if not in personnel then in mental attitude, I'm sure."
Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler, who was expected to play in the absence of the injured Michael Owen, believed a good result against Leeds would bury the memory of Tuesday's ignominious defeat.
"Someone once said that football is a funny game and it's results like ours last night which prove that it is," he said.
"But if we get a good result against Leeds on Saturday, then I think everyone will forget about that defeat. Not only that, a win would give us a lot of confidence for when we play away to Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League next Tuesday."
Fowler missed the League Cup match because of a heavy cold but resumed training on Wednesday.
"Hopefully I will be available for the Leeds game. I didn't feel too bad after my workout in the gym," he said.
Leeds topped the premiership with 17 points from seven games, five points ahead of sixth-placed Liverpool which has a game in hand on the Yorkshire men.
Arsenal, in second place, travels to the south coast to tackle Southampton, which has failed to win at its new St Mary's Stadium this season since moving from The Dell.
Worryingly for the Saints, Arsenal has not yet lost on the road, with three wins and a draw to its credit.
Reigning champion Manchester United faces a tough test at the Stadium of Light against Sunderland.
However, with captain David Beckham in sparkling form for club and country it's no wonder the Old Trafford club starts as favourite.
Basement dweller Leicester, which appointed former Wimbledon boss Dave Bassett as their new manager this week, travels to unbeaten Chelsea, yet to win at home in the premiership.
The Londoners, who had to wait seven months before chalking up their first away victory last season, are performing better away from Stamford Bridge this campaign.
The Blues have won twice on their travels but have drawn all three league games on home soil.
Derby, which parted company with manager Jim Smith after seven years, visits Tottenham with new boss Colin Todd at the helm.
Todd's first game in charge came on Wednesday when he saw his side thumped 5-2 at Fulham in the League Cup.