Wimbledon: Sullivan, Cunningham, Kimble, Jones (Castledine
78), Blackwell, Earle, Ekoku, Holdsworth (Hughes 60), Gayle
(Clarke 67), Perry, Ardley.
Subs Not Used: Thatcher, Heald.
Booked: Jones, Castledine.
Goals: Gayle 55.
Liverpool: James, Jones (McAteer 82), Wright, Babb, McManaman,
Riedle, Ruddock (Harkness 23), Thomas, Ince, Owen, Bjornebye
(Murphy 67).
Subs Not Used: Barnes, Warner.
Booked: Babb, Harkness.
Goals: Owen 71 pen.
Att: 26,106
Ref: G S Willard (Worthing).
[PA-Report] [Telegraph-report] [Times-report]
By Rob King, PA Sport Football Correspondent
Teenage prodigy Michael Owen lifted Liverpool to a hard-earned point against the bogeymen of Wimbledon -- though the price was a bad knee injury for defender Neil Ruddock.
Owen's team-mates may hate their annual trek to south London but the 17-year-old with stardom in his boots loves Selhurst Park. He scored on his debut as a substitute against the Dons on his Premiership debut last May and repeated the feat from the penalty spot in the 72nd minute on the opening day of a season which looks set to rocket him to astonishing heights. He filled in for the injured Robbie Fowler with a confidence that borders on arrogance and has the same willingness to take men on as Steve McManaman. He slotted in alongside German World Cup star Karlheinz Riedle without any hint of nerves or diffidence against a defence which usually intimidates even the most battle-hardened forwards.
Had Owen shown a shade more composure, he would have opened his account much earlier, grabbing at his shots after weaving into great positions and hitting the side of the netting instead of its back. He is brave too, surviving Chris Perry's cynical challenge from behind in the 40th minute after the ball had gone, leaving the youngster in agony on the floor and the Liverpool bench leaping to their feet in a fury as neither referee nor his nearest assistant saw the challenge. He continued as enthusiastically after treatment and at this rate Fowler will struggle to win back his place at Anfield and could even see the precocious youngster burst onto the England scene, though Glenn Hoddle will be anxious to protect him as much as he has with David Beckham and Paul Scholes.
Liverpool had cause to thank him on a ground where they have now not won for seven visits and were heading towards a repeat of the defeat that cost them the title last season. Wimbledon broke through in the 55th minute after Phil Babb cut down Neil Ardley five yards outside of the visiting area, and was duly booked. The Liverpool wall lined up but was rendered useless by Marcus Gayle's thunderous right foot free kick, which burst past them and in off the underside off the crossbar by James' right-hand post. But they drew level when Vinnie Jones clattered into the back of Riedle to give away the crucial spot kick.
It is early days for a season which will run into mid-July next year with the World Cup, but Liverpool's £10million summer revamp gives them a more solid look. Paul Ince has been confirmed as Liverpool's 'Guv'nor', taking over as captain from John Barnes who was dropped along with Jason McAteer. His new maturity was demonstrated midway through the first half at the height of his bruising midfield battle with Jones. The Welsh international flew in with boot raised head high and thumped into the England star who admirably went after the loose ball and not the floored Jones.
Roy Evans was without his other big new signing, former Norwegian Don Oyvind Leonhardsen, who was injured along with Fowler, Patrik Berger, Bjorn Kvarme and Jamie Redknapp. And they lost Ruddock who limped away for prolonged treatment on his knee, but could not continue and made way for Steve Harkness in the 23rd minute. But with Michael Thomas operating in front of the back three, Liverpool's wing-backs and the free-roaming Steve McManaman, shadowed well by Kenny Cunningham, gave the Dons plenty of problems without finding much punch.
Wimbledon, so prominent for much of last season, showed they have the resilience for what manager Joe Kinnear reckons will be a season "not for the faint-hearted." Their chances were few, though David James had to react smartly to seize Gayle's flicked header from Alan Kimble's cross. Thomas produced the most penetrating pass, threading it through the Wimbledon defence to put Owen free on the right but for the second time he grabbed at his shot and found only the sidenetting.
Ince showed a flash of his attacking drive when he pounded through the middle, McManaman taking up the initiative and slipping in Bjornebye clear on the left. But the Liverpool players shook their heads as the Norwegian slammed his shot into the sidenetting. Riedle looked at ease at this level, teasing the home defence before unleashing a low 25 yard shot that Sullivan could not hold. McManaman had the best chance before the breakthrough, timing his spin free onto Jones' pass to perfection to make a yard or two of space in thearea but Sullivan superbly saved at close range.
Wimbledon maybe should have snatched victory back at the death but after Andy Clarke's great run to get round the back and pull Liverpool out of shape, his cross found the unmarked Ardley who whacked it back across the face of goal.
Teenager Michael Owen was the coolest man in the 105 degree caldron of Selhurst Park, as he drilled home Liverpool's penalty equaliser against Wimbledon. "He finished it very well," manager Roy Evans enthused about the 17-year-old, after the 1-1 draw. "I asked him before the game if he wanted to take the penalties, and he said he did. "I asked 'Is that me pushing or you wanting?' -- and he insisted he wanted to do it. "But he still had to fight with Danny (Murphy) to get the ball -- that's not bad confidence from a couple of kids."
Owen, who scored at Wimbledon on his debut in the penultimate game of last season, teamed up alongside German World Cup star Karlheinz Riedle in a new-look Liverpool side, which also included new captain Paul Ince. "I was pleased with Karlheinz; he's a good professional with great ability," said Evans. "It was great to see Paul come straight in and sit there and run the game. The determination he showed will spread to the rest. "He is a leader, which is why I made him captain. He has a special way about him, and I hope we will benefit from that." Liverpool fell behind to Marcus Gayle's free-kick, and Evans added: "We come here year in and year out and have a struggle against Wimbledon but we stood up to be counted today. "Even when we lost the goal there was a determination there not to be beaten. We will play better football but we showed very good resilience."
Wimbledon manager Joe Kinnear was really impressed by Ince, saying: "He gave them a lot of steel in the middle of the park." But he was disappointed that his side did not hold on to their lead and said: "It was 105 degrees out there, but we lasted the pace a lot better. "We have a lot of players who are dehydrated but we stuck it out well, and I'm disappointed to lose the goal the way we did. "(Chris) Perry and (Dean) Blackwell were outstanding, because Owen and Riedle are certainly going to be a handful for teams. "Owen did very well; he's a very promising lad, quick and sharp. When you consider we had to deal with both of those I was pleased with Perry and Blackwell because they certainly won't come any harder. "But the conditions were more conducive to cricket than football. Most of the lads in there are absolutely knackered -- they are shattered."
Wimbledon had made just one £400,000 signing this summer, but Kinnear is now scouring Europe for more reinforcements from his limited budget, swelled only by the sale of Oyvind Leonhardsen to Anfield. "I've had to generate my own money, whatever talk there is of extra funds being injected into the club," he said, revealing that he had tried to buy Darren Eadie from Norwich. "I rang up for Eadie and they said £5million and I said good night! We don't even get round to talking wages at the moment."
Owen has the
classical look for fashion-conscious Liverpool
By Patrick Barclay at Selhurst Park
Wimbledon (0) 1 Liverpool (0) 1
THE current champions began last season by winning at Wimbledon, on a day etched in the memory by David Beckham's goal from the halfway line, but there was nothing quite as ominous here. The re-cast Liverpool will take time to settle. The same old Wimbledon will not be easily beaten.
For those seeking significant alterations in the landscape, the most obvious was Liverpool's 17-year-old striker Michael Owen, whose reputation is sky-high but not hyperbolic. He comes from a line featuring Roger Hunt, Ian Rush and Robbie Fowler yet already there are only a few rough edges to knock off before he bears comparison with any.
Here he was asked to bring Liverpool level with a penalty, which calmly and with the utmost accuracy he did, after a splendid free kick from Marcus Gayle had put Wimbledon in sight of a feather-ruffling victory. In the end they had to hold on for a point as Liverpool swarmed over them, having shown a creditable resilience in the sweaty conditions.
Fashions change in football, and the idea that a team can get away without a ball-winner in midfield if they are good enough at keeping possession was done few favours by Liverpool last season. Accordingly, they changed tack in their planning for the new campaign.
Perhaps recalling that the club's last side to achieve success by their own standards had both Steve Mahon and Ronnie Whelan providing steel in the central area, perhaps also taking into account the way Manchester United acquire resilience through Roy Keane and Nicky Butt, they bought not one but two enforcers.
Oyvind Leonhardsen was injured yesterday and thus unable to make a Premiership debut against his former club, but Paul Ince was here, wearing the captain's armband and facing up directly to his counterpart, Vinnie Jones, who lasted 18 minutes of vigorous give and take before being shown the yellow card.
It was, however, Liverpool's new boy at the front who demanded attention. Not Karlheinz Riedle, even though the German went close with a spectacular diving header from 16 yards, but the remarkable Owen.
Only a couple of minutes had gone when Owen drifted behind Dean Blackwell to collect a long, hanging ball from the back and was unlucky that it skidded away from him as he prepared to shoot. His next thrust was more impressive. Breaking from midfield, he ran at Chris Perry, who is considered among the most vigilant and judicious markers in the League, yet was tricked into tackling prematurely, beaten by a spurt of pace and left to watch helplessly as Owen ran on to drive into the side-netting at the near post.
Wimbledon knew what to expect of Owen. After all, he had scored here in May, when Liverpool went down 2-1, losing all hope that remained of the title. But against the likes of Owen to be forewarned is not necessarily forearmed; his mobility was a constant trial for Joe Kinnear's men. No wonder Perry, as half-time approached, took an opportunity to kick him after the ball had gone.
The home side were seldom seen in attack, exercising David James only by making the Liverpool goalkeeper catch a few flicked headers from set pieces. Not that Liverpool were exactly devastating themselves; it was not a first half designed to rouse the neutral from a torpor induced by heat and humidity. Adding to the players' excuses was grass that seemed suspiciously long and Liverpool, who predictably were doing the bulk of the passing, could not move the ball about with their customary zip.
Owen continued to look sharp, although, after a deliciously deft turn had induced Alan Kimble vigorously to tackle thin air, a more experienced practitioner might have done better to pull the ball back where colleagues waited in the goalmouth.
Liverpool fell behind shortly after making their most inviting chance to date, Rob Jones advancing and cleverly, with the outside of his right foot, sending a fine ball behind a line of defenders to McManaman, whose run was perfectly timed, but who wasted the clear opening with a shot that was too close to Neil Sullivan.
If his misjudgment was costly, so was that of Phil Babb at the other end. As Neal Ardley surged determinedly inside from the right, beating two men, the Republic of Ireland defender barged him over, incurring a caution and conceding a free kick 20 yards out that was ideally positioned for Gayle's left foot. Even so, as sweet an execution could hardly have been conceived; Gayle clipped the ball over the wall and just inside the far post, where it brushed the crossbar on its way over the line.
Babb almost made amends, hurtling forward to meet a ball from Jones and lobbing it just wide of Sullivan's goal, but equality was not long delayed, for Vinnie Jones was to grapple illicitly with Riedle as the ball bounced around Wimbledon's penalty area and the referee had little option but to point to the spot. Owen let Sullivan go the wrong way but, just in case he had not, placed the ball low and far to his left.
Joe Lovejoy at Selhurst Park
Wimbledon 1 Liverpool 1
LIVERPOOL have had terrible trouble with the Crazy Gang since the 1988 FA Cup Final, and it was the same old story yesterday, when they needed a penalty from 17-year-old Michael Owen to salvage a point against opponents they have beaten just once in the past six seasons. Anfield's under-achievers blew the championship in the corresponding fixture only three months ago, and will not have enjoyed this return to Selhurst Park and what is fast becoming their bogey ground. They were the better side, and should have won, but how often have we said that in recent years?
The disappointment Roy Evans, their manager, articulated afterwards was compounded by the news that Neil Ruddock's knee injury, which forced him off after 23 minutes, could be cartilage trouble.
Liverpool fell behind to that speciality which helps Wimbledon to make the most of such limited resources, the set-piece. A handsome one it was, too, Marcus Gayle beating David James via the underside of the crossbar with a 20-yard free kick from the inside-right channel.
Owen, understudying the injured Robbie Fowler, earned his team the point which was the least they deserved, keeping a cool head in brain-scrambling heat to punish Vinnie Jones's jujitsu hold on Karlheinz Riedle.
It was entirely fitting that the youngster should score, for his was the most notable contribution on an afternoon when stifling, soporific heat sapped the best intentions. It was over 100 degrees in the middle, and even the fittest wilted.
Those who talk so glibly about the desirability of summer football would have been as popular as bacon at a bar mitzvah, as players everywhere endured trial by sauna. As the pounds dropped off in a bath of perspiration, it became a test of endurance as much as skill.
Liverpool spent most of last season rejecting suggestions that a lack of dynamic aggression in midfield was their Achilles heel, then went out and bought Paul Ince and Oyvind Leonhardsen to supply it. Ince versus Vinnie Jones, The Guv'nor versus The Terminator. Nirvana for the "Get Stuck In" brigade.
First blood went to the Jones boy, booked after 17 minutes for a head-high challenge on Liverpool's new captain. Ince, predictably, was much the more positive influence, organising the second-half fightback and leading from the front by driving on while others fell gasping by the wayside.
On the first day back after the summer break, the roll call can be as interesting as play-time. Liverpool were without five internationals Fowler, Patrik Berger, Jamie Redknapp, Leonhardsen and Bjorn Tore Kvarme all injured. And still there was no place in the starting line-up for John Barnes, for whom the message on the wall is writ large.
In Fowler's absence, Riedle, the European Cup winner from Dortmund, was partnered in attack by Owen, surely the most exciting 17-year-old in the country. Elsewhere, Rob Jones was preferred at right wing-back to Jason McAteer, and Ruddock, having shed at least a stone, was rewarded with Kvarme's place, ahead of Dominic Matteo and Steve Harkness.
The Dons' only newcomer, Ceri Hughes, from Luton Town, started on the bench. Among all the big names on parade, much the most impressive was the urchin prodigy, Owen. He scored against Wimbledon after coming on as a substitute last season, and might have done so before his 71st-minute penalty here. He was the first to show, twisting and turning past Dean Blackwell in the penalty area and coming within a last-ditch block of setting up Riedle at close range.
There was one blemish on a richly promising afternoon's work for Owen. When Stig Inge Bjornebye picked him out near the penalty spot, Owen made a hash of his turn, allowing Alan Kimble to nip in and get the ball away. It was a good chance wasted.
At the opposite end of the experience spectrum, Riedle made a quietly impressive debut. He has a prodigious leap and wins most balls in the air, and his adhesive control and perceptive use of the ball is all we have come to expect from Germany's finest.
Michael Thomas was economy personified in the Liverpool midfield, a trusty lieutenant for Ince, who tended to direct the play through Owen, coming short, rather than the erstwhile fulcrum, Steve McManaman, who was no more than peripheral. For all that, the England enigma should have opened the scoring early in the second period when his shot on the half-turn was too close to Neil Sullivan's body, enabling the goalkeeper to make a good save.
Reprieved, Wimbledon were ahead within three minutes, when Phil Babb's foul on Neal Ardley was penalised twice, first by a deserved booking and then by Gayle's spectacular free kick.
Justice was served after 71 minutes, when Vinnie Jones clambered all over Riedle to deny the German a shot at goal and Owen made short work of the penalty. He may find himself back on the bench as soon as Fowler is fit, but on the evidence of his temperament, as well as the talent, the young man has a big future.
Goalscorers: Wimbledon Gayle 55. Liverpool: Owen 71 (pen).
Wimbledon: Sullivan, Cunningham, Kimble, V Jones (Castledine 78min), Blackwell, Earle, Ekoku, Holdsworth (Hughes 60min), Gayle (Clarke 67min), Perry, Ardley.
Liverpool: James, R Jones (McAteer 82min), Wright, Babb, McManaman, Riedle, Ruddock (Harkness 23min), Thomas, Ince, Owen, Bjornebye (Murphy 67min).
Booked: V Jones (17min); Babb (55min); Harkness (58min).
Weather: infernal.
Ground: patterned.
Referee: G Willard (Worthing).