by Teamtalk
A late strike from Titi Camara, earning Liverpool a 1-1 draw at Southampton, was sadly overshadowed
by an injury to Michael Owen.
However, the welcome news for both Liverpool and England is that the injury is not as bad as
first feared. The good news is that it is not the same hamstring injury which kept him out of action
for near-on five months.
Indeed, Owen is expected to be available for Liverpool's game against West Ham on Wednesday and for
England's Euro 2000 qualifier matches against Scotland in November.
Southampton almost broke the deadlock after three minutes at The Dell when a third minute Francis
Benali free-kick was deflected into the path of the on-rushing Matt Le Tissier but
Finnish defender Sami Hyypia was on hand to prevent the danger.
Dave Jones handed starting roles to Matt Le Tissier and Matt Oakley, while injured Chris Marsden
missed out and Stuart Ripley was dropped to the substitutes' bench. Michael Owen had to be content with
a place on the bench for Liverpool, while Titi Camara was recalled to Gerard Houllier's line-up.
Matt Oakley also came close after 13 minutes but his cleverly lofted shot hit the roof of the
Liverpool net. However, Liverpool tested Southampton's resolve just minute later when Camara sent in a
rasping 30-yard effort which gathered pace as it bounced on the wet surface. Goalkeeper
Paul Jones did well to turn the effort away for a corner.
At the other end, Rigobert Song's bravery denied Hassan Kachloul a golden opportunity to put
Southampton in the lead with a last-gasp tackle.
Erik Meijer also shot over the Saints bar from 10 yards after a mistake by Norwegian Trond Soltvedt
as Liverpool squandered yet another opening.
On the half-hour mark Camara shrugged off two challenges to set up a chance for Danny Murphy,
12 yards out but his low drive was smothered by Paul Jones, diving to his left. Paul Jones was by
far the busier keeper with Brad Friedel only having one thing to do in the first 45 minutes, and that
was to pick the ball out of the back of the net.
Francis Benali slung in a deep cross and Matt Le Tissier rose above the Liverpool defence at the
far post. Le Tissier's header across goal was met by Trond Egil Soltvedt and the Norwegian, who scored
the winner at The Dell ten days ago, converted to put the home side in front.
Liverpool were twice denied the chance to draw level immediately after the interval after some heroic
defending from Francis Benali. He firstly cut out a goal-bound shot from Titi Camara and then, when the
rebound fell to Murphy, Benali got across to prevent him scoring.
Liverpool responded through Hyypia, who headed narrowly wide from close range after a superb lead.
Gerard Houllier then introduced Michael Owen only for the England striker to last just 22 minutes before
leaving the field clutching a hamstring resulting in Liverpool playing the game out with just ten men.
Amazingly, the visitors levelled proceedings with just minutes to spare through Titi Camara.
Jamie Redknapp's rasping shot was blocked by Saints defender Lundekvam and the rebound fell into the
path of Camara whose shot left Jones with no chance. Pahars and Kachloul both squandered golden
opportunities to restore Southampton's lead late in the game.
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