by Sky Sports
Last month Alan Shearer was the England striker everyone loved to hate - now it's the turn of
Michael Owen, the young Liverpool striker who was booked for diving, missed one gilt-edged chance,
had a goal disallowed and was substituted in the 1-0 defeat at West Ham.
Owen could hardly claim he is a man more sinned against than sinning - especially when it comes
to his booking, for a dive that has become an all-too prevalent piece of weaponry in a player whose
skill should not require deceit.
Turning past former Anfield team-mate Neil Ruddock, Owen looked to have accelerated past the
West Ham defender and beaten him for pace. Ruddock lunged, but clearly pulled out of the tackle.
Still Owen went down. Yellow card.
Perhaps he was frustrated, for at that stage Liverpool did not look like continuing to their great
run of five wins out of their last six games. Ruddock was definitely on top, despite the midfield
promptings of the excellent Dietmar Hamann.
The disallowed goal was controversial too. Thompson hooked the ball back from the byline for Owen to
head home, but the referee adjudged the ball to have gone out of play. It was a close call, and Liverpool
could feel aggrieved at the decision.
It got worse. With 20 minutes left, Owen stayed down after Ruddock tackled him again - and as he
gingerly trudged off to be replaced by Steve Staunton, his afternoon was over.
Liverpool had to bring on David Thompson as an 18th-minute substitute for Patrik Berger, and he had
a hand in a great opportunity that Owen - playing on his own up front - squandered. Running towards Shaka
Hislop's goal, Owen tried to beat the keeper when Murphy was in space, and square.
Chances were at a premium in the fast and passion clash - which is why Trevor Sinclair's goal on the stroke
of half-time was met with the kind of celebrations you'd expect on the stroke of midnight in 34 days' time.
The returning Steve Lomas did all the donkey work, cutting the ball from the byline for Paolo di Canio to
side-foot goalwards. Westerveld could only parry the ball and there was Sinclair to prod the ball home.
A tense second period was broken up by half-chances for Wanchope and Keller on the break as Liverpool
dominated possession. But they could not make the breakthrough, despite Meijer being added to the attack.
Minutes after Meijer's knockdown was nearly turned home by Thompson, di Canio hit the post and Wanchope
could not convert the rebound. The sub Kitson, making his 50th league appearances for the Hammers, then
released Keller who was clean through but hit the side-netting. He could have wrapped it up.
Di Canio then rolled the ball to Cole whose shot fizzed over the crossbar in a finale high on drama.
Keller's miss looked costly when Thompson powerfully volleyed captain Hyypia's knockdown from close range -
but it was into the arms of Hislop. Hyypia took the armband from Jamie Redknapp for the day - and the
Liverpool midfielder won't be looking forward to Sunday lunch with the old man.
Liverpool still have the best away defence in the Premiership, but West Ham remain unbeaten in their last
nine home games. If only Harry Redknapp's side could sort out their away form, Europe should not be a problem.
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