by Carlingnet
Jamie Redknapp's penalty put Liverpool in control after Bradford had taken an early lead
through Dean Windass at Anfield.
It took a fine solo goal from Titi Camara to pull Liverpool level against the plucky FA Carling
Premiership newcomers.
Liverpool started with an air of authority, neat passing and movement, that must have worried Bradford's fans.
And when Neil Redfearn was booked for pulling back Patrik Berger
after just 30 seconds, it looked like that anxiety had spread to the
Yorkshire side.
Liverpool produced three clear-cut openings early on. First, a 20-yard Jamie Redknapp
free-kick was pulled down by keeper Matt Clarke, making his Premiership debut for the Bantams.
Then Titi Camara struck a low shot on the turn that Clarke held low down, before Berger's
fierce drive fizzed wide of the far post.
But it didn't take long for the gremlins to get to work in the Liverpool defence. It started with a weak Steve
Staunton header inside his own box that fell for a surprised Redfearn to volley just over after ten minutes.
Two minutes later Liverpool just stood around as a Stuart McCall ball came into the box, Lee
Mills touched it down and Dean Windass smashed it gleefully past Sander Westerveld.
Thirty seconds later it could have been far worse. Former Liverpool striker Dean Saunders
got away on the left and crossed for Redfearn to head over from just a few feet when he
really should have buried the chance.
Cue an embarrassing period of arguing and pointing from all parts of Liverpool's defence.
Vladimir Smicer chipped wide of the far post as Liverpool sought to get themselves back into
the game, but after 20 minutes Camara scored his fifth of the season and third in successive games.
He took possession 30 yards out before turning and running at a
retreating defence before drilling a low shot past Clarke.
A quick break from defence saw Dietmar Hamann race away before sending Smicer charging forward, the
Czech's shot being half-stopped by Clarke before Andy O'Brien completed the clearance.
Smicer had another glorious chance after 39 minutes when a Camara dummy put him clear
in the box, but somehow managed to pull his shot wide from ten yards.
But after 41 minutes David Wetherall brought down Berger in the box, and Redknapp rapped home the penalty.
But not before the ball had been belted in frustration across the area by Windass, clattering
into referee Jeff Winter, who was momentarily dazed.
He then called Wetherall over and booked him for the offence against Berger.
Bradford were clearly rattled and a minute from the break, Windass was booked for a bad
foul on Hamann.
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