Alcock, pushed over by Paolo Di Canio at Hillsborough last month, sent off two Middlesbrough players during a second half at The Dell which featured all six goals, including an injury-time equaliser for Middlesbrough by Gianluca Festa with his side reduced to nine men. Both managers were critical of Alcock’s performance, Middlesbrough’s Bryan Robson understandably more so. AT THE end of this extraordinary match the referee, Paul Alcock, was immediately surrounded by Southampton stewards as irate Middlesbrough players approached the beleaguered official. Substitutes not used: Launders, Christie, Poom (gk).Referee: U Rennie (Sheffield).Bookings: Liverpool: Berger, Redknapp. Derby: Bohinen, Kozluk, Hoult.Man of the match: Elliott.Attendance: 44,020.. Substitutes not used: Friedel (gk), Kvarme, Harkness.Derby County (3-4-3): Hoult; Laursen, Carbonari, Elliott; Delap (Kozluk, 73), Bohinen, Powell, Dorigo; Harper (Bridge-Wilkinson, 89) Wanchope, Burton. Peter Taylor played a crucially important role alongside Clough, but did anyone doubt who was in control? Perhaps there is a moral in that.Goals: Harper (0-1) 6; Wanchope (0-2) 27; Redknapp (1-2) 84.Liverpool (4-4-2): James; Heggem (Thompson, 66), Carragher, Staunton, Bjornebye; McManaman, Ince, Redknapp, Berger (McAteer, 31); Owen, Fowler.

The irrepressible Wanchope headed the second goal and left the rest in the capable hands of the defence.Steve Elliott’s impeccably timed and executed tackle on the hapless Fowler was typical of the resistance which earned Derby their first League win at Anfield since 1970, when they were managed by the incomparable Brian Clough. Smith recently spent pounds 300,000 to bring Kevin Harper from Hibernian and the winger, given a first start, repaid his boss with the opening goal and an exuberant performance which characterised the entire team.Smith operated with two wide players and a central striker, Paulo Wanchope, who stretched Liverpool’s defence to breaking point in the first half- hour. More alarming is the form of Steve McManaman and Paul Ince.McManaman, supposedly coveted by Real Madrid, was a frustratingly peripheral figure, devastatingly elusive in the closing stages yet meekly ineffectual for much of the match.Ince has become a desperately sad parody of the self-proclaimed “Guv’nor”. The driving influence has diminished and he has been reduced to a snarling non-entity.Evans acknowledged Liverpool’s results were not good enough and that he – and, it must be supposed, Houllier – would be out there shopping around for new players. Jamie Redknapp’s lines of communication with his team-mates, which frequently broke down on Saturday, should be fixed soon enough, and an injury to Patrik Berger inevitably damaged much of their potency.

Karlheinz Riedle’s return from injury will provide a short- term solution.The shortcomings of Liverpool’s defence have been well-chronicled, but any number of managers would have to be perturbed by the limitations in midfield. Liverpool’s hierarchy must appreciate power-sharing will always be regarded as a potential weakness and, worse still, represents a convenient cover for players content to abdicate their responsibilities.It can be argued Liverpool’s directors neglected their duty when they arrived at this compromise. As a consequence, they have merely compromised their club’s prospects of long-term credibility and success. They doubtless had the best interests of the club at heart and were compassionate enough not to dump a loyal, decent and dignified servant, but the time has come to negotiate a settlement with Evans and name a sole manager.In fairness to the players picked on Saturday, their effort and commitment were unrelenting. Fowler will probably never miss so many chances in a match again and the deeper concern is ongoing, that of his partnership with Owen.