Thu 04 Apr 2007Gerrard again forced to provide sparkLiverpool 2 Middlesbrough 0: Times
must be changing in English football if David Dein is no longer
associated with all things Arsenal and Alan Curbishley, so recently
a candidate for national coach, is contemplating life exiled from
the top flight, but some things remain constant. Liverpool laboured
for long periods last night but, in the end, they had Steven
Gerrard to thank for success.The England midfielder emerged from a soporific occasion -
Middlesbrough have now failed to win a league game at Anfield in 31
years - to score twice and hoist Rafael Benitez's side back above
the Gunners and into third place. If Arsenal had been seeking some
positive news to cling to after a day of upheaval at the Emirates,
there was none to be found here.