Soccer: Liverpool survive first half siege to make the Champions League

Charlton 0 Liverpool 4

These are Spice Boys no longer. In the perfect end to an incredible season, Liverpool were carried into the Champions League by the immense character and spirit imbued into his side by Gerard Houllier.

Captain Robbie Fowler led the way with a double strike as he hauled his side back from the brink, while Danny Murphy and Michael Owen also scored as Liverpool ensured third place and a potential multi-million bounty.

And that, after all, had always been their main priority for the season, whatever the immense achievements of their cup Treble.

There will be some celebration now, with the champagne having been put on ice ever since the FA Cup final last weekend, let alone the UEFA Cup final in midweek.

But while Liverpool were eventually - and, indeed, fittingly - rampant, the scoreline did not tell half of the story at The Valley.

Just like Manchester United, these Reds also seem to relish doing these things the hard way after a penalty shoot-out, a late comeback and a golden goal in their three knock-out triumphs.

In the first half at Charlton, they were so completely outplayed that it was only a clear-cut penalty that was never given, the woodwork and superb saves by much-criticised keeper Sander Westerveld that kept them alive.

In their 63rd game of the season, they looked to have run out of steam at the worst possible moment, with Leeds waiting to take advantage just as they had done last season when Liverpool slipped up in another Valley of Death.

However, Liverpool are made of sterner stuff these days than when Houllier arrived just a couple of years ago.

They have battled back in each of their cup triumphs and did so again here. That tells you something significant about a team.

Gerard Houllier made four changes to the line-up which started in Dortmund in midweek in an attempt to freshen up his tiring side, as Fowler, Nick Barmby, Greg Vignal and Patrik Berger came in.

They were nevertheless put under immediate pressure as Charlton, aiming to impress manager Alan Curbishley amid speculation linking him with West Ham, then turned the screw tighter and tighter.

However, for all their domination in a superb first-half display, they simply could not make the breakthrough as Liverpool, admittedly riding their luck, held firm just.

Westerveld’s shot stopping was superb in grasping a drive and free-kick by Jensen, while Kinsella’s shot was deflected just wide and Sami Hyypia held the creaking back four together.

Liverpool were restricted to two long-range efforts by Gerrard, a shot by Fowler which was tipped around the post and a weak diving header from close-range by Owen.

The siege of the visitors’ goal resumed though.

Jamie Carragher should have conceded a penalty when he handled a cross only for referee Graham Barber not to take any action.

As play continued, Matthias Svensson was only just denied by keeper Westerveld and then in the next move, the Charlton striker hit the woodwork as the Liverpool defence crumpled a second time.

Still Liverpool’s problems continued. Hyypia was beaten on the touchline and Steve Brown’s cross was missed by Svensson and Graham Stuart, who were both left in staggering amounts of space.

Westeveld denied Steve Brown with a superb one-handed save, parried Mark Kinsella’s shot and denied Stuart’s follow-up from a free-kick.

Liverpool were able to retain possession for only brief spells as both Houllier and assistant Phil Thompson berated their players from the touchline in desperation.

It is hard to imagine they did not continue their blast at half-time. Whatever happened though, it certainly worked.

For Liverpool emerged as a different side. Suddenly Charlton were forced to defend as the pressure increased and finally they buckled on 55 minutes.

Owen burst past Andy Todd only for the defender to deflect his effort just wide, but the ensuing corner fell to Fowler in a yard of space.

The danger was still not obvious though. After all, he had his back to goal and there was a large crowd of players blocking his route.

But the Liverpool captain then produced a moment of not only sublime skill but also immense vision and sheer impudence as he fashioned an overhead kick which lobbed the ball into the top corner of the net.

Four minutes later, Liverpool, incredibly enough, were virtually home and dry.

This time, it was Owen who was the focus of the attack, holding the ball up superbly before laying it back to Murphy, who had only just come on to replace Barmby.

He picked his spot superbly just inside the post from outside the penalty box and Gary McAllister was only denied soon afterwards by Ilic’s diving save from his free-kick.

Berger threatened again, but Liverpool were not finished yet and, on 71 minutes, they went 3-0 up.

Owen surged into the Charlton box but unselfishly laid the ball sideways to the waiting Fowler, who picked his spot and delivered the coup de grace with assurance.

Charlton were wilting by this stage and it was left to Owen to apply the final touch. The celebrations then began and it is unlikely they will stop for some time to come.