LONDON. Dec 11: Marcus Stewart's I Oth goal of the season gave Premiership newcomers Ipswich a
dramatic I -0 victory at Anfield Sunday to end Liverpool's unbeaten home record this campaign. reports AFP.
George Burley's side have now won more away games in the top flight this term than any other team, underlining their growing reputation.
Liverpool's out-of-so,rts striker Michael Owen had two excellent first-half chances to get on the scoresheet but the England international spurned them both.
Ipswich leapfrog Leicester -I -0 losers at strugglers Coventry - into third place in the table. four points behind second-placed Arsenal and 10 behind leaders Manchester United with 17 games of the season gone.
Gerard Houllier. Liverpool's French coach, paired Owen and Robbie Fowler In attack for only the third time this season with Emile Heskey. Vladimir Smicer and Steven Gerrard left on the bench after Thursdays UEFA Cup victory over Olympiakos.
German international Dietmar Hamann was missing through injury so Gary McAllister stepped into midfield and Christian Ziege also returned New 5.5 million pound (8.25 million dollar) signing Croatian midfielder Igor Biscan was handed a place on the bench.
Ipswich, who claimed their only victory in 28 visits to Anfield on their last trip In 1995. also had a new signing on the bench - striker Alun Armstrong while goalkeeper Richard Wright and James Scowcroft returned to the side.
After an uneasy Liverpool start. Fowler should have put them ahead in the 1 I th minute when he managed only a tame header from Markus Babbel's right-wing cross, which had reached nlm unmarked eight yards out.
Ipswich, despite all their movement and slick passing, did not create a single chance until the 24th minute when Malt Holland's weak 18-yardcr bounced Into Sander Wester-veld's arms.
; But a minute later Owen
should have scored. Fowler's fine ball in behind Hermann Hreidarsson sent Nick Barmby away and when the midfielder laid the ball perfectly into the onrushing Owen's path, the England striker fell as he tried to guide the ball inside the post, the ball skewing wide.
Owen missed another fine chance It) minutes before the interval when Ziege s clever ball put him clear But Owen's fierce, low shot was pushed out by Richard Wright, with Jamie Clapham clearing the danger.
The home side were made to pay for their profligacy' In front of goal when Ipswich produced a stunning goal on the stroke of half-time. Stewart raced in from the left, beat Markus Babbel. Sami Hvypia and then rounded Sander Westerveld. before drilling the ball between the |kjsI and Jamie Carragher on the line
Liverpool kept Ipswich penned into their own final third- in the early stages ol the second half as they searched lor the equaliser.
But Ipswich broke on 57 minutes when Holland put Clapham away on the left, and he cut inside Stephan Henchoz to force Westcnelcl Into a leaping save to his right
I leskry came on for ()wen on the hour and four minutes later
the big striker should have scored Substitute Vladimir Smicer won the ball in midfield, and Fowler's instant pass sent Heskey clear on his own.
He advanced on Wright and tried a shuffle. But he was forced wide, and the chance was gone - with Heskey beating the ground in frustration.
Biscan was thrown on with 21 minutes left Io replace Ziege.
Danny Murphy hit the bar with a free-kick and then Wright touched a Fowler shot onto a post with time running
Hvypia climbed to head a Babbel cross over the bar with four minutes left, before Ipswich's other striker Scowcrofl came off to allow new boy Armstrong on for his debut.
Former Norwich striker Craig Bellamy scored five minutes from half-time- In Coventry's 1-0 win over fourth-placed. Ipswich at Highfield Road - a win that takes Gordon Strachan's men out of the bottom three.
Leicester captain Matt Elliott headed a throw-in straight back to Paul Telfer, who delivered a threatening cross which Bellamy was first to react to.
He got in front of Robbie Savage and sent a glancing heaclei Wide ol the despairing div o( bimon Rove •