Sport 06-09-2001 Liverpool Strikers Put England At Top Of Group who: England football team what: Top qualifying Group Nine after beating Albania 2-0 where: St James` Park, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE when: Last night snippet: "England`s debt to Liverpool deepens by the day," says The Telegraph`s Henry Winter after a 2-0 win over Albania in their World Cup qualifier at St James` Park last night. "Well-taken goals from the Merseysiders` Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler gave England a deserved, if occasionally nervy, victory." "As anticipated Eriksson retained the team which had humiliated Germany," says Glenn Moore in The Independent. But although the ball "regularly pinged about the Albanian box" England were unable to put it in the back of the net. "Ten minutes passed, then twenty, then thirty... By the time the forty-minute mark was reached with the game still goalless, respect for the visitors had turned to grudging admiration mingled with concern for the home team." "Eriksson`s attack laboured against opponents who were never going to be dismissed as lightly as the Germans," says The Guardian. After beating Germany so consummately on Saturday, England fans were tempted "to regard Albania as lightly as an After Eight mint," writes David Lacey. "England`s players knew better." The wait ended a minute before the break with a brilliant goal by Owen, but England prolonged the agony until the 88th minute when Robbie Fowler sealed the win. "A win against Greece at home next month should ensure automatic entry to the World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea next summer," explains The Mirror. "That would represent a footballing miracle worked by Swedish manger Sven Goran Eriksson, who took over the team last January with results at rock-bottom." [... more]

What The Papers Say is delivered to thousands of readers every morning by web, WAP and email. Sign up today!