what the papers say

Bellamy pops up with the write stuff

23/02/2009 09:44

 

CRAIG BELLAMY'S successful return to Anfield certainly scored with the national Press as our Wales striker put a dent in the title hopes of his former team-mates and boyhood heroes ...  

The Sun

"Hellamy! Craig goal a nightmare for Rafa"

Phil Thomas writes: As a kid Craig Bellamy spent hours dreaming of hitting the goal at Anfield which ended the title race.

Well yesterday he got his wish. And boy, weren’t Alex Ferguson and his band of Old Trafford champions delighted about it.

There may still be mathematical life left in the battle for the Premier League crown but make no mistake about it — this was the day Liverpool gift-wrapped the title for their deadliest rivals.

And what a sweet irony for all those Manchester United fans who, for a couple of hours at least yesterday afternoon, were as big a bunch of Blues as the 3,500 or so visiting supporters here.

As if the sight of your only serious rivals slipping up yet again wasn’t enough, the fact it came courtesy of the boot of Bellamy was the cherry on the top.

For Bellamy grew up as a huge Liverpool fan and spent a colourful season as a player at Anfield two years ago.

So what a bitter-sweet moment it was for the Welshman when he swung his right boot four minutes after the break and saw his effort clip off Alvaro Arbeloa and arrow into the far corner.

What a gut-wrenching moment, too, for Rafa Benitez, who shipped him out after that solitary campaign — and saw the City striker return to boot him in the backside to such devastating effect.

The Star

"Craig's Bell of the ball"

Kevin Francis writes: Former Liverpool star Craig Bellamy achieved the impossible at Anfield yesterday by uniting both halves of the Manchester footballing public!

His goal left City fans rejoicing at an unlikely away draw – and United fans gloating at the sight of seeing stuttering Liverpool finish the day a massive seven points behind Sir Alex Ferguson’s team.

Even a late equaliser from Dirk Kuyt can’t change the feeling that Liverpool’s chances of winning the title for the first time since 1990 are now disappearing fast.

After all, this was a must-win game in their race to catch the Premier League’s in-form team from Old Trafford.

Liverpool look to have thrown away too many points to beat United to that particular piece of silverware.

Bellamy’s goal was his third in five games since his £14m move from West Ham in the January transfer window.

He struck in the 49th minute of a game where he needed absolutely no motivation. Playing against one of his old sides was more than enough to ensure that he would be on top form.

It was Robinho who set up the goal with an inch-perfect pass, one of many he produced on the day, to Vincent Kompany on the left-hand edge of the penalty area.

Kompany stroked the ball to Bellamy, whose curling, right-foot shot took a deflection off Alvaro Arbeloa and went to the left of diving Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina.

Kuyt grabbed his goal in the 78th minute to present Liverpool with a chance of claiming a last-gasp victory from a game that had looked as though it had slipped away from them.