Other players might have been howled down.The tie was a mere 62 seconds old when his stooping head met Patrik Berger's corner to force a fine low save from Zbynek Hauzr. Some 13 minutes later, another cross from a Czech, this time from Vladimir Smicer, found Fowler in an even better position. The range was almost point-blank, but Merseyside's finest got underneath his header which looped comfortably over.Later in the half, as the opening goal threatened never to come, Fowler returned the favour; his low cross scudded past everyone and Smicer just failed to bundle it over the line.Fowler's travails continued unabated as Danny Murphy, unimpressive as a striker, but used now in midfield, saw his attempt on goal cannon off a white shirt and fall into his captain's path. The ball did not run kindly, however, and became lost in a tangle of feet. Three minutes before half-time another cross, this time from Heskey, found Fowler in a perfect position but again the final shot lacked accuracy.This was, admittedly, a Liverpool team weakened by the decision of the Liverpool manager, Gérard Houllier, to rest Sami Hyypia and Nick Barmby, but this was a performance only slightly less laboured than that against Rapid. True, Liberec'sattacks before the interval were limited to a tame header, but the Czechs had not come to Merseyside in search of goals.And then Fowler was presented with a chance that could not be spurned when in the 53rd minute Dietmar Hamann was bundled over and the Swiss referee, Massimo Busacca, awarded a penalty.

The Kop burned with expectation and their hero duly hammered his spot-kick among them It was the stuff of nightmares. And still these supporters, the kind of fans players should die for, continued to chant his name.Otherwise it was much as before; Liverpool kept attacking, and kept missing Hamann and Berger both shot wide. Hauzr made a fine double save from Murphy and Smicer and, from the resulting corner, Markus Babbel's header brushed the top of the bar. Barmby and Gary McAllister were thrown on and frustration began to boil over.You wonder what the BBC, for whom Liverpool in the Uefa Cup is their only foray into European football, made of it all. They have had to interest their audience first in the goalless draw with Rapid and now this. Viewing figures should be dwarfed by Songs of Praise.Liverpool (4-4-2): Westerveld; Carragher, Henchoz, Babbel, Ziege; Smicer (Barmby, 69), Murphy (McAllister, 69), Hamann, Berger; Fowler, Heskey.

Substitutes not used: Song, Hyypia, Traoré, Camara, Arphexad (gk).Slovan Liberec (4-4-2): Hauzr; Lexa, Pilny, Johana, Capek; Neumann, Janu, Michalik, Kozuch; Stajner (Jun, 71), Lazzaro (Nezmar, 80). Substitutes not used: Breda, Bakes, Silny, Beno, Barta (gk).Referee: M Busacca (Switzerland).. David May is ready to give the Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, a new defensive option after recovering from his injury problems. David May is ready to give the Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, a new defensive option after recovering from his injury problems. May has returned from Achilles tendon trouble and could be recalled at centre-back in Jaap Stam's prolonged absence, possibly as early as tomorrow's Premiership game at Old Trafford.May badly damaged his Achilles in pre-season training after overcoming a knee ligament injury that wrecked his previous campaign. But May has now made his reserve-team return and could face a quick recall after Ferguson branded his back line a "shambles" following Tuesday night's 2-1 Champions' League defeat in Anderlecht. May has been out of the United first team since helping to lift the European Cup 18 months ago in Barcelona.With Stam out for months and Wes Brown still feeling his way to first-team sharpness, May can give Ferguson some experience and know-how at a vital time. Ferguson is unlikely to buy to improve his defence because of European transfer deadlines, so he must look within his own ranks for replacements.United are giving the American goalkeeper Joe Cannon an extended trial.