By Craig McWalter
March 25 2002

Danny Murphy has been called into the England squad to face Italy after his Liverpool team-mate Steven Gerrard had been ruled out by injury. Gerrard limped out of the 1-0 win against Chelsea with a groin injury.

Sven-Goran Eriksson later called up Murphy after accepting Gerrard would play no part in Wednesday's international friendly at Elland Road.

Gerrard will join up as scheduled with the England squad on Monday as they are due to undergo pre-World Cup medical tests.

But he will return to Merseyside for treatment on his injury on Tuesday.

Eriksson, deprived of Gerrard and Dyer in midfield, has therefore seen fit to recall Murphy, who was a surprise omission from the squad which faced Holland.

The midfielder was also overlooked when the latest squad was named.

PHIL THOMPSON ON OUR TITLE CHALLENGE

Phil Thompson claimed Liverpool can win the Premiership after the 1-0 win over Chelsea.

The Reds lead Manchester United by a point and have a two-point advantage over third-placed Arsenal.

Thompson feels Liverpool proved last year that they can last the pace as the pressure builds in the final weeks.

"We want to win both the Champions League and the Premiership, and the belief is there that we can do it," said the Reds assistant manager.

"Once again the players are showing what they did last year. Game after game they have got the concentration and the focus to go for it.

"It's not new to us because we showed it last year when there was that third place to fight for. We handled it brilliantly then and we can do it again."

Thompson was full of praise for goalscorer Smicer and Emile Heskey, who created the chance with his powerful run and cross down the left wing.

"That's Emile Heskey, and he can play in that position," he said. "Emile is an in-form striker at the minute and he's an option on the left.

"He gives us that, and we can have three strikers on the pitch. His cross on the run will probably go down as one of the best of the season, both the power and the pace of it.

"But there was also the composure of Vladimir Smicer to put it away. That was not an easy volley by any means (from a cross) coming 40 yards - and he caught it full on, sidefooted."

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