FLORENT SINAMA-PONGOLLE celebrated his 19th birthday last week and his Barclaycard Premiership debut. On Saturday, with an explosive burst of pace and wonderful finish, he marked his first goal in England. It was easy to see why Gérard Houllier rates the young striker so highly but will the Liverpool manager still be around to turn all that promise into the French Michael Owen?

In an interview over the weekend, Houllier spoke almost with an air of fond reminiscence about his work at Anfield. “I’ve achieved a lot with Liverpool, a lot I am proud of,” he said. “If I was to go and the next season the new manager won the title with the legacy I have left, then I would be just as proud. That would still be an achievement.”

In his wistful tone, there appeared to be a tacit acknowledgement that unless Liverpool mount a challenge for the title this season, someone else may be given the opportunity. But there was also a justified declaration that, if the worst happens, he will leave Martin O’Neill (or whoever) with a healthy club. The hysterical voices who have bombarded the airwaves demanding Houllier’s head in mid-campaign never do him the service of acknowledging all the good work he has done thus far.

Youth is on Liverpool’s side and, as Steven Gerrard demonstrated throughout a majestic performance, so is one of Europe’s most potent midfield players. They need something extra to turn them into Premiership champions and in trying to encourage greater attacking expression Houllier is giving it his best shot, although it is more than likely that fourth place will be the limit of their ambitions. That would represent progress but, for the manager’s sake and to judge from the highest standards, perhaps that would not be enough.

Furious of Kirkby was at least saved a phone call on Saturday night by a victory that required a couple of slices of fortune, although, as someone said, Houllier was due a bit of luck in this fixture. A couple of seasons ago, it almost killed him when he was rushed to hospital for heart surgery.

After Owen and Alan Smith had traded first-half goals, John Arne Riise assisting both of them, the game swung on two incidents in a five-minute spell just after the interval. First, Mark Viduka wasted a wonderful chance to put Leeds United ahead by shooting straight at Jerzy Dudek, then came a freakish incident that gave Liverpool a lead that looked unassailable even before Sinama-Pongolle added the third near the end.

There was no doubt that three Liverpool players were offside when Danny Murphy’s free kick trundled through Paul Robinson’s arms, but, according to Jeff Winter, the perma-tanned referee, they were not interfering with play. Peter Reid went apoplectic, claiming that he had spent hours drilling his defenders precisely to catch the opposition offside at free kicks. Even Houllier had sympathy for him but it would never have been an issue if Robinson had not made such a hash of his attempted save.

Their nerves soothed, Liverpool could play out the rest of the game in some comfort and Sinama-Pongolle added a final flourish. “That was a big win for the team, but most of all for the manager,” the forward said. “There’s been a lot of pressure put on us and him most of all over the last few weeks.

“I never thought I’d be playing, let alone scoring, so soon after coming to Liverpool. Both myself and Anthony Le Tallec thought we’d be spending about six months or so getting used to English football, playing with the reserves and adapting our game, but the number of injuries this season meant we were needed in the team.”

Liverpool await the return of Dietmar Hamann, in particular, from injury but their problems are nothing compared to Leeds, whose defiance against Manchester United and Liverpool has not spared them from the relegation zone. They move on to face United in the Carling Cup, then Arsenal, while the board is expected to announce tomorrow the biggest annual loss in English football history. One day, they will have some good news to impart.

Liverpool (4-4-2): J Dudek 6 — S Finnan 5, I Biscan 5, S Hyypia 6, J A Riise 5 — E-H Diouf 6, S Gerrard 8, V Smicer 5 (sub: D Murphy, 49min 6), H Kewell 7 (sub: A Le Tallec, 87) — M Owen 6 (sub: F SinamaPongolle, 58 7), E Heskey 6. Substitutes not used: C Kirkland, S Henchoz. NEXT: Fulham (a). FORM: WLLLWW

Leeds United (4-4-2): P Robinson 4 — G Kelly 6, Z Camara 6, D Matteo 6, S Olembe 7 — J Pennant 6 (sub: A Lennon, 82), D Batty 5, Seth Johnson 6 (sub: N Barmby, 80), J Milner 4 (sub: L Sakho, 75) — M Viduka 5, A Smith 5. Substitutes not used: S Carson, Roque Junior. Booked: Matteo, Batty. NEXT: Arsenal (a). FORM: LLLWLL

Shots on target: (h) 12 (a) 6. Fouls: (h) 11 (a) 13. Offsides: (h) 1 (a) 2

Referee: J Winter 4. Attendance: 43,599