The first Merseyside FA Cup derby for 18 years was not incentive enough for Tom Hicks or George Gillett to cross the Atlantic but two emotive figures still kept controversy alive in their predictable absence at Anfield: Rafael Benítez and David Moyes. Managers and not suits at the centre of the argument – exactly how it should be.
Benítez reacted to a second successive draw with Everton here by accusing his depleted rivals of negative tactics and insinuating that, in keeping with the criticism that followed a goalless draw here in 2007, the "small-club mentality" continues at Goodison Park. Moyes refused to be drawn into the debate saying, "Everton do things with dignity and style." Their spat took attention away from the Liverpool co-owners' continued attempts to secure new investment in the club and Benítez's treatment of Robbie Keane, who was omitted from the squad following his meagre display in Monday's league meeting.
"I am really pleased with my team. We deserved to win," said Benítez, after Steven Gerrard had equalised Joleon Lescott's first-half header. "To play like that against a team with 10 players behind the ball is not easy but we worked hard, created chances and reacted very positively after the disappointment of the other night."
Before the kick-off Everton's most creative outlet, Mikel Arteta, had joined the suspended Marouane Fellaini plus the injured Yakubu Ayegbeni, James Vaughan and Louis Saha on Moyes' absentee list with a rib problem. When asked if he appreciated the Everton manager's position, or had ever employed similar tactics himself, Benítez added: "It was more or less the same on Monday night [when Arteta played]. I am the Liverpool football club manager so I can only think about to win. It doesn't matter what they do. I never used those tactics at Valencia but sometimes I did with Extremadura."
Moyes' retort was equally loaded. "This [Liverpool] is a great football club but Everton do things with dignity and style." The Everton manager, who claimed his side merited a penalty for Alvaro Arbeloa's innocuous collision with Steven Pienaar, added: "We have been here twice this week and drawn twice. I didn't come looking for a draw, although I would have taken one in the end. We look after our own business at Everton. We do things with a bit of dignity at Everton."
A replay at Goodison on February 4, Benítez admitted, was a headache he could do without, as Liverpool chase the title, and his omission of Keane, who was not injured and not present to witness the stalemate, ensured the soap opera at Anfield continued unabated. "Robbie wasn't selected," confirmed Benítez. "We have a very good squad."
In the background, in spirit if not body, lurked the club's American owners as Liverpool attempt to proceed on three fronts – league, Champions League and FA Cup – with uncertainty all around. Benítez used his programme notes to appeal for a unity that does not exist among those leading the club. The Liverpool manager wrote: "This is the kind of position we have been striving to be in for the past 10 to 15 years. Now we are here it's important we all work hard to move forward together." That may be true on the playing side, with Benítez making the changes he promised for this FA Cup tie but not to the detriment of the team, but the Americans' hard work is concentrated on their own interests and restricted by personal disputes.
Again the division between Hicks and Gillett has created a cloud over Liverpool's campaign. Unless there is a drop in their £600m asking price or their intransigent stance that one will not walk away from the club without the other, there is little prospect it will disperse soon.
The Kuwaiti billionaire, Nasser al-Kharafi, has not seized the approach he received from Hicks' representatives last week due to the Texan's insistence on retaining a stake in Liverpool should a deal proceed. Gillett, for his part, is reluctant to sell his 50% interest should his business partner remain involved. The latter is, however, keen for both to sell up at the right price and has employed Rothschilds, the bankers, to flush out investors (Hicks has tasked Merrill Lynch with the same goal) and they have interest from several suitors, including one from Dubai. Not that widespread interest encourages the thought of a swift resolution to a saga that has plagued Anfield since late 2007.
Prospective owners are aware of the Americans' need to refinance a £350m package in July and the pressure that will increasingly bring on their asking price. Along with Benítez's and Moyes' wildly contrasting opinions on what constitutes a creditable return at Anfield, there appears no resolution on the immediate horizon.
