A pounds 8.5m sideshow he had described himself last week, and last night he fitted the bill, as a substitute.This gave Steve McManaman an even freer role than usual, and he took his liberties with both hands. After nine minutes he bewitched the Charlton back four with a delightful drag with the inside of his right heel that allowed him a free shot at Mike Salmon.The Charlton goalkeeper saved that one and a fierce drive from Fowler four minutes later, but you can ride your luck for only so long From the resulting corner Liverpool took the lead. Stig Inge Bjornebye drifted a kick to the far post where Wright’s head met it like a sledgehammer on a nut.After 17 minutes it was 2-0, after Fowler and Stuart Balmer had tussled so vigorously for Bjornebye’s cross that neither made proper contact. The ball dropped enticingly and Redknapp accepted the invitation, putting it in from six yards.At this point Charlton needed something extraordinary and it arrived after 26 minutes. Ricky Otto crossed from the left and when Dominic Matteo headed up in the air, Newton had the not inconsiderable problem of putting a difficult volley into a narrow gap. Difficult but not impossible – as he proved by crashing the ball past David James.It will have concerned Evans that their First Division visitors kept the deficit to a goal by half-time. So Fowler’s goal in the 47th minute was important in terms of setting the mood, even if it owed a lot to luck.

Jason McAteer hit a low cross from the right and Fowler swung a boot at it. The connection did not match the intention, however, and instead of being driven into the net, the ball bobbled apologetically past the wrong- footed Salmon, trickling into the goal via a post.Liverpool (5-3-1-1): James; McAteer, Wright, Ruddock, Matteo, Bjornebye; Redknapp, Thomas, Barnes; McManaman; Fowler. Substitutes not used: Babb, Collymore, Berger.Charlton Athletic (4-4-2): Salmon; Barness, Rufus, Balmer, Stuart (Nicholls, 56); Newton, Robinson, O’Connell, Otto; Leaburn (Lisbie, 82), Allen. Substitute not used: Chapple.Referee: D Allison (Lancaster).. Bolton, the First Division leaders, had two players sent off as they were beaten 3-1 – their first defeat in 12 games – in a fiery fixture at Birmingham last night.

In all, three players received a red card from the referee, Graham Pooley of Bishop’s Stortford. In a 27th-minute clash, Birmingham’s Paul Devlin appeared to head-butt Bolton’s Jimmy Phillips, and both players were given the red card. Late in the game, Bolton’s captain Gerry Taggart was sent off for a second booking.
Birmingham scored two in two minutes in the second half through Paul Furlong and Jason Bowen. On-loan John Sheridan reduced the arrears but then Andy Todd turned a cross from Matt Jackson into his own net.Phil Neal’s first game in charge of Manchester City ended in defeat: Matt Elliott’s 87th-minute goal earning Oxford United a 3-2 win at Maine Road. City’s lowest home attendance of the season, 23,079, watched in dismay as three mistakes by Andy Dibble gifted Oxford their goals – and after the game there were calls for the resignation of City’s chairman, Francis Lee, from the frustrated home supporters.Oxford took the lead in their first attack, Joey Beauchamp’s cross from the right flying through a crowd of players and past the dithering Dibble. City hit back quickly, though, and Georgi Kinkladze helped to set up two goals in two minutes from Paul Dickov and Ian Brightwell. Oxford drew level before the break when Dibble allowed a weak header from Nigel Jemson to slip past him, and the hapless goalkeeper was again at fault with Elliott’s looping header for the winner.Sheffield United climbed to fifth place in the division as two goals in three minutes proved enough to earn a 2-1 victory at West Bromwich Albion..