Gerrard was beginning to exertaninfluence as Liverpool patiently sought an opening but Pompey's cause was helped by Liverpool's reluctance to commit men forward.
Does this mean a burst is on the cards, or does it suggest selling pressure (both short and closing longs) may exertaninfluence at a more gradual pace?
Food fads and taboos exertan increasing influence on our dietary habits, whether inspired by religion, health, compassion, global marketing or any permutation of those factors.
Lobbyists argue they play a vital role in improving policy and legislation but their critics claim they are hired by companies to exertan unhealthy influence on the political process.
Over the decades I have observed that pension funds that provide retirement benefits to state workers almost always exertan alarming influence over the reporting of their transgressions at the local level.
Any new instability in the Pyongyang government also could require other nations to count more on China as an intermediary, while opening the door for Beijing to exert more influence in the region.