I just replaced mine yesterday on my 02. And even after relieving the pressure (Took out fuel pump fuse turned it over -stalled- and then crank several more times) gas sprayed a decent amount. Though I did mine from underneath (not sure if I could have reached it from the inside).
Just think of how bad it would have been if you had not blead off the pressue,, And there is no way that you could get to the filter from the top, it has to be done from underneath.