Blackburn smash and Grabbi robs Reds

Blackburn 2 Liverpool 2

He powered home a header in the 84th minute after John Arne Riise had put Liverpool ahead.

David Dunn had opened the scoring for Blackburn, only for Danny Murphy to cancel it out.

England international Emile Heskey had to settle for a place on the Liverpool bench at Ewood Park last night.

Manager Gerard Houllier decided to go with a frontline partnership of Michael Owen and El Hadji Diouf.

Damien Duff caused Liverpool problems as early as the second minute when he skipped away from Abel Xavier. The young Blackburn star delivered a teasing cross into the area but goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek came flying off his line to make a clean save.

It was no surprise that Duff played a vital role when Blackburn took the lead in the 15th minute.

He played the ball across the face of the goal and Andy Cole caused confusion in the Liverpool defence when he dummied it. David Dunn was on hand, taking one touch before firing a shot beyond Dudek.

Blackburn almost added a second when Cole got free only to see his point-blank effort blocked by Dudek.

Liverpool were stung by that early goal and went in searched for the equaliser.

Liverpool drew level in the 30th minute with Murphy at the heart of a sweeping movement.

He flicked the ball out to Xavier, who showed great awareness to deliver it early from the right flank. Murphy continued his run into the area and swept his effort confidently past a stranded Friedel.

It was game on and as half time approached Liverpool were beginning to look menacing. Blackburn, however, held firm before the break and with Duff always a threat they had no reason to feel dispirited.

Both managers decided against making changes at half-time with the match so evenly poised. However the Liverpool supporters began chanting for Heskey to be introduced.

Owen and Diouf were both struggling to make an impact and the same could be said at the other end. Cole, despite having a hand in the goal, and Dwight Yorke were living on scraps.

Liverpool boss Houllier decided to shake things up in the 65th minute in a bid to secure the points. Owen and Diouf were both replaced by Heskey and Vladimir Smicer.

Riise put Liverpool ahead in the 77th minute after a moment of slackness by Tugay. He carelessly lost possession and Smicer was able to get a deep cross in from the left. Riise peeled away to send a looping header over Friedel from an acute angle.

Souness’ gamble in replacing a defender in Short with a striker in Corrado Grabbi paid dividends in the 84th minute.

The Italian grabbed the equaliser two minutes after coming on when he powered home a header from Dunn’s cross.

BLACKBURN: Friedel, Neill, Short, Taylor, Johansson, Dunn, Flitcroft, Tugay, Duff, Yorke, Cole.

LIVERPOOL: Dudek, Xavier, Hyypia, Henchoz, Traore, Murphy, Gerrard, Hamann, Riise, Diouf, Owen.

Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent).