Cole strikes to earn Blackburn deserved point

Liverpool 1 Blackburn Rovers 1

Andy Cole struck a superb equaliser as Rovers fought back to claim a share of the spoils in a 1-1 Barclaycard Premiership draw at Anfield.

Cole’s 77th-minute goal cancelled out John Arne Riise’s first-half opener and condemned the Reds to their worst run of form since they were relegated from the top flight in 1953-54.

Since topping the table in November, the Merseysiders have now gone eight league games without a win, collecting just three points from a possible 24.

Houllier said: “I thought it was going to be the scrappy 1-0 win we had hoped for.

“We probably could have got that scrappy 1-0 win but Cole scored a great goal for their equaliser.

“It is a fair result. We had better chances in the first half than the second, although we had two good chances after they scored to win the game.

“But Blackburn are a good team. We probably let them play too much in the second half but they are a good side.

“At the moment it is a tricky period, a very difficult period for us. When you go through a difficult period you have to keep your head up and play.”

Liverpool had started the afternoon as if they meant business. The home side dominated the early exchanges and were rewarded when Riise broke into the area and fired over Brad Friedel from the left with the aid of a deflection.

Rovers struggled to assert themselves in the first half but were a different proposition after the break as they set about restoring the balance.

Cole missed a glorious chance to equalise when he sidefooted over from close range after 55 minutes and it did not look like being his day when he headed over soon after.

But the former Manchester United striker persevered and made no mistake with his hardest chance of the game.

Stephane Henchoz’s headed clearance bounced invitingly on the edge of the area and Cole flung himself into an unstoppable volley that flew past Chris Kirkland.

Milan Baros and Michael Owen missed chances to win the game for Liverpool at the death but Rovers boss Graeme Souness was delighted to see his side cling on.

After beating Manchester United last weekend, Souness has enjoyed a fine Christmas so far.

Former Liverpool midfielder and manager said: “I think it was a bit like the Manchester United game at the start.

“We showed too much respect to the opposition for the first 25 minutes to half an hour.

“The liveliness of the pitch appeared to catch us out but after half an hour I thought we started to come into the game and I thought we bossed it in the second half.

“We have scored a wonderful goal. Andy missed an easier chance but with the quality of finishing we have in the team if we are getting the chances the likelihood is we will take them.

“I thought when we equalised we could go on and win the game. Liverpool appeared to be a little nervous, given their past results.

“I thought if we could get a goal we could go on and win but we are delighted to come here and take something.”

LIVERPOOL: Kirkland, Carragher, Henchoz, Hyypia, Traore (Diouf 83), Smicer (Biscan 65), Murphy, Gerrard, Riise, Heskey (Baros 59), Owen.

BLACKBURN: Friedel, Neill, Taylor, Short, Johansson (Ostenstad 52), Thompson, Flitcroft, Tugay, Duff, Cole, Yorke.

Referee: N Barry (N Lincolnshire).