Liverpool scramble another home draw

Liverpool 1 Middlesbrough 1

Liverpool scrambled another home draw after falling behind to a resilient Middlesbrough as they suffered more Anfield anguish today.

Bidding to bounce back from their FA Cup defeat by Crystal Palace, Liverpool could only manage a point from the clash against a Boro side who had the worst away record in the Premiership, having not scored on their travels since September prior to today.

It would not have been pleasant viewing for manager Gerard Houllier, watching from his sick bed after suffering a bout of gastro-enteritis.

But, despite looking short of confidence and invention, Liverpool never gave up and battled away for Riise to grab a point in the 74th minute.

They had struggled from the moment Geremi swerved in a cracking first-half free-kick, and a point was as much as they deserved.

The only change from the side that lost on Wednesday in the FA Cup replay with Palace was the return from suspension of Vladimir Smicer in place of Bruno Cheyrou.

Middlesbrough gave debuts to new signings Chris Riggott in defence and Michael Ricketts up front. Two other new arrivals, Malcolm Christie and John Eustace, were on the bench.

Initially, Liverpool looked sharp, bright and determined but it did not take long for things to come unstuck.

Sami Hyypia had an early header which flew wide while Dietmar Hamann’s 20-yard shot was saved, suggesting goals would soon come for the hosts.

But Boro, playing deep with five defenders, were happy to sit back and let Liverpool work in front of them, a system often used by visitors to Anfield.

Although it was 20 minutes before Jerzy Dudek even touched the ball, the ideas at the other end were petering out and only a long-range Riise effort troubled Mark Schwarzer.

Riggott was booked just 25 minutes into his debut, bundling over Danny Murphy just outside the box, but from the free-kick, Hamann could do little with the opportunity.

Emile Heskey, who had been struggling with an injury to his left knee, still managed to get up above the Boro defence to send a header over from Murphy’s cross. Hyypia also saw a towering header go close.

Murphy was next to fire wide after El Hadji Diouf and Heskey had worked an opening for a cross on the right.

Then the inevitable happened and Middlesbrough’s first shot produced a goal.

Hyypia fouled Jonathan Greening just outside the box and the free-kick was curled superbly over the wall and into the top corner by Geremi. The on-loan Real Madrid man ended an away goal drought of 13 hours and nine minutes for Boro.

That briefly sparked Liverpool into life.

Hamann unleashed a drive which was blocked by George Boateng as Liverpool fought to get back into the game.

Schwarzer blocked a Riise drive and Diouf shot wide before Hamann’s chip into the box was chased by Owen, who hurled himself at the ball and just failed to direct it goalwards.

But the inspiration was missing and Liverpool were toiling but not inventing.

Heskey’s knee injury meant he did not appear after half-time, Milan Baros taking over while Boro sent on Christie for Joseph Desire-Job.

Liverpool tried to mount a spell of sustained pressure with Owen seeing a fine chip turned over by Schwarzer and Baros sending a swerving 20-yarder just over.

Stand-in boss Phil Thompson took off the ineffective Smicer, putting on Salif Diao, but still the confidence and touch were lacking.

Baros’ running and pace plus Owen’s sheer determination were all Liverpool had to offer.

Owen was now working the flanks to get away from Riggott and Gareth Southgate, and his refusal to give in finally got Liverpool their equaliser on 74 minutes.

He ran at three defenders and created a chance for Diouf before the ball broke for Riise to crash home with his left foot.

Boro had one burst which saw Dudek deny Ricketts and Geremi in a frantic six-yard box scramble.

Liverpool launched a belated barrage in the final minutes but they could not force another goal.