Source: Daily_Mail
Blackburn 0 Liverpool 0: Gerrard has nothing to celebrate in 500th game
Until recently, Steven Gerrard has been ignoring the discomfort of a troublesome groin injury to try to keep alive Liverpool's flagging top-four hopes. [LNB]But as Liverpool yet again let a winning chance slip by, skipper Gerrard's physical pain will be nothing to the mental frustration of being forced to accept another season without achieving the champions hip medal he so desperately covets. [LNB]Gerrard, 29, will hardly have reason to remember the occasion of his 500th league appearance as much as the day he made his debut against Blackburn as a last-minute substitute 11 years ago. [LNB] Thwarted: Gerrard - in his 500th game for Liverpool - drew blanks[LNB]And yet it could have been worse had Croatian striker Nikola Kalinic been brave enough to accept a chance in added time. [LNB]A 76th-minute substitute for Benni McCarthy, Kalinic had moreconcern for his safety and the advancing Pepe Reina than his moment ofglory, as the pair went for a pass from David Hoilett.[LNB]Agonising miss: Ngog[LNB]The fact that Kalinic got there a split second before thegoalkeeper, giving him enough time to make contact, was immaterial. Hisbottle went and so did the opportunity, with the ball going wide. [LNB]'It was a golden opportunity,' said Blackburn's Sam Allardyce, backin harness, albeit from a seat in the stands after his heart operation.[LNB]'A goal then would have given Liverpool little chance of coming back. [LNB]'But it was a great performance. The defensive side of our gamenullifying Liverpool was something we needed to do. Clean sheets likethese will win us more matches than we draw.' [LNB]Allardyce was also canny enough to make sure there was no lateheroics from Gerrard, bringing on Keith Andrews with the set purpose ofman-marking him for the last 10 minutes. [LNB]'If Liverpool were going to do anything, it would probably have beenGerrard who was behind it, so we had to stop that happening,' he added.[LNB]Having searched the globe for world-class talent with, it must besaid, inconspicuous success, recruiting Gerrard has been like panninggold in the River Mersey. [LNB] Hard times: Benitez[LNB]Rafa Benitez, who would, one suspects, lack nothing in verbositygiven the opportunity to praise the likes of Lucas or Alberto Aquilaniif ever he shows his face, has been known to be less loquacious when itcomes to his inspirational skipper. [LNB]But privately, he must go down on his knees in silent prayer to give thanks for his presence on the park.[LNB]If the word caution can be used in the same sentence as Gerrard, Benitez applied it here, starting with a five-man midfield with Javier Mascherano in the 'hole'. [LNB]It looked effective because Gerrard, clearly benefiting from his first full week's training for more than month, covered every blade of grass on a superbly prepared Ewood Park pitch.[LNB]If his labours failed to bear fruit, it was because they were matched by the industry and commitment of a Blackburn side, eager to prove to Allardyce they will provide nothing for his doctors to get worried about.[LNB]The outcome was a dearth of goalmouth thrills without any keeper being seriously tested. The first half in particular was a non-event, prompting Benitez into more positive action, with David Ngog replacing Albert Riera in the 51st minute, providing lone striker Dirk Kuyt with company up front.[LNB] Deadlock: Pascal Chimbonda blocks Dirk Kuyt's effort on goal with a vital interception [LNB]It heightened the expectancy but hardly the conclusion Benitez hoped for, although typically, Gerrard tested Paul Robinson with a snap shot he saved comfortably. The midfielder also drew shouts for a penalty from the Liverpool fans when he was upended by Steven Nzonzi, a cry not taken up seriously by the player himself.[LNB]But Liverpool gradually built up a volume of pressure that should have given them a lead in the 71st minute. [LNB]Glen Johnson cut through a swathe of opponents in a determined surge into the penalty area before cutting the ball back for Ngog, just inside the six-yard box and, with the goal at his mercy, he lifted his effort against the bar.[LNB] Benitez admitted his team could have lost it in the end. 'We were the better team in the second half and should have taken the lead, but Blackburn also had a good chance to win. That's football.'[LNB]He had better news of Fernando Torres, missing for a month with groin trouble, and Aquilani. [LNB]He said: 'Torres could be back next week but should be on the bench against Fiorentina in the Champions League. I am also expecting Aquilani to play in that game.'[LNB] Torres' World Cup dream under threat due to Liverpool hitman's groin injuryGlen Johnson says Liverpool's defence is the key to finishing in Premier League's top four BLACKBURN ROVERS FC
