Middlesbrough 1 - 1 Liverpool

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Saturday Jan 12 2008 03:00

Middlesbrough have a reputation of rising to the occasion against top teams and they were unlucky not to beat Liverpool in front of a season's best crowd at the Riverside Stadium.Fernando Torres grabbed a second-half equaliser for the visitors with a stunning shot after skipper George Boateng had given Boro a 26th-minute lead.

The point will be valuable in Middlesbrough's fight against relegation and, on this display, they should soon pull away from the drop-zone.

Boro gave a first-team debut to 19-year-old reserve team defender Jonathan Grounds.

It must have been an intimidating experience for the youngster but, surprisingly, Liverpool did not take advantage.

A brilliant full-length save by Mark Schwarzer kept Steven Gerrard's powerful shot out in the early stages.

Midfielder George Boateng returned to captain Boro following a bust-up with manager Gareth Southgate after being left out of the side against Everton.

Boateng had a tremendous impact on the game and deserved to put his side ahead midway through the first half.Jeremie Aliadiere beat Liverpool keeper Jose Reina in an aerial challenge at the far post and headed the ball into the goalmouth where Boateng scrambled it over the line.

Gerrard drove Liverpool forward from midfield but the visitors attack got little change out of Boro's central defensive pair of Robert Huth and David Wheater.

Middlesbrough fought for every ball and deserved to go in at half-time with their lead intact.

Liverpool obviously wanted to step up the pressure after the break and the game continued to be fought in a tremendous atmosphere.

Reina raced out of the penalty area to challenge Tuncay towards the touchline. The Turkey international held off the challenge and crossed into the middle but there was no team-mate to take advantage of an open goal.

Liverpool were fortunate to survive when Stewart Downing, who has been linked with a move to Spurs this month, hit the post with Reina beaten and Gary O'Neil shot over the bar.

Liverpool drew level when Torres beat Schwarzer all ends up with a powerful shot from outside the area.

The game was in the balance right until the final whistle, with Gerrard close to snatching a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser with a shot that flashed past the far post.

Live Commentary

  • 90
    All square at The Riverside - and Middlesbrough will perhaps feel hard done by after dominating much of this game against a disjointed Liverpool side.
  • 89
    Great save by Schwarzer as he claws out Hyypia's close range header. He may have just earned his side a point.
  • 88
    Gerrard's 20 yard shot is tipped over the bar by Schwarzer. The Boro keeper was taking no chances there.
  • 86
    Torres hits a fresh air shot on the edge of the area. Boro are clinging on here.
  • 83
    Boro seem to be happy with the point and are taking their time with free-kicks and throws.
  • 80
    Liverpool looked rampant after Torres' goal but the game has settled back down now.
  • 78
    Alonso mistimes his challenge on O'Neil.
  • 76
    The goal has given Liverpool a real lift and Boro are starting to look tired.
  • 74
    Liverpool are going for the jugular as Kuyt comes on for Voronin.
  • 72
    The impressive Aliadiere comes off for youngster Hutchinson.
  • 71
    What a goal by Torres! The Liverpool hitman slipped at first but steadied himself and fired an unstoppable shot past Schwarzer. 1-1
  • 68
    Carragher clears Young's dangerous cross into the box.
  • 65
    Finnan hits a cross-field ball looking for Gerarrd but the captain takes his eye off the ball and it's a Boro throw-in.
  • 62
    Should be 2-0 to Boro. A wonder strike by Downing with the outside of his left foot hits the Liverpool post and O'Neil puts the rebound over. Liverpool are rocking.
  • 61
    Liverpool keep giving the ball away. Tuncay robs Gerrard this time but as he races towards goal Reina comes to hack the ball clear.
  • 59
    Alonso comes on for Benayoun. Babel should be able to push forward now.
  • 57
    Rochemback drills a right-footed shot from 25 yards and this time Reina does well to save it.
  • 55
    The Liverpool keeper is having a nightmare. O'Neil dinks the ball to the back post and Reina is nowhere near it as Tuncay heads wide.
  • 53
    What is Reina thinking of? - he raced out of goal to meet Aliadiere when he had little chance of reaching the ball. Fortunately for the keeper the Frenchman couldn't find the net.
  • 51
    The Liverpool defence are given a timely reminder that Boro are still dangerous on the break. Downing is offside this time as he races away from Finnan but they will have to be careful.
  • 50
    The referee runs out of patience with Huth and he's the first into the book after another tussle with Torres.
  • 49
    Benitez's tactical change looks to have already made a difference to Liverpool as Torres, Babel and Voronin combine well. This could be a busy 45 minutes for the Boro defence.
  • 47
    Torres turns provider and swings over a cross into the Boro box but Schwarzer saves it.
  • 46
    Arbeloa makes way for Babel. It looks like Liverpool will start the second half with three up front. They're going for it.
  • 45
    Ref Andre Marriner brings the first half to a close. It's been a good performance by the home side and you would expect Benitez to make some changes at the break.
  • 44
    Riise lets fly from 40 yards - but the shot goes miles wide of goal and sums up Liverpool's first half performance.
  • 41
    A big cheer goes up around the Riverside as Aliadiere accidently charges into the linesman - the official was sent flying by the speedy Frenchman.
  • 40
    Superb tackle by Wheater. The youngtser flings himself to clear the ball from Torres. He had to get his timing right otherwise it would have been a certain penalty.
  • 37
    Schwarzer does brilliantly to clutch onto a shot by Benayoun. The Liverpool playmaker flicked the ball up on the edge of the area and hit a lovely volley.
  • 33
    The goal has put a spring in Boateng's step. The Boro captain is flying into challenges and seems to be all over the park to keep Liverpool at bay.
  • 31
    Liverpool are turning the heat up on the Boro backline as they chase an equaliser. They can't afford to lose this game if they have any hope of challenging for the title.
  • 28
    Voronin tries his luck from a free-kick but Schwarzer easily saves it.
  • 27
    Ref Marriner calls Huth over for a word after the German defender brings down Torres. He's skating on thin ice with the official.
  • 25
    The Riverside erupts as Boro captain Boateng forces the ball over the line after Aliadiere's header was fumbled by Reina.
  • 22
    Benitez looks frustrated on the touchline. His side started brightly but Boro are now getting back into the game.
  • 20
    Downing works the ball to Young from the corner and swings over a great cross to Wheater who heads towards goal. Reina does well to get a hand to it and smothers the ball at the second attempt - it wouldn't have counted though as Wheater was offside
  • 19
    Boro switch the play from right to left and Downing drives his cross against Finnan who gets enough on the ball to knock it out for a corner.
  • 17
    Downing drills his shot straight at the wall from the free-kick and the ball smacks into Mascherano's face. He needs some treatment from the physio but should be ok to play on.
  • 16
    Boro fans scream for a penalty as Downing tumbles on the edge of the box after a Hyypia challenge but the ref signals a free-kick.
  • 15
    Downing tries his luck from 25 yards but his dipping shot doesn't trouble Reina and flies wide of the Liverpool goal.
  • 13
    Great save by Schwarzer in the first real chance of the game. Rochemback let Gerrard wriggle free on the edge of the box and the Liverpool captain unleashed a trademark shot that the home keeper did brilliantly to turn round the post.
  • 11
    A lovely back heel by Tuncay sets O'Neil on his way but Finnan does well to clear the danger. There's a good tempo to the game.
  • 9
    Reina tries to clear the ball but it flies straight into Boateng. Bizarrely ref Marriner awards Liverpool a free-kick for handball by the Boro midfielder.
  • 7
    Downing's corner is collected easily by Reina - and the chance to put some pressure on the Liverpool defence is wasted.
  • 6
    Downing mishits his pass but it falls perfectly for Aliadiere who races away from the Liverpool defence. The striker bears down on goal but Agger does well to clear. Corner to Boro.
  • 5
    It's been a strong start by Liverpool. The visitors have pinned Boro back into their own half.
  • 3
    Gerrard swings an early free-kick into the Boro box but Wheater does well to clear his lines with a firm header.
  • 1
    Referee Andre Marriner gets the game underway in front of a packed Riverside Stadium. Middlesbrough have struggled to attract supporters of late but they're in fine voice this afternoon.
  • 0
    Gary O'Neil and George Boateng start for Middlesbrough in place of suspended pair, Julio Arca and Lee Cattermole. Jonathan Woodgate is out with a hamstring injury so Robert Huth deputises.
  • 0
    Liverpool defender Daniel Agger returns after recovering from a broken metatarsal bone. Alvaro Arbeloa, Jose Reina, Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres also return after being rested against Luton in the FA Cup.

Statistics

Middlesbrough
Shots on target 3
Shots off target 4
Shots off bar/post 1
Fouls 4
Offsides 12
Corners 3

Liverpool
Shots on target 7
Shots off target 7
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 11
Offsides 5
Corners 9

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