• Date: Sat 23 February 2008
  • Venue: Anfield
  • Ref: Mason, L
  • Attendance: 43,612
Liverpool

Liverpool

Torres (28)

Torres (29)

Torres (61)

3 - 2
Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough

Tuncay (9)

Downing (83)

Liverpool vs Middlesbrough

Team Lineups

Liverpool

Jose Manuel Reina
Alvaro Arbeloa
Sami Hyypia
Steve Finnan
Fabio Aurelio
Steven Gerrard
Leiva Lucas
Javier Mascherano
Ryan Babel (Yossi Benayoun, 62)
Dirk Kuyt (John Arne Riise, 73)
Fernando Torres (Peter Crouch, 90)

Middlesbrough

Mark Schwarzer
Luke Young, L
David Wheater
Emanuel Pogatetz
Jonathan Grounds
Fabio Rochemback
Julio Arca
Gary O'Neil (Ahmed Hossam Mido, 59)
Stewart Downing
Sanli Tuncay (Martins Afonso Alves, 69)
Jeremie Aliadiere


Live Text Commentary
Full time
 

It's finished 3-2, Torres' hat-trick edging it Liverpool's way but Boro were spirited with Tuncay and Downing on target while the harsh Aliadiere sending off at the end was disappointing.

90
Substitution
 

Crouch comes on in injury time for Torres

90

Gerrard's free-kick comes back off the bar and Benayoun scores but it's rightly ruled out for offside

89
Yellow Card
 

Luke Young is booked late on

88

Gerrard's run is eventually halted - time almost up

86

Mascherano could have walked too - he's quite lucky really

85
Red Card
 

Mascherano taunts Aliadiere and the Boro man reacts by aiming a hand at Mascherano so is sent off

84

A nice move for the goal - Downing finishing well, a tense end now to the game

82
Goal
 

Downing makes it 3-2 - the ball going in off Reina's legs

80

The free-kick from Rochemback is deflected just wide for a corner but the delivery is poor and it stays 3-1

79
Yellow Card
 

Finnan was booked for the foul

79

Finnan pulls back Alves - free-kick in the 'D' for Boro - very dangerous position

78

Gerrard strikes a shot over at the other end this time

77

Aliadiere blasts a shot over, a half-chance for the French forward though

76

The match is edging to a finish and it doesn't look like Boro will get anything from the game now

73
Substitution
 

Kuyt goes off - replaced by John Arne Riise

73

Kuyt's shot is blocked - Liverpool continue to look for a fourth

71
Substitution
 

Afonso Alves comes on for Tuncay

69

Torres almost gets his and Liverpool's fourth but Schwarzer makes a good save to deny him

67

Kuyt fires into the side-netting - all Liverpool now

66

That third goal appears to have killed off any chance of a Boro revival now as Liverpool look comfortable

64
Yellow Card
 

Rochemback is booked - the fourth Boro player of the game - for a foul on Torres

62
Substitution
 

Babel goes off - Yossi Benayoun on for him

61
Goal
 

Torres capitalises on a mistake from Mark Schwarzer to make it 3-1

58
Substitution
 

Gareth Southgate makes a change - O'Neil going off for Mido

57

Kuyt is penalised for a handball this time

56

A lack of opportunities at the start of the second half

53
Yellow Card
 

Reina is also booked for the rather ugly controntation in the home box

53
Yellow Card
 

Wheater is booked for that clash with Reina

52

Finnan deflects the ball behind for a corner but Reina gathers the ball before David Wheater tries to trip the Liverpool keeper

51

Gerrard's free-kick eventually is dealt with by Fabio Rochemback - bit of a waste that from Liverpool

49

A quick break ends with Babel curling an effort off target

49

Jose Reina eventually gathers the ball under pressure from two Boro players

48

No changes from either side at half-time as Boro look for an equaliser

46

Emanuel Pogatetz charges down a Gerrard shot

Second half
 

The second 45 minutes begin, with Liverpool now attacking The Kop end - just as they like it

Half time
 

Liverpool have come from behind to lead at half-time, those two Torres goals cancelling out Tuncay's early header for Boro.

45

A decent move from Boro ends with Tuncay crossing for Gary O'Neil but his shot is wide

45

Gerrard's corner is short to Finnan but eventually Boro clear - into two minutes of added time

43

Gerrard appears to have a free role in an advanced position and is dictating the game at the moment

41

A bit better from Middlesbrough since going behind but half-time approaching now

38

Aliadiere is caught offside but continues and puts the ball into the net - free-kick to Liverpool though

36
Yellow Card
 

Tuncay is booked for the handball as well

35

Tuncay puts the ball into the net but it's ruled out for handball - just about the right decision as the forward appeared to use his arm to control the ball

35

The confidence has returned to the Liverpool side after those two quick goals, but Boro are very much still in this

34
Yellow Card
 

Aliadiere is booked for a foul on Fabio Aurelio - the first of the game

32

An unbelievable turnaround at Anfield, two goals in two minutes and Torres has been the difference

30
Goal
 

Torres powers in a second goal in the space of two minutes - 2-1 to Liverpool all of a sudden

28
Goal
 

Torres equalises after an awful header from Julio Arca gives him the ball

27

Ryan Babel's shot is deflected for a corner but it comes to nothing

25

Kuyt wants a free-kick but no chance and Boro clear again

23

Javier Mascherano pulls a shot wide after decent buid-up play

22

Better from Liverpool in the last few minutes but Boro hold the lead thanks to Tuncay's early header

20

Steve Finnan's cross is over everyone and Boro will clear

18

Liverpool break on the counter - but the eventual chance falls to Kuyt but he screws his shot over

17

Jeremie Aliadiere almost makes it 2-0, Arbeloa making a great challenge to deny him

17

After an initial bright start from Liverpool, since conceding they have been poor

14

Kuyt's cross is overhit - no big reaction from Liverpool as yet

12

Liverpool look a little shell-shocked and Anfield is quiet - apart from the away section

10

There was a hint of offside but Liverpool's marking from the free-kick was poor and Boro claim a surprise lead at Anfield

8
Goal
 

Stewart Downing's inswinging free-kick is turned home by Tuncay to put Boro in front

6

Steven Gerrard has, predictably, been heavily involved so far but he drags a shot wide from distance

4

Boro eventually clear the danger - it's been a decent start by the home side

4

Lucas gives the ball away but Liverpool regain possession and Dirk Kuyt's shot is blocked for a corner

3

No chances in the first few minutes as both sides look to settle

1

Sami Hyypia defends well before Gerrard's cross is cleared by Boro

Kickoff
 

The action gets underway at Anfield as Liverpool look to take their European form into the league

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez makes just one change - Alvaro Arbeloa coming in for the suspended Jamie Carragher while Boro are stil without Robert Huth as Tuncay comes in for Mido up front.