Liverpool against Middlesbrough

A virtual friendly match tempo now with challenges at a premium - the reliable Mills accepted

If Liverpool win, as it looks almost certain they are now, they will wrestle back fourth spot from Aston Villa who moved there earlier with a victory over Spurs

Pantomime villan Mills still throwing himself into everything and having a running duel with the Liverpool fans. The most entertaining part of the contest at the moment

Neat Liverpool move is enlivened by a quick angled cross from Gerrard to pick out Kewell wide left in the box. Stretching volley directs the ball goalwards but Schwarzer stands up well to block

Zenden tries a shot from 'Lauren Robert' territory with similar consequences. High, wide and still rising when it crossed the goal line

Great turn by Downing skins Finnan but Hamann - an increasily dominant figure - is there to clean up the mess

Crowd subdued by the more sterile fare now on offer

Middlebrough showing the more positive attitude. Nemeth makes a run up to the edge of the box and hits a decent looking effort that causes Dudek to leap to his right and pluck the ball out of the air. Relatively easy save but it was going in

Liverpool affording Middlesbrough possession in none threatening areas and happy to sit back. A lively game has been killed by the home side going forward. Three points though is what they are interested in and you can't argue with that at this stage of the season

Downing shows some industry and directness to hit the by-line and get a cross over than no one attacks with the same sort of positive attitude. Dudek collects in his six yard box

Biggest cheer of the afternoon )almost) as Mills runs on to a lay back on the edge of the Liverpool box and spoons an effort wide in comedy 'defenders can't shoot' fashion

Liverpool happy to retain possession - stroking the ball across the back for and midfield with little or no intention of moving it forward

After Liverpool's goals the intensity of the match has rather waned

Double substitution for Middlesbrough. Riggott and Maccarone go off with Downing and Nemeth entering the fray

Rare attack from Boro sees Job skip past one challenge to set up a two on two before Hmann tracks back to take the ball off his toes with a perfectly timed challenge from behind

Great interchange of passes from Liverpool stretches the Boro back line. Flowing football from the Reds but Ehiogu clears the cross from his own penalty spot to deny Owen

Liverpool playing with more freedom. Wonderful ball from Gerrard sends Riise scurrying down the left. Square ball finds Owen, touch to get it out of his feet and then a curling effort aimed at the top right hand corner. Dipping but always too high

Pause in play whilst Kewell receives treatment after picking up a knock in a challenge with Mendieta

Job cleverly dummies a ball that runs instead through to Mendieta. The Spaniard tries a flicked return to Job, running into the box, but it is too casual and misdirected. Mendieta has looked eager this afternoon but his passing has not been the best

Job not prepared to give up the fight. A solo effort from a long way out stings the palms of Dudek but never seriously threatened the goal

Anfield has found it's voice and the crowd are enjoying the game now. Funny that, eh?

Game over! Triangles between Kewell, Owen and finally Heskey, carves open Middlesbrough down the middle and the big man slides the ball under the diving Schwarzer from just inside the box. 2-0 Liverpool and the points are surely theirs now

Mills cynically takes Owne's legs away from behind and gets a yellow card for his troubles. It's been coming that one

Owen not to be trusted anymore from 12 yards so Murphy steps up. Very deliberate placement means Schwarzer goes the right way but it hits the inside of the post and goes in. Good penalty kick. 1-0 Liverpool

Sustained period of pressure draws dividends for Liverpool. Owen with the ball at his feet turns Riggott and the defender hauls him down for a penalty. Owen's theatrical fall makes it look less clear cut but there was definitely a foul

Heskey and Hyypia win a pair of headers to put in Owen again. Doesn't come down quick enough but, leaning back, he gets the volley powerfully goalbound from around the penalty spot. Schwarzer agin the equal of it

Chipped ball into the box from Murphy towards Owen gives the striker some work to do. Gets there and manages a first time shot but he was almost in the six yard box and Schwarzer blocks comfotably

Middlesbrough kick off and Mendieta gets the first shot of the half away but it comes back off the backside of Job

Half time substitutions for Liverpool as Henchoz is replaced by Finnan due to a groin injury whilst Heskey comes on for Smicer in a tactical switch. No changes for Boro.

Engaging game of football on offer in the first half. Middlesbrough, free of any real worries about results or league position, are playing open, expansive football and there is space on the pitch for both teams. Liverpool are playing with drive and purpose and have fashioned a couple of chances. Neither team in control and, if the pace keeps up and the players tire, expect goals after the break

Whistle goes and an entertaining half comes to a close with no goals as yet

Both sets of players look ready for a break and the last few minutes of the half, unlike the 40 minutes previously, slows down to a halt

Only one minute of added time will be played

Harry Kewell corner to the back post sees Hyypia rise highest but, under pressure, he is unable to direct the header on target

Middlebrough fans amusing themselves with the plight of Leeds United whilst their is a lull in play

Decent cross from Mendieta on the right following a short corner pits Hyypia against Mills duelling for the header. Both players end up on the floor with Hyypia the victor

Great spot fom Gerrard, sat deep in the middle of the pitch, sees Murphy ghosting into the box all by himself. The little chip is almost perfect but Murphy is unable to bring it down or strike on the volley.

Maccarone ripples the Liverpool net from an acute angle but, unfortunately for Middlebrough fans, it is the outside. Powerful enough drive but Mendieta looked better placed

See last minute but substitute 'Gerrard' for 'Riise'

Neat and tidy approach play from the home side once more let down by a poor final ball, this time from Riise

Excellent cross picks out Kewell and his diving header beats Schwarzer all ends up. Celebrations are cut short though as the linesman's flag was up before the ball was in the net

Panic stations at the back for Middlesbrough as the ball bounces around like a pinball machine. Looks to be cleared but a silly push from Mendieta gives Liverpool a free kick with the chance to cross

Good work from the previously anonymous Smicer gives Gerrard a sight of goal but he drags the shot well wide

Middlesbrough getting more ball and really working Zenden down the left. Beats Carragher to play a square ball across the 18 yard line to Mendieta. Looks to shoot but his delicate effort clips a Liverpool man and comes to nothing

Rare period of Boro pressure but with little to show. Mendieta throws in a hopeful cross but only Maccarone is in the box

Wonderful defending from Henchoz. Tracks Zenden all the way back and slides to block a cross. Collects the loose ball and then gets a throw off Zenden's shins.

Murphy takes the shot himself. Curled effort goes straight through a hole in the wall but the pace means Schwarzer is not troubled

Gerrard powers from right to left before feeding Murphy with his back to goal. Murphy fients to give it back before turning and being tripped 25 yards out, dead centre to earn the free kick

Andy D'Urso is being kept very busy this afternoon and awards another pair of free kicks - one to either side - in the space of 30 seconds

Great ball in from Riise on the left requires Ehiogu to be alert and he shows composure to judge the bounce at the near post and clear the danger

Gerrard walking a very, very fine line. Looked to clip the heels of Mills but luckly for the Liverpool captain, the referee saw nothing

Short pass from Gerrard to Riise, still up from the free kick, 20 yards out, encourages the shot. Crowded out by three Boro defenders but still gets off a terrific effort that flashes past the left hand post of Schwazer

Yet another free kick from Murphy, this time from the right, is wasted with poor delivery

Big men forward for Liverpool for a free kick from the half-way line. Murphy pumps it forward but Boateng, unchallenged, heads clear

Heavy challenge through the back of Boateng's legs sees Gerrard get a quiet talking to. If he wasn't already booked he would have been then and is perhaps a little lucky not to have recieved a second yellow

Wonderful sliding tackle from Queudrue robs Kewell of the ball just as he looked to break into space

You can't take your eyes off this one for a minute. End to end stuff and real chances at both ends already

Owen again out muscles Riggott on the corner of the box and heads straight towards goal. Low bending drive beats Schwarzer all ends up but the Australian is happy to see the ball ping back off hisright hand post. Made the chance himself but should have done better with it

Play swings frantically up the other end where Owen gets onto a ball in the box but can only send his snap shot over Schwarzer's bar. Difficult chance

Real chance for Middlesbrough. Mendieta out wide right - who should have been given the ball much earlier in the move - swings in a cross to Maccarone's feet. Neat lay off to Job in front of goal, 8 yards out, but his shot is driven straight at Dudek's feet. Wasted opportunity

Corner from Mendieta is far to deep and finds Mills struggling to head back across goal. Dudek collects gratefully

Kwell tries to provide Murphy with a give-and-go but just as Murphy looked to break into the box Riggott catches him. No foul though the Kop thought otherwise

Mendieta shows grace and poise to turn away from a series of challenges in the centre circle and send Zenden free down the left but he is unable to exploit the chance

Job just fails with a clever little angled ball behind the Liverpool defence that would have set Maccarone free. Hyypia gets in the way

Boro have responded to the early storm from Liverpool by fighting fire with fire. Tackles are full blooded - Greening with both feet a little too strong - and the opening has been high tempo. Long may it continue

Mendieta steps up to the dead ball and tries to curl a shot past Dudek to the far post. No bend at all sees the ball go harmlessly for a goal kick

Hyypia gives away a free kick right on the edge of the Liverpool box to give a real shooting chance. Gerrard picks up a daft booking for protesting when there really was no case at all

Schwarzer v Kewell again with the same outcome. Riise bundles his way through a couple of challenges and the ball runs through to Kewell, in the box but wide left of the goal. Another powerful drive and the Boro keeper does well to stand up to it and force the rebound well away from danger

Liverpool, understandably, siezing the early initiative. Tackles are flying in and they really have their tails up. Carragher hits the dead ball line and arrows a direct low cross that flashes across the six yard line and amazingly fails to find a player from either side

Riise again with a ranging pass that this time is weighted to perfection into the path of Harry Kewell. A fierce drive from 15 yards looks like a goal until Schwarzer flings himself across the goal to turn it away acrobatically. Great shot, great save

Riise looking early on to play Owen in over the top but Ehiogu marshalls him well to come away with the ball

Liverpool to kick off in glorious Spring sunshine

For Middlesbrough, their season already a success after a trophy and European qualification taken care of, nothing rides on this fixture other than professional pride. A settled Boro side sees Chris Riggott continue to deputise for the injured Gareth Southgate. Can Steve McClaren's men do their North West neighbours - and Aston Villa - a big, big favour....

As Liverpool go looking to move three points clear of Newcastle in the race for fourth spot Vladimir Smicer and Harry Kewell are given the task of supporting Michael Owen in the attack.

Join us live at 16.05 BST as Liverpool continue their charge for a Champions League place.

Great interchange of passes from Liverpool stretches the Boro back line. Flowing football from the Reds but Ehiogu clears the cross from his own penalty spot to deny Owen

Liverpool playing with more freedom. Wonderful ball from Gerrard sends Riise scurrying down the left. Square ball finds Owen, touch to get it out of his feet and then a curling effort aimed at the top right hand corner. Dipping but always too high

Pause in play whilst Kewell receives treatment after picking up a knock in a challenge with Mendieta

Job cleverly dummies a ball that runs instead through to Mendieta. The Spaniard tries a flicked return to Job, running into the box, but it is too casual and misdirected. Mendieta has looked eager this afternoon but his passing has not been the best

Job not prepared to give up the fight. A solo effort from a long way out stings the palms of Dudek but never seriously threatened the goal

Anfield has found it's voice and the crowd are enjoying the game now. Funny that, eh?

Game over! Triangles between Kewell, Owen and finally Heskey, carves open Middlesbrough down the middle and the big man slides the ball under the diving Schwarzer from just inside the box. 2-0 Liverpool and the points are surely theirs now

Mills cynically takes Owne's legs away from behind and gets a yellow card for his troubles. It's been coming that one

Owen not to be trusted anymore from 12 yards so Murphy steps up. Very deliberate placement means Schwarzer goes the right way but it hits the inside of the post and goes in. Good penalty kick. 1-0 Liverpool

Sustained period of pressure draws dividends for Liverpool. Owen with the ball at his feet turns Riggott and the defender hauls him down for a penalty. Owen's theatrical fall makes it look less clear cut but there was definitely a foul

Heskey and Hyypia win a pair of headers to put in Owen again. Doesn't come down quick enough but, leaning back, he gets the volley powerfully goalbound from around the penalty spot. Schwarzer agin the equal of it

Chipped ball into the box from Murphy towards Owen gives the striker some work to do. Gets there and manages a first time shot but he was almost in the six yard box and Schwarzer blocks comfotably

Middlesbrough kick off and Mendieta gets the first shot of the half away but it comes back off the backside of Job

Half time substitutions for Liverpool as Henchoz is replaced by Finnan due to a groin injury whilst Heskey comes on for Smicer in a tactical switch. No changes for Boro.

Engaging game of football on offer in the first half. Middlesbrough, free of any real worries about results or league position, are playing open, expansive football and there is space on the pitch for both teams. Liverpool are playing with drive and purpose and have fashioned a couple of chances. Neither team in control and, if the pace keeps up and the players tire, expect goals after the break

Whistle goes and an entertaining half comes to a close with no goals as yet

Both sets of players look ready for a break and the last few minutes of the half, unlike the 40 minutes previously, slows down to a halt

Only one minute of added time will be played

Harry Kewell corner to the back post sees Hyypia rise highest but, under pressure, he is unable to direct the header on target

Middlebrough fans amusing themselves with the plight of Leeds United whilst their is a lull in play

Decent cross from Mendieta on the right following a short corner pits Hyypia against Mills duelling for the header. Both players end up on the floor with Hyypia the victor

Great spot fom Gerrard, sat deep in the middle of the pitch, sees Murphy ghosting into the box all by himself. The little chip is almost perfect but Murphy is unable to bring it down or strike on the volley.

Maccarone ripples the Liverpool net from an acute angle but, unfortunately for Middlebrough fans, it is the outside. Powerful enough drive but Mendieta looked better placed

See last minute but substitute 'Gerrard' for 'Riise'

Neat and tidy approach play from the home side once more let down by a poor final ball, this time from Riise

Excellent cross picks out Kewell and his diving header beats Schwarzer all ends up. Celebrations are cut short though as the linesman's flag was up before the ball was in the net

Panic stations at the back for Middlesbrough as the ball bounces around like a pinball machine. Looks to be cleared but a silly push from Mendieta gives Liverpool a free kick with the chance to cross

Good work from the previously anonymous Smicer gives Gerrard a sight of goal but he drags the shot well wide

Middlesbrough getting more ball and really working Zenden down the left. Beats Carragher to play a square ball across the 18 yard line to Mendieta. Looks to shoot but his delicate effort clips a Liverpool man and comes to nothing

Rare period of Boro pressure but with little to show. Mendieta throws in a hopeful cross but only Maccarone is in the box

Wonderful defending from Henchoz. Tracks Zenden all the way back and slides to block a cross. Collects the loose ball and then gets a throw off Zenden's shins.

Murphy takes the shot himself. Curled effort goes straight through a hole in the wall but the pace means Schwarzer is not troubled

Gerrard powers from right to left before feeding Murphy with his back to goal. Murphy fients to give it back before turning and being tripped 25 yards out, dead centre to earn the free kick

Andy D'Urso is being kept very busy this afternoon and awards another pair of free kicks - one to either side - in the space of 30 seconds

Great ball in from Riise on the left requires Ehiogu to be alert and he shows composure to judge the bounce at the near post and clear the danger

Gerrard walking a very, very fine line. Looked to clip the heels of Mills but luckly for the Liverpool captain, the referee saw nothing

Short pass from Gerrard to Riise, still up from the free kick, 20 yards out, encourages the shot. Crowded out by three Boro defenders but still gets off a terrific effort that flashes past the left hand post of Schwazer

Yet another free kick from Murphy, this time from the right, is wasted with poor delivery

Big men forward for Liverpool for a free kick from the half-way line. Murphy pumps it forward but Boateng, unchallenged, heads clear

Heavy challenge through the back of Boateng's legs sees Gerrard get a quiet talking to. If he wasn't already booked he would have been then and is perhaps a little lucky not to have recieved a second yellow

Wonderful sliding tackle from Queudrue robs Kewell of the ball just as he looked to break into space

You can't take your eyes off this one for a minute. End to end stuff and real chances at both ends already

Owen again out muscles Riggott on the corner of the box and heads straight towards goal. Low bending drive beats Schwarzer all ends up but the Australian is happy to see the ball ping back off hisright hand post. Made the chance himself but should have done better with it

Play swings frantically up the other end where Owen gets onto a ball in the box but can only send his snap shot over Schwarzer's bar. Difficult chance

Real chance for Middlesbrough. Mendieta out wide right - who should have been given the ball much earlier in the move - swings in a cross to Maccarone's feet. Neat lay off to Job in front of goal, 8 yards out, but his shot is driven straight at Dudek's feet. Wasted opportunity

Corner from Mendieta is far to deep and finds Mills struggling to head back across goal. Dudek collects gratefully

Kwell tries to provide Murphy with a give-and-go but just as Murphy looked to break into the box Riggott catches him. No foul though the Kop thought otherwise

Mendieta shows grace and poise to turn away from a series of challenges in the centre circle and send Zenden free down the left but he is unable to exploit the chance

Job just fails with a clever little angled ball behind the Liverpool defence that would have set Maccarone free. Hyypia gets in the way

Boro have responded to the early storm from Liverpool by fighting fire with fire. Tackles are full blooded - Greening with both feet a little too strong - and the opening has been high tempo. Long may it continue

Mendieta steps up to the dead ball and tries to curl a shot past Dudek to the far post. No bend at all sees the ball go harmlessly for a goal kick

Hyypia gives away a free kick right on the edge of the Liverpool box to give a real shooting chance. Gerrard picks up a daft booking for protesting when there really was no case at all

Schwarzer v Kewell again with the same outcome. Riise bundles his way through a couple of challenges and the ball runs through to Kewell, in the box but wide left of the goal. Another powerful drive and the Boro keeper does well to stand up to it and force the rebound well away from danger

Liverpool, understandably, siezing the early initiative. Tackles are flying in and they really have their tails up. Carragher hits the dead ball line and arrows a direct low cross that flashes across the six yard line and amazingly fails to find a player from either side

Riise again with a ranging pass that this time is weighted to perfection into the path of Harry Kewell. A fierce drive from 15 yards looks like a goal until Schwarzer flings himself across the goal to turn it away acrobatically. Great shot, great save

Riise looking early on to play Owen in over the top but Ehiogu marshalls him well to come away with the ball

Liverpool to kick off in glorious Spring sunshine

For Middlesbrough, their season already a success after a trophy and European qualification taken care of, nothing rides on this fixture other than professional pride. A settled Boro side sees Chris Riggott continue to deputise for the injured Gareth Southgate. Can Steve McClaren's men do their North West neighbours - and Aston Villa - a big, big favour....

As Liverpool go looking to move three points clear of Newcastle in the race for fourth spot Vladimir Smicer and Harry Kewell are given the task of supporting Michael Owen in the attack.

Join us live at 16.05 BST as Liverpool continue their charge for a Champions League place.