Liverpool against Blackburn Rovers

If there is to be a winner now it will mask the fact that this has been shockingly dull stuff!

Liverpool fans head for the exits as Blackburn overhit a freekick beyond Dudek's goal.

Riise fires the ball into the wall on the second time of asking - what happened to players taking freekicks quick? Liverpool very lucky to get a second chance!

Liverpool try to take it quick (Morientes hits the post) but the ref calls play back.

Morientes wins a freekick from Nelsen - looked like the Spaniard was backing in, but the kick is given.

Finnan, this time further forward, works the ball to Morientes, but the ball is not controlled by the frontman

Finnan fires a good ball into an isolated Morientes who, without support fails to hold up the ball

Change for Liverpool - Igor Biscan on Warnock off.

Mokoena and Hamman snap at one anothers heels. Hamman then tries to kick the ball loose once Mokoena had fallen to the floor, Mokoena to exception and squared up. A rare moment of excitment!

Good work from young Gallagher - the lone front man makes his presence felt by troubling Gerrard in midfield.

A poor touch from the technically gifted Morientes again illustrates how the ball hasn't quite dropped for Liverpool tonight.

Reid lashes a low shot at goal, Dudek dives but the driven effort was wide.

Freekick to Rovers after blatant shove by Carragher.

Morientes can't convert a difficult pass into a shot - he claims a handball from Todd which the ref ignores.

Gerrard, quiet tonight by his standards, goes on a rampaging run which gets the crowd shouting. Momentarily. Silence follows.

Fresh legs up front for Blackburn; Stead takes a seat on the bench and young Scottish striker Paul Gallagher comes on.

Scrappy and untidy play sees Mokoena dribble the ball past three players whose stretched efforts at the ball left them on their backsides!

Sami Hyypia is warming up on the byline as Pellegrino goes down and calls for treatment - the centre back looks to be struggling.

It has to be said that Milan Baros and Fernando Morientes do not look like a striking partnership made in heaven. The Czech forward will have to improve his game if Rafa is to be convinced to keep him, Euro 2004 top-scorer can only dine out on that achievment for so long.

Substitution: Good night, and good ridance, Milan Baros, good evening, and please impress us, Antonio Nunez!

Morientes drives an ambitious ball toward Riise on the left wing, but it is too long and Rovers have a throw

Hammamn and Gerrard exchange passes after looking wide offers no attacking options

Everton boss David Moyes watching from the stands will hardly be blown away by the standard of play on offer from Liverpool who his side face in the Merseyside derby this weekend

Corner for Liverpool which Gerrard aims toward Pellegrino at the back post, but Matteo had it covered

Friedel comes off his line to gather a cross aimed at Morientes - the game needs a goal. Desperately.

Substitution for Blakcburn, off goes Johansson and on comes Dominic Matteo - the former Liverpool defender gets a warm round of applause from the Kop! Nice touch.

Nelsen was tugging Carragher and held him back as the corner was deliverd - if not for the obstruction the defender would ahve been well-placed to connect.

Right at the other end Liverpool win two corners in quick succession; the second of the two is a great ball in from Gerrard - and Jamie Carragher is clearly fouled and the home side have a good call for a pentaly! Open your eyes ref!

Pedersen with the game's latest in a long line of trully awful corners. This time his kick barely reached the near post and Liverpool's defenders hook the ball clear and Pedersen's team-mates scowl in frustration.

Superb inter-linking and passing play from Blackburn ends in a corner following a shot from Stead

Riise steps up and fires the ball two feet wide of Friedel's left post. Things aren't quite working out for Liverpool.

Free-kick on the left side of the Rovers box - Riise and Gerrard stand over it - former Reds' keeper Friedel will surely know what to expect...

Again Baros fluffs his lines - he failed to get control of the ball after Balckburn lost it on the edge of their box. But Todd was on hand and made sure that he was in place to clear once Baros had failed to control.

Spoke too soon - the crowd pipe up!

Rafa barks instructions from the touchline; clearly audible - which tells you the fans are quiet. What's going on?

Mokoena heads the ball back out for another corner; but the ref thinks Pellegrino had kicked it out and gives a goalkick. The linesman with a perfect view, fails to raise his flag. And officials wonder why they get such abuse!

Liverpool win a corner, which Garcia will take.

Much brighter and aggressive from Liverpool. Senor Benitez obviously gave Liverpool food for thought in the halftime break.

Shocking, terrible and well, frankly, rubbish stuff from Baros. The unmarked forward wasted an easy chance to score by side-footing wide in the game's best moment. Great work down the left by Riise skinning Neill, his pull back found the Czech.

Decent challenge on goal by Reid; he climbed high to reach a ball but was too close to Dudek

Riise first contribution to the game is to win the ball with crunching tackle on Neill. The ginger Norweigen then steamed into the box and almost carved a shooting chance - more of that please!

A change in personnel for Liverpool as the second half begins: Farewell Smicer, good evening John Arne Riise!

Not a classic by any stretch of the imagination, but the fact remains the stakes are high: Liverpool are in need of points for Champions League qualification and Rovers need points to keep themselves clear of the relegation dogfight. Keep it here to find out if either of the teams get their act together in the second half!

The kick is taken, but the ref blows as soon as the ball comes back into play. Half-time.

Morientes is unlucky - decent ball from Garcia found him in on goal, but Rovers' back-line did just enough to prevent the Spaniard shooting; a corner is the result.

Poor delivery, but Liverpool hold onto it and attempt to press.

Freekick for Liverpool after a shove on Baros - the ball is on the right wing, 10 yards in from the corner spot close to the byline.

John Stead fires a shot on Dudek's goal, but the shot is wide of the keeper's right post.

Sing up, PLEASE! The crowd are lifeless tonight! Granted, the match has failed to ignite and neither side has been wonderful, but still - a little encouragement couldn't hurt!

A touch more urgency about Liverpool as the seek to convert their advantage in possession into a goal ahead of the half.

Garcia and Finnan link up neatly on the right, but the final ball is header clear

Thank you!! Great ball into the back post, Friedel is tempted off his line and Pellegrino gets a foot to it, but his stretching limb can only fire the ball up and over.

Smicer wins a corner for Liverpool. Please use it well!!

Morientes scraps with Todd but the Rovers skipper wins out this time.

Another wasted corner from Liverpool

Abysmal scuffed clearance from Jerzy 'Gaffe-prone' Dudek; his sliced kick landed at Reid's feet on the edge of the Liverpool box. Luckily for the Pole Reid snatched at the shot and it flew over.

That was the best shot of the game. It's been slim-pickings thus far, dear readers!

Pellegrino strikes from distance after a lay-off from Dieter Hamman's free-kick. The shot zipped along the deck, through bodies, but never really challenged Friedel who gathered easily.

Neill fails to clear a deep cross from Finnan and Warnock collects.

Blackburn pressing. Pellegrino finally clearing the danger after good passing and pressing on the right wing by Rovers.

The crowd have lost their voice again. Disappointing.

Garcia calls for penalty after being shoved inthe back by Johansson - 'Dream on' is the phrase that leaps to mind

Yellow card for Flitcroft - the game's second after Gerrard's cynical foul on Reid. Flitcroft's caution for a bad challenge on Vladimir Smicer.

Mark Hughes on the Rovers bench doesn't look impressed either, glowering under his greying hair.

More set-piece profligacy! Reid ran past the ball in dummy, then the shot was driven straight at the wall of Reds. Waste! What do Premiership players practise in training?

Wasted possession from Liverpool - and Rovers break, Steven Reid is fouled by Gerrard and he's booked. Right decision, Reid was attacking and poised to release Stead for a shot on goal. Dangerous position outside the box.

Morientes waves his instructions to the midfield creators after an attack failed following decent hussling from the Rovers back-line

Flitcroft catches Garcia late - the Spaniard looks hurt... but he'll be fine

Blackburn getting a little bit more ball at the moment and pushing further up the field.

Anyone worrying about 'Operation Anfield Excersise' fear not: 'All clear' is the message from the PA announcer... quite what it was all about is anyone's guess.

Nils-Eric Johnansson concedes a corner - which Liverpool take and which is then cleared.

Some extraordinary pettiness from the officials over the taking of a Liverpool freekick for offside. How they can worry about five yards left or right on such minor incidents is beyond me.

Corner for Rovers - but another poor delivery from a set-piece

'No' is the answer! Pedersen's dead-ball rolls along the deck after a miss-kick: the lumbering centre-halfs look a little disappointed with the delivery!

It's been mostly Liverpool so far - can Rovers get a chance on goal from this freekick on the left wing?

Good ball into the box from Warnock - just too far ahead of Baros, who could have stretched a bit harder for the cross

Freekick to Liverpool after Baros is felled by Nelsen.

Offside given against Baros. A favourable call from the linesman - Baros looked on-side!

'Stand by for Anfield Exercise' booms the stadium PA... Anyone know what that is? Answers on a postcard, please.

Biiiiig long clearance from Friedel looking for Stead. A touch 'Route 1' for the crowd who groan as one. Liverpool clear the clumsily-brought danger.

Great challenge on Flitcroft from Stephen Warnock. He won the ball but it was a crunching shoulder-first tackle - great to see and fully appreciated from the home supporters

The Reds work it short and are foiled, but retain possession and work it left

The crowd have found their voice as Liverpool start to get their game together - corner to the home side

Good defending from Rovers skipper Todd - he got between Morientes and the ball in the area and prevented the skilled Spaniard from causing too much of a threat

Sami Hyypia will be sorely missed by Liverpool at corners tonight. The Finn is missing tonight through illness, though he makes the bench.

Aaron Mokoena wins the header ahead of Morientes from the corner and Rovers break

Baros wins a corner after muscling Andy Todd off the ball

Aliceband wearing Garcia fouls Morten Pedersen - the Rovers midfielder who has been in fine form for Rovers this year

Stead is ruled to fouled a defender with his long frame - the young man is not impressed

Baros chases down a ball but can't reach it before it crosses the byline for a goalkick in front of the Kop.

Blackburn have happy memories of Anfield; despite losing the game it was on this ground that they won the title in 1995 - much to Sir Jack Walker's delight!

Terrible atmosphere at Anfield so far this evening it has to be said. The fans apathy can be transalted into nerves perhaps - the Reds are in need of wins in the league if they are to beat Everton to the fourth Champions League spot.

Milan Baros feels the weight of Ryan Nelsen after challenging for a high ball. As the Czech goes of for a moment of magic sponge, the ref calls a drop ball.

Good ball into the Liverpool box from Brett Emerton - but Rovers can't capitalise

An eagre Stead tries his dribbling skills down the left flank - but they are found to be lacking as the ball crosses the byline

A loose pass from Mauricio Pellegrino is intercepted by John Stead, who will be the lone strike tonight for Blackburn after Paul Dickov was forced out with a groin injury

Freekick to the homeside after a high foot from Gary Flitcroft

Steven Gerrard sends a great ball out to Luis Garcia who chests the ball and plays it back to Steve Finnan as Liverpool work the right

Lucas Neill gets an early tackle in on Fernando Morientes after Milan Baros had slipped an interesting ball into his path 10 yards outside the Blackburn box

Tonight's referee, Barry Knight, blows his whistle and we're underway...

The players are on the pitch readying themselves for kick-off. Blackburn's American keeper Brad Friedel appears to be in particularly high spirits on his return to Anfield - sharing a joke with old team-mates.

And for Blackburn: Friedel, Neill, Todd, Nelsen, Johansson, Mokoena, Emerton, Reid, Flitcroft, Pedersen, Stead. Subs: Enckelman, Tugay, Gallagher, Matteo, Johnson.

The team news for tonight's match is in, starting with Liverpool: Dudek, Finnan, Pellegrino, Carragher, Warnock, Luis Garcia, Gerrard, Hamann, Smicer, Baros, Morientes. And on the Subs' bench: Hyypia, Riise, Nunez, Carson, Biscan.

Fresh legs up front for Blackburn; Stead takes a seat on the bench and young Scottish striker Paul Gallagher comes on.

Scrappy and untidy play sees Mokoena dribble the ball past three players whose stretched efforts at the ball left them on their backsides!

Sami Hyypia is warming up on the byline as Pellegrino goes down and calls for treatment - the centre back looks to be struggling.

It has to be said that Milan Baros and Fernando Morientes do not look like a striking partnership made in heaven. The Czech forward will have to improve his game if Rafa is to be convinced to keep him, Euro 2004 top-scorer can only dine out on that achievment for so long.

Substitution: Good night, and good ridance, Milan Baros, good evening, and please impress us, Antonio Nunez!

Morientes drives an ambitious ball toward Riise on the left wing, but it is too long and Rovers have a throw

Hammamn and Gerrard exchange passes after looking wide offers no attacking options

Everton boss David Moyes watching from the stands will hardly be blown away by the standard of play on offer from Liverpool who his side face in the Merseyside derby this weekend

Corner for Liverpool which Gerrard aims toward Pellegrino at the back post, but Matteo had it covered

Friedel comes off his line to gather a cross aimed at Morientes - the game needs a goal. Desperately.

Substitution for Blakcburn, off goes Johansson and on comes Dominic Matteo - the former Liverpool defender gets a warm round of applause from the Kop! Nice touch.

Nelsen was tugging Carragher and held him back as the corner was deliverd - if not for the obstruction the defender would ahve been well-placed to connect.

Right at the other end Liverpool win two corners in quick succession; the second of the two is a great ball in from Gerrard - and Jamie Carragher is clearly fouled and the home side have a good call for a pentaly! Open your eyes ref!

Pedersen with the game's latest in a long line of trully awful corners. This time his kick barely reached the near post and Liverpool's defenders hook the ball clear and Pedersen's team-mates scowl in frustration.

Superb inter-linking and passing play from Blackburn ends in a corner following a shot from Stead

Riise steps up and fires the ball two feet wide of Friedel's left post. Things aren't quite working out for Liverpool.

Free-kick on the left side of the Rovers box - Riise and Gerrard stand over it - former Reds' keeper Friedel will surely know what to expect...

Again Baros fluffs his lines - he failed to get control of the ball after Balckburn lost it on the edge of their box. But Todd was on hand and made sure that he was in place to clear once Baros had failed to control.

Spoke too soon - the crowd pipe up!

Rafa barks instructions from the touchline; clearly audible - which tells you the fans are quiet. What's going on?

Mokoena heads the ball back out for another corner; but the ref thinks Pellegrino had kicked it out and gives a goalkick. The linesman with a perfect view, fails to raise his flag. And officials wonder why they get such abuse!

Liverpool win a corner, which Garcia will take.

Much brighter and aggressive from Liverpool. Senor Benitez obviously gave Liverpool food for thought in the halftime break.

Shocking, terrible and well, frankly, rubbish stuff from Baros. The unmarked forward wasted an easy chance to score by side-footing wide in the game's best moment. Great work down the left by Riise skinning Neill, his pull back found the Czech.

Decent challenge on goal by Reid; he climbed high to reach a ball but was too close to Dudek

Riise first contribution to the game is to win the ball with crunching tackle on Neill. The ginger Norweigen then steamed into the box and almost carved a shooting chance - more of that please!

A change in personnel for Liverpool as the second half begins: Farewell Smicer, good evening John Arne Riise!

Not a classic by any stretch of the imagination, but the fact remains the stakes are high: Liverpool are in need of points for Champions League qualification and Rovers need points to keep themselves clear of the relegation dogfight. Keep it here to find out if either of the teams get their act together in the second half!

The kick is taken, but the ref blows as soon as the ball comes back into play. Half-time.

Morientes is unlucky - decent ball from Garcia found him in on goal, but Rovers' back-line did just enough to prevent the Spaniard shooting; a corner is the result.

Poor delivery, but Liverpool hold onto it and attempt to press.

Freekick for Liverpool after a shove on Baros - the ball is on the right wing, 10 yards in from the corner spot close to the byline.

John Stead fires a shot on Dudek's goal, but the shot is wide of the keeper's right post.

Sing up, PLEASE! The crowd are lifeless tonight! Granted, the match has failed to ignite and neither side has been wonderful, but still - a little encouragement couldn't hurt!

A touch more urgency about Liverpool as the seek to convert their advantage in possession into a goal ahead of the half.

Garcia and Finnan link up neatly on the right, but the final ball is header clear

Thank you!! Great ball into the back post, Friedel is tempted off his line and Pellegrino gets a foot to it, but his stretching limb can only fire the ball up and over.

Smicer wins a corner for Liverpool. Please use it well!!

Morientes scraps with Todd but the Rovers skipper wins out this time.

Another wasted corner from Liverpool

Abysmal scuffed clearance from Jerzy 'Gaffe-prone' Dudek; his sliced kick landed at Reid's feet on the edge of the Liverpool box. Luckily for the Pole Reid snatched at the shot and it flew over.

That was the best shot of the game. It's been slim-pickings thus far, dear readers!

Pellegrino strikes from distance after a lay-off from Dieter Hamman's free-kick. The shot zipped along the deck, through bodies, but never really challenged Friedel who gathered easily.

Neill fails to clear a deep cross from Finnan and Warnock collects.

Blackburn pressing. Pellegrino finally clearing the danger after good passing and pressing on the right wing by Rovers.

The crowd have lost their voice again. Disappointing.

Garcia calls for penalty after being shoved inthe back by Johansson - 'Dream on' is the phrase that leaps to mind

Yellow card for Flitcroft - the game's second after Gerrard's cynical foul on Reid. Flitcroft's caution for a bad challenge on Vladimir Smicer.

Mark Hughes on the Rovers bench doesn't look impressed either, glowering under his greying hair.

More set-piece profligacy! Reid ran past the ball in dummy, then the shot was driven straight at the wall of Reds. Waste! What do Premiership players practise in training?

Wasted possession from Liverpool - and Rovers break, Steven Reid is fouled by Gerrard and he's booked. Right decision, Reid was attacking and poised to release Stead for a shot on goal. Dangerous position outside the box.

Morientes waves his instructions to the midfield creators after an attack failed following decent hussling from the Rovers back-line

Flitcroft catches Garcia late - the Spaniard looks hurt... but he'll be fine

Blackburn getting a little bit more ball at the moment and pushing further up the field.

Anyone worrying about 'Operation Anfield Excersise' fear not: 'All clear' is the message from the PA announcer... quite what it was all about is anyone's guess.

Nils-Eric Johnansson concedes a corner - which Liverpool take and which is then cleared.

Some extraordinary pettiness from the officials over the taking of a Liverpool freekick for offside. How they can worry about five yards left or right on such minor incidents is beyond me.

Corner for Rovers - but another poor delivery from a set-piece

'No' is the answer! Pedersen's dead-ball rolls along the deck after a miss-kick: the lumbering centre-halfs look a little disappointed with the delivery!

It's been mostly Liverpool so far - can Rovers get a chance on goal from this freekick on the left wing?

Good ball into the box from Warnock - just too far ahead of Baros, who could have stretched a bit harder for the cross

Freekick to Liverpool after Baros is felled by Nelsen.

Offside given against Baros. A favourable call from the linesman - Baros looked on-side!

'Stand by for Anfield Exercise' booms the stadium PA... Anyone know what that is? Answers on a postcard, please.

Biiiiig long clearance from Friedel looking for Stead. A touch 'Route 1' for the crowd who groan as one. Liverpool clear the clumsily-brought danger.

Great challenge on Flitcroft from Stephen Warnock. He won the ball but it was a crunching shoulder-first tackle - great to see and fully appreciated from the home supporters

The Reds work it short and are foiled, but retain possession and work it left

The crowd have found their voice as Liverpool start to get their game together - corner to the home side

Good defending from Rovers skipper Todd - he got between Morientes and the ball in the area and prevented the skilled Spaniard from causing too much of a threat

Sami Hyypia will be sorely missed by Liverpool at corners tonight. The Finn is missing tonight through illness, though he makes the bench.

Aaron Mokoena wins the header ahead of Morientes from the corner and Rovers break

Baros wins a corner after muscling Andy Todd off the ball

Aliceband wearing Garcia fouls Morten Pedersen - the Rovers midfielder who has been in fine form for Rovers this year

Stead is ruled to fouled a defender with his long frame - the young man is not impressed

Baros chases down a ball but can't reach it before it crosses the byline for a goalkick in front of the Kop.

Blackburn have happy memories of Anfield; despite losing the game it was on this ground that they won the title in 1995 - much to Sir Jack Walker's delight!

Terrible atmosphere at Anfield so far this evening it has to be said. The fans apathy can be transalted into nerves perhaps - the Reds are in need of wins in the league if they are to beat Everton to the fourth Champions League spot.

Milan Baros feels the weight of Ryan Nelsen after challenging for a high ball. As the Czech goes of for a moment of magic sponge, the ref calls a drop ball.

Good ball into the Liverpool box from Brett Emerton - but Rovers can't capitalise

An eagre Stead tries his dribbling skills down the left flank - but they are found to be lacking as the ball crosses the byline

A loose pass from Mauricio Pellegrino is intercepted by John Stead, who will be the lone strike tonight for Blackburn after Paul Dickov was forced out with a groin injury

Freekick to the homeside after a high foot from Gary Flitcroft

Steven Gerrard sends a great ball out to Luis Garcia who chests the ball and plays it back to Steve Finnan as Liverpool work the right

Lucas Neill gets an early tackle in on Fernando Morientes after Milan Baros had slipped an interesting ball into his path 10 yards outside the Blackburn box

Tonight's referee, Barry Knight, blows his whistle and we're underway...

The players are on the pitch readying themselves for kick-off. Blackburn's American keeper Brad Friedel appears to be in particularly high spirits on his return to Anfield - sharing a joke with old team-mates.

And for Blackburn: Friedel, Neill, Todd, Nelsen, Johansson, Mokoena, Emerton, Reid, Flitcroft, Pedersen, Stead. Subs: Enckelman, Tugay, Gallagher, Matteo, Johnson.

The team news for tonight's match is in, starting with Liverpool: Dudek, Finnan, Pellegrino, Carragher, Warnock, Luis Garcia, Gerrard, Hamann, Smicer, Baros, Morientes. And on the Subs' bench: Hyypia, Riise, Nunez, Carson, Biscan.