Blackburn Rovers vs Liverpool

1. 90'

   At that's the end of it. A high octane, blood and thunder match comes to and end with honours even. Both sides went at it like it was a cup game and the entertainment level was cranked right up because of it. Both sides will feel they could have won it but a draw was about fair.

2. 90'

   Chance for Liverpool to snatch it at the death. Garcia turned inside from the right and swung a ball to the far post. It found its way to Kewell on the left and his shot-come-shot was drilled along the six yard line where Hyypia was only an inch away from turning it in.

3. 89'

   Corner flashes through the six yard box but no one is able to put the final touch on it.

4. 88'

   Reid lost out in a challenge with Kewell on the half way line and the Australian set off to run at the Blackburn defence. Just as he looked to have found a way through Neill got back to amke an important tackle at the expense of a corner.

5. 87'

   Blackburn defenders are looking increasingly nervous as Liverpool take their turn to force the issue in the home side's half of the pitch.

6. 85'

   Friedel pulls off the save of the match to preserve parity. Garcia twisted and turned bamboozeling the Rovers defence until he created a shooting chance, 18 yards out slightly to the left of centre. The rasping, rising shot was too strong for the keeper to hold but he showed strong hands to parry it away.

7. 84'

   Carragher almost plays his side into trouble. An overhit forward ball was all the way Kirkland's with no Blackburn men around but he still chose to head from his own penalty spot. Had the Blackburn forwards been more alert they may have benefited from the poor communication.

8. 83'

   Traore tries to wring some more from his tired body and storms down the left wing after a noe-two with Kewell. Showed great purpose to get their but couldn't add the guile to beat the last man and the ball runs for a goal-kick.

9. 82'

   Some sloppy, tired play creeping in now from both teams.

10. 80'

    Liverpool make a change. Off goes Hamann to be replaced by Diao, presumably to strengthen a midfield battle that Liverpool have lost a grip on.

11. 79'

    Blackburn siezing the initiative in these closing stages but it is still anyones for the taking.

12. 78'

    More confusion in the Liverpool box as Dickov hussled and harried until the ball broke to him six yards out. He shifted the ball to make a shooting angle but Kirkland remained big and imposing to block the goal bound effort.

13. 77'

    Blackburn corner exposes Liverpool's flawed zonal marking as Short is left unmarked to rise and power a header down past Kirkland. Fortunately for Liverpool Garcia was on the line to clear the danger.

14. 76'

    Alonso is lucky not to be booked. grabbing at Ferguson from behind he - unintentionally I think - caught Ferguson in the face with a clenched fist. Just a talking to from the referee this time.

15. 74'

    Tugay rode his luck and a couple of challenges just outside the box before a ricochet broke to Emerton whose fierce drive is watched it all the way into his arms.

16. 73'

    At the other end Stead makes Kirkland work. Drifting wide on the left he then powered a drive from the corner of the box that was all the way a goal until Kirkland flung himself to his right and stretched a hand out to turn it wide.

17. 72'

    Kewell tries his look from distance and almost manages to curl his effort inside Friedel's far post but the American is the equal of it.

18. 71'

    Emerton gets the better of Josemi again - he has had the beating of him from start to finish - by driving down the left flank. Runs out of steam and space though towards the end and can't dig out a cross. Good run though.

19. 70'

    Niether tea able to retain possession for too long now. Tempers are fraying and the tackles are getting very fruity. Tugay again went in with a high foot on Baros and got what looked to be his final warning from the referee.

20. 69'

    baros penalised for the use of a hand in the Blackburn box as he tried to control a difficult, bouncing ball.

21. 68'

    Stead, perhaps not up to speed in the game just yet, scythes down Alonso in the centre circle and is rightly booked.

22. 66'

    Typical mazy, head down run from Baros. He came short to pick up the ball and then out ran Neill before checking inside him and cutting across the box. Garcia was well placed to receive a pass but Baros doesn't pass in those situations and he is eventually muscled out of it. Great run but he should have put arcia in.

23. 65'

    Bad foul on Dickov by Traore perhaps should have drawn a caution but Dickov is up on his feet quickly and the referee takes no further action.

24. 64'

    Substitution for Blackburn brings Jon Stead into the fray at the expense of Bothroyd.

25. 63'

    Not much football being played in the last few minutes as tough tackling and hastey clearances become the order of the day.

Leaders

BLKLIV

Total Shots

Brett Emerton

2

John Arne Riise

4

Saves

Brad Friedel

8

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