BRAD FRIEDEL: A virtual spectator for the whole 90 minutes but left helpless by the accuracy of Owen's header...7
JOHN CURTIS: Did well considering he's been off the scene for so long and got better as the game wore on...6
STIG-INGE BJORNEBYE: Up against the dangerous Gerrard but did a decent containing job...6
CRAIG SHORT: A tower of strength at the back on his return to first team duty as Owen and Fowler barely got a look in...7
HENNING BERG: Beaten in the air by Owen for the goal but his all-around game was rock solid...6
GARRY FLITCROFT: Still feeling the effects of his groin injury but an early booking failed to curb his natural aggression...6
DAVID DUNN: Didn't see enough of the ball in the first half but came alive once he switched to the left after the break...7
*TUGAY: A class act once again in midfield and really came into his own as Rovers stepped up a gear in the second half...8
KEITH GILLESPIE: Worked his socks off down the right and always dangerous whenever he ran at the Liverpool defence...7
DAMIEN DUFF: Looked bright considering it was his first game in two months but understandably faded as the game wore on...6
MATT JANSEN: Got through a tremendous amount of work up front and always looked Rovers most likely source of a goal...7
SUBS:
CRAIG HIGNETT (for Flitcroft, 65)...6
MARCUS BENT (for Duff, 78)...6
OPPOSITE CAMP:
DUDEK...Made a couple of crucial saves 8
CARRAGHER...Very solid defensively 6
RIISE...What an engine 6
HENCHOZ...Solid and dependable as ever 7
HYYPIA...A real rock at the back 7
GERRARD...Quiet by his standards 6
HAMANN...Keeps things simple 7
McALLISTER...Still a class act 7
BERGER...Fairly anonymous 5
OWEN...A real predator's goal 7
FOWLER...Fluffed his only chance 6
SUBS:
MURPHY...(for Berger 62) 7
HESKEY...(for Owen 72) 5
STATS:
Goal attempts: Rovers 6 Liverpool 5
Shots on target: Rovers 4 Liverpool 2
Woodwork: Rovers 0 Liverpool 0
Offsides: Rovers 3 Liverpool 4
Corners: Rovers 6 Liverpool 3
Free kicks: Rovers 17 Liverpool 10
REFEREE: Mike Riley (Leeds)...7
Attendance: 28,859
YELLOW CARDS: Rovers - Flitcroft (foul), Bent (dissent)
Liverpool - None
RED CARDS: None
TIME FOR ACTION:
29Jerzey Dudek tips a Matt Jansen shot around the post following excellent work by Keith Gillespie
30It's 1-0 to Liverpool as Michael Owen leaps to head home a Steven Gerrard cross
44Dudek comes to the rescue again this time palming a David Dunn drive around the upright
51Jansen singes the fingertips of Dudek with a rasping drive after clever prompting from Dunn
52Rovers are back on level terms as Jansen sweeps home his third of the season from Tugay's cross-shot
66Jansen goes to ground under a challenge from Sami Hyypia but the ref waves away his penalty appeals
69Gerrard picks out Robbie Fowler with a peach of a pass but Brad Friedel saves his attempted lob
90Danny Murphy hangs his head in shame after squandering a golden chance to snatch a late victory
TACTICS:
GRAEME Souness started off with a 4-5-1 formation in an attempt to stifle Liverpool's attacking threat even if it meant conceding ground to the visitors. But after going a goal down he then switched to 4-4-2 at the break with Damien Duff employed as an orthodox striker and Rovers carried more attacking menace as a result
KEY MOMENT :
DANNY Murphy's late miss. The Liverpool midfielder could and should have snatched the points but fluffed the chance after Steven Gerrard had prized open Rovers' defence
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