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