FROM a distance it looks a good result and it will certainly not do any harm for Blackburn Rovers to have completed the pre-season programme undefeated against a Liverpool team with five wins out of five before Saturday.

But don't be fooled. For it was only the half-time introduction of three pairs of fresh young legs and an early contender for goal of the season from David Dunn that wiped out the mind-numbing mediocrity of Rovers' opening 45 minutes.

Little wonder manager Brian Kidd, still trying to make bricks without straw, felt the need to speak plainly and plaintively about his problems after the game.

What he wouldn't give to have an Ashley Ward leading the front line, a Garry Flitcroft buccaneering in midfield and a tower of strength - possibly Craig Short - at the heart of his defence.

Kidd does not believe his young guns can, or should, be subjected to too much responsibility over too long a period.

But, on the evidence of a fortunate draw with the new-look Liverpool side, a blatant lack of investment in transfers and no end to the injury jinx, there might be no other choice.

In any case, young Dunn staked his claim in the most positive way - not only with a magnificent solo goal but also with the desperately-needed sense of urgency he injected into what had been a totally-uninspired first half.

So too did Damien Duff who again showed he has an extra spring in his step this year.

To accommodate them, and Jimmy Corbett who also livened things up, Kidd switched to 4-3-3 and there lies another dilemma for the manager.

It isn't his favourite formation but it looks the only alternative in the circumstances.

Simon Grayson, asked to fill a midfield role against a strong side, faced a difficult debut but it was tough for everyone in the baking heat as Liverpool dominated and looked to be cruising at 2-0 after 40 minutes.

There was no creativity in midfield, little threat down the flanks and scarcely a kick from the front two.

Then came the changes. Keith Gillespie, who could make no impression, was replaced by Corbett, Duff moved into attack at the expense of an anonymous Kevin Gallacher and Dunn went on for Lee Carsley, who had been Rovers' most effective player.

Thankfully, it was the spark that was needed.

Even allowing for the fact that Rovers were facing a class act, there are still major concerns.

They could easily have conceded a few more goals, rarely looked like scoring and the midfield problems have been well chronicled.

Doesn't sound too promising does it, with Port Vale only days away, but anyone who witnessed the first half will tell you it could have been even worse as Liverpool established a vice-like grip on the game.

With striker Titi Camara starting to make light of Michael Owen's absence it soon looked ominous for Rovers.

A superb flick with the outside of Camara's foot sent Robbie Fowler scampering through the middle in the 23rd minute to score Liverpool's first with a clinical low finish.

On 40 minutes, Camara was again the provider as he neatly lobbed the ball inside for Jamie Redknapp to race in between two Rovers players and volley the second.

It threatened to be a rout but, two minutes later, a huge blunder handed them a lifeline.

Carsley's sliced crossfield ball was dropping harmlessly into the penalty area when Jamie Carragher decided to head it back to his keeper and succeeded only in diverting it past him into the net.

Still Liverpool looked comfortable and eager for more goals, while slapdash Rovers simply couldn't pass the ball once they got over the halfway line.

Suddenly, there was a whole change of mood on and off the field and a moment of Dunn magic made the afternoon worthwhile.

Picking up the ball on the right touchline, he had nowhere to go but, with fine skills and great determination, squeezed past two opponents.

The youngster played the ball inside to Kevin Davies and continued his run, picking it up again to charge into the penalty area. We all expected a low back-post cross towards Duff but, instead, Dunn hammered a stunning cross drive high into the net for an unbelievable goal.

That gave Rovers heart and they might even have had another, Corbett going close and Grayson leading the best counter-attack.

But, to be honest, Liverpool should have had at least a couple, maybe three or four, more.

Alan Kelly, on for his debut, immediately had to make an excellent save from Camara. The ball dropped down to spark an incredible few moments when Liverpool could have scored three times in the one incident.

Kelly later saved from Fowler and Vladimir Smicer wasted a golden chance. Two minutes from time, Rovers really got lucky when Patrik Berger inexplicably shot wide after an awful defensive mix-up.

There's a lot for the manager to think about before next Saturday but I suspect he knew that before last Saturday. ROVERS (4-4-2): Filan (sub Kelly 67 mins), Kenna (sub Croft 60 mins), Dailly, Broomes, Davidson, Gillespie (sub Corbett HT), Grayson, Carsley (sub Dunn HT), Wilcox, Davies (sub Taylor 75 mins), Gallacher (sub Duff HT).

LIVERPOOL (4-4-2): Westerweld, Heggem, Carragher, Hyypia, Bjornebye (sub Staunton 51 mins), Smicer (sub Meijer 75 mins), Redknapp, Hamann (sub Leonhardsen 62 mins), Berger, Fowler, Camara.

REFEREE: P Richards (Preston) ATTENDANCE: 14,700

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.