Two points lost, or one gained? On the balance of play, few would argue that Rovers weren't worth at least a draw, but having come from a goal down to take the lead (a rare phenomena which happens only around once every eighteen months!) it's hard not to feel a sense of disappointment that we couldn't hold onto it.It was a strange game, but an entertaining one. Rovers started and finished much the better side, but in between we had some very good spells, aided by the midfield promptings of the outstanding Murphy and Hamann.
Didi had clearly been targeted by Rovers before the game, as he wasn't given a second on the ball, and came in for some rough treatment from the home side. Didi stood up to it well though, and actually seemed to thrive on it, turning in a brilliant performance in the engine room.
The first fifteen minutes saw a Rovers onslaught, as predictably they just kept giving the ball to Damien Duff and encouraging him to run at Xavier. That match up had been a cause for concern amongst every red I've spoken to this week, and we were right to be concerned.
I'm not going to launch into a scathing attack of Xavier, and I'm not going to keep going over old ground by bringing up the sale of Stephen Wright. He produced a fine cross to create our equalizer, and deserves credit for that, but the fact is that once again he proved that he is incapable of preventing crosses coming into the box. He doesn't get tight enough to his man, his positional play isn't great, and he can appear slow.
I'm sure he's a nice guy, and a dedicated pro, but he isn't a good full back, and personally I'd rather have a half fit Jamie Carragher in the side right now. Markus needs to be eased back gently of course, but Carra should return for the game with Newcastle next week.
Wingers simply don't get the better of Jamie (unless they happen to Marc Overmars!), and his return to the line up would see a significant reduction in the number of crosses coming in from our right flank. It would also mean that Hamann, Murphy and Gerrard wouldn't have to keep drifting over to that side to bail out their full back.
I don't want to keep having to criticize Xavier, as I have nothing personal against the guy, I just don't think he's a good full back, and I am puzzled at how much faith GH has shown in him.
Blackburn's opening goal was well worked from their point of view, but it was a bad one as far as we are concerned. Xavier was beaten by Duff way too easily, but Cole did well to dummy, and Dunn showed some nifty footwork to control and finish. No more than they deserved on the balance of play, but after that we began to get a foothold in the game, with Murphy involved in everything.
After a terrific passing move, Danny's clever pass freed Owen in the box, but he just couldn't get the ball under control as he was bumped and barged by Short, and then Johansson. Michael was looking sharp enough once again, but he BADLY needs a goal. There's no problem with his fitness, or form for that matter. Nothing that goal wouldn't solve anyway. Luckily for Michael it's Newcastle up next, his favourite whipping boys!
The reds were starting to produce some nice football now, and deservedly equalised with a brilliant move in which SuperDan was heavily involved. First he produced a wonderful flick to release Xavier, before racing into the box to get on the end of the full back's fine cross. The finish was just what you'd expect from Murphy. 1-1.
Duff was the main threat, and it was clear if we could keep him quiet, we wouldn't have much of a problem containing them. Cole and Yorke may have been the best strike pair in Europe a couple of years ago (© Graeme Suness), but they posed very little problems for Sami and Steph.
Not that our front two were any better. Diouf has been excellent so far since his summer arrival, but he was poor tonight. Nothing he tried came off, although again, his workrate was admirable.
The second half saw the reds attacking the end where the travelling Kop were assembled. Brad Friedel was given a fantastic ovation as he took his place in goal, and was clearly moved by the warmth with which he was greeted. The fans were in excellent form all night, with a couple of quality renditions of Fields of Anfield Road being the highlight. The "Fuck off Souness" was pretty good too.
Souness incidentally, claimed in the aftermatch press conference that he'd 'been shafted' by the national press that morning, and that his words had been twisted and taken out of context. Fair enough Graeme, I'll accept that explanation about today's comments. You're still a fucking sell out twat though.
But back to the game. From what we'd witnessed in the opening half, it appeared that Rovers were there for the taking if we just upped our game a notch. Any defence containing Craig Short is always ripe for the picking, yet we barely troubled Friedel in the second period.
It was hardly a shock to see Diouf and Owen replaced by Heskey and Smicer, although personally I would have withdrawn Riise at that point, who had been disappointing.
Thankfully Gerard saw things differently, and it was the Ginger Magician who conjured up a wonderful goal to put us in the lead. Vladi sent over a cross to the back post, which to be fair I thought Riise would do well to even get his head to, but a prodigious leap enabled him to get enough on the header to somehow send it back over Friedel's head and into the far corner.
The Norwegian has scored some stunning goals in his time at Anfield, but in its own way this ranks right up there with the best of them. Cue trademark shirt off celebration, and bedlam in the away end.
That should have been enough to seal the three points, but Duff escaped down the left again and whipped over a brilliant ball which was just missed by the onrushing attackers. It looked like we'd got away with it, but the ball was swung back in from the right, and Grabbi got in front of Xavier to power a header past the helpless Dudek.
Rovers were lifted by that, and pressed for a winner, whereas Gerard settled for the point by withdrawing Riise and adopting a five man midfield, with Smicer dropping back to the left wing. In fact, if you were being cruel, you could even suggest it was a six man midfield, as 'lone striker' Heskey spent most of his time on the right flank.
All in all, a point isn't too bad, and the performance was good at times, bad at others. The team performance mirrored that of Steven Gerrard, who was very hit and miss. He did some good things, he did some bad things.
I mentioned Hamann, and he was majestic I thought. He did his customary job in breaking up attacks and protecting the back four, but his passing was sharp and concise, and he showed great poise under pressure.
He would have been the star man, except SuperDan was once again outstanding too, and I couldn't choose between them. Danny has three consecutive Liverpool Way star man awards now, and has started the season brilliantly. We at the Liverpool Way have regularly stuck up for Danny when the flak was flying in his direction last season, so it's nice to see him ramming the critics words down their throats.
Danny was good last season, but he looks to have stepped up a level this term. It's ironic that had Bowyer signed, Danny would have been the man most under threat. I know who I'd rather have in my team anyway, and it's not that horrible nasty little cockney gobshite.
We can play better than this, but at least we didn't lose. An improvement is needed, and looking at the performance of Damien Duff, it's easy to see why Gerard covets him so much. Sadly, the Irishman looks likely to sign an extension to stay at Ewood, so it's either wait another year and make a renewed attempt to get Duff, or look elsewhere.
If no-one arrives in the next two days, then we'll have to wait until the winter transfer window opens up. Is the squad we have strong enough to cope until then? Let's hope so.
TEAM: Jerzy Dudek; Abel Xavier, Stephane Henchoz, Sami Hyypia, Djimi Traore; Danny Murphy, Steven Gerrard, Didi Hamann, John Arne Riise (Salif Diao); El Hadji Diouf (Vladimir Smicer), Michael Owen (Emile Heskey):
