Blackburn and Liverpool cancelled each other out in a disappointing goalless draw at Ewood Park.
Defences on top at Ewood Park
Blackburn and Liverpool cancelled each other out in a disappointing goalless draw at Ewood Park.
Blackburn were the better side in a drab first half with David Bentley and David Dunn both hitting the woodwork in the opening 45 minutes.
Liverpool improved in the second half and looked the more likely to win it in the closing stages, but they could not find a way past Brad Friedel.
The point preserves Liverpool's unbeaten record in the Premier Lague, but it was their fifth draw in their last seven league games and leaves them sitting in seventh spot.
Blackburn's first effort on target came when Morten Gamst Pedersen robbed Gerrard inside Rovers' half. David Bentley swung in a long cross which Roque Santa Cruz headed straight at Jose Reina.
Blackburn continued to offer more up front and in the 35th minute Andre Ooijer's long ball was knocked on by Santa Cruz to Bentley who evaded Riise's tackle only to see his shot scrape the outside of Reina's left-hand post.
Liverpool finally managed a shot on target with five minutes of the half remaining when Babel cut back on to his right foot and curled a shot which Brad Friedel comfortably parried away.
Just before the break Dunn turned the ball on to his weaker left foot before crashing a 20-yard shot against the crossbar.
With Liverpool crying out for some creativity Benitez turned to Harry Kewell just after the hour, despite the injury-prone Australian playing just 96 minutes of first-team football since limping out of the 2006 FA Cup final.
Babel made way but the action turned to the other end where Ooijer's shot deflected off Carragher's arm but referee Martin Atkinson ruled Rovers could only have a corner, which Santa Cruz headed over.
In the 79th minute Gerrard burst through on the left of the area but his shot was blocked by Freidel. And then when Crouch headed on Riise's left-wing corner Bentley cleared off the line.
The last 10 minutes were a complete turnaround as Liverpool poured forward and when Crouch nodded down to Gerrard the captain found Friedel in the way again.
And Kuyt's misery was complete when, having been set up by Kewell, he blazed over from five yards.
| Blackburn Rovers |
Team Statistics |
Liverpool |
| 0 |
Goals |
0 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 3 |
Shots on Target |
4 |
| 8 |
Shots off Target |
4 |
| 7 |
Blocked Shots |
3 |
| 6 |
Corners |
3 |
| 8 |
Fouls |
12 |
| 4 |
Offsides |
7 |
| 0 |
Yellow Cards |
1 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 72.8 |
Passing Success |
81.3 |
| 26 |
Tackles |
31 |
| 69.2 |
Tackles Success |
51.6 |
| 47 |
Possession |
53 |
| 50 |
Territorial Advantage |
50 |
|
