Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard fired a stunning stoppage-time winner to floor Middlesbrough after they threatened an Anfield shock.
England head coach Fabio Capello suggested in midweek that Gerrard is not fully fit, but he was still going strong late in the game against Boro as Liverpool came from behind to claim three points.
Boro had not won in the league at Anfield since 1976, and when Mido came off the bench to put them ahead with 20 minutes left that record looked likely to be consigned to history.
But Jamie Carragher saw a 20-yard cross-shot deflect home off Emanuel Pogatetz for an own goal with five minutes of regulation time remaining, and then Gerrard rifled home a 20-yard winner deep into injury-time.
A pre-match injury to goalkeeper Brad Jones meant Ross Turnbull was thrust into action at the last moment.
He was put under immediate pressure by Liverpool. After three minutes Fernando Torres surged towards the penalty area and fed Dirk Kuyt whose fierce drive was turned aside at full stretch by Turnbull.
Then Andrea Dossena fired over a swirling cross-shot which Turnbull pushed behind.
Torres saw a flicked header go wide before there was a lengthy delay when Dossena and Jeremie Aliadiere clashed heads, both leaving the field.
Boro's French forward returned with his head heavily bandaged, while Dossena needed a stitch before being allowed back into the fray.
It then took a fine flying save from Jose Reina to touch over an 18-yard shot from Boro's Andrew Taylor.
No comments:
Post a Comment