FOOTBALL Live

Saturday January 12, 2008 Finished Riverside Stadium

1 - 1

Middlesbrough

  • Boateng 27’

Liverpool

  • Torres 71’
  1. Torres thunderbolt saves Reds

    Torres thunderbolt saves Reds

    A thunderbolt goal from Fernando Torres spared Liverpool an embarrassing away defeat at the hands of Middlesbrough as they played out a 1-1 draw at the Riverside Stadium. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Middlesbrough
    • Liverpool
    • 90+3 That's it. A point apiece, but Boro will be the happier of the two sides. It's MAnchester United v managerless Newcastle coming up later. Don't go away.
    • 90+2' GERRARD WITH AN OPTIMISTIC EFFORT.. It's wide though.
    • 90+1' This is an absolute onslaught on Schwarzer's goal, but he is proving himself equal to the task.
    • 90' Three minutes of stoppage time to play.
    • 90' Liverpool with another corner. HYYPIA MUST SCORE WITH HIS DOWNWARD HEADER... BUT SCHWARZER GETS TO GROUND IN LIGHTNING QUICK TIME TO BLOCK HIS EFFORT!!!
    • 89' Liverpool with another corner... Schwarzer again punches away.
    • 88' The corner comes to nothing as Schwarzer punches the ball away.
    • 86' Gerrard has the ball 20 yards out.... POWERFUL DRIVE FROM THE ENGLAND MIDFIELDER... BUT SCHWARZER TIPS IT OUT FOR A CORNER!!!!
    • 84' Liverpool go forward again. Torres miscues... BABEL MIGHT SHOOT!!! But Grounds is in brilliantly to get it away.
    • 82' This game is anyone's for the taking, but Liverpool look the more dangerous of the two sides right now.
    • 79' Alonso is booked for a foul on O'Neil.
    • 78' Babel is megged by Rochemback, whose pass ends up with a Liverpool player anyway.
    • 77' Gerrard plays Babel in... Babel with a great chance.. his shot is just inches wide of the far post. What a pulsating second half we're having.
    • 76' Liverpool substitution: Dirk Kuyt replaces the ineffective Voronin.
    • 75' Babel takes a Liverpool corner... TORRES HEADS THE BALL JUST INCHES OVER THE BAR!!!
    • 74' Middlesbrough substitution: Ben Hutchinson replaces Aliadiere.
    • 73 Boro could be back in now... REINA MESSES UP BY PUNCHING THE BALL AGAINST CARRAGHER'S CHEST!!! But Aliadiere can't get a shot in. Dodgy performance by the Liverpool keeper.
    • 72' His 11th goal in the Premier League this season and his 17th in all competitions.
    • 71' Babel passes to Torres. The Spaniard is 35 yards out. He takes one touch, two touches and SHOOTS POWERFULLY!!!!! GOAL!!!!!!!!!! LIVERPOOL ARE BACK ON LEVEL TERMS FROM THE RIGHT BOOT OF FERNANDO TORRES
    • 69' Boateng just takes the heat out of the Liverpool attack by instructing his team-mates to pass it around short in the middle of the park.
    • 67' Liverpool break with Babel... still Babel... still Babel. He's still going... but Luke Young is the hero as he gets back.
    • 66' Tuncay latches onto a throughball and has it on the touchline. He threads it to Downing... he fires in a shot from 15 yards out... OFF THE POST!!!! O'NEIL WITH AN EMPTY NET ON THE RE-BOUND... MILES OVER!!!! USELESS. JUST USELESS!!
    • 64' Over the top to Downing in loads of space on the left. REINA'S OUT OF HIS AREA AGAIN... but this time he makes a crucial intervention and clears the ball out of play.
    • 62' Alonso is penalised for a foul on Rochemback in the centre circle.
    • 60' Expect Gerrard to go onto the right now with Alonso in central midfield.
    • 59' Liverpool substitution: Xabi Alonso replaces Yossi Benayoun.
    • 57' Liverpool immediatley break from the free-kick. Babel has it, takes it past two men and UNLEASHES A VICIOUS DRIVE FROM THE EDGE OF THE BOX WHICH MISSES THE FAR POST BY INCHES!!!!
    • 56' It was offside against Tuncay anyway.
    • 56' The ball is played through for Downing. DOWNING WITH A CHANCE!!!!! But he somehow puts a golden opportunity wide from four yards.
    • 55' Rochemback has the ball 30 yards out.. he tries a shot REINA PARRIES IT... and claims it at the second attempt from the onrushing Tuncay. That was out of nothing from the Brazilian.
    • 54' The ball is back with O'Neil, he crosses low for TUNCAY!!!! as Reina just beats him to the ball with the Turk sliding in.
    • 53' Downing is running this game. He's in midfield... slots it to O'Neil... who takes too long over a rubbish shot. This guy is letting the side down.
    • 51' Grounds plays it long to Downing again... REINA IS MILES OUT OF HIS AREA... DOWNING BEATS HIM AND CROSSES FOR TUNCAY... but the Turk is 30 yards away from where he should have been. What a waste.
    • 49' Grounds does well there. He can set up a break. He pumps a 60 yard ball down to the unmarked Downing. GREAT CROSS!!!! but Hyypia does very well indeed to head the ball away.
    • 48' Huth is booked for a foul on Torres. I'll bet that was an accumulation booking rather than one for that tackle in particular.
    • 48' Torres cuts in from the left. Nice ball through to Voronin.. but Wheater's pressure pays off and he eventually lets the ball slip out from under his feet. Huth wallops it clear.
    • 47' Good call by Mr Mariner. There did not appear to be any contact, nor did Voronin dive, he just lost his balance.
    • 47' Liverpool have a long ball lamped up by Tores towards Voronin... HE GOES DOWN AFTER CONTACT WITH HUTH AND WANTS A PENALTY!!!! The referee is having none of it.
    • 46' We're off for the second half.
    • 46' Liverpool have made a change at half-time, with Ryan Babel coming on for Arbeloa.
    • 45+1 Andre Mariner blows for half-time with the score Middlesbrough 1-0 Liverpool.
    • 45+1 He's off the pitch and Middlesbrough will finish the half with ten men.
    • 45+1 Probably more actually. George Boateng is down in the centre circle. He went in to keep the ball from Gerrard and looks to have over-stretched.
    • 45' One minute of stoppage time to be played.
    • 45' Gerrard with a long low ball to Torres... wonderful flick, but there's no Voronin to pick it up and Young eases the ball back for Schwarzer to clear.
    • 44' Grounds is sent, erm, to ground, by Mascherano's tackle. I was waiting to use that pun.
    • 43' Riise picks up the ball on the left. He has space to shoot... Oh! It's a Geoff Thomas shot. Anyone familiar with the England team under Graham Taylior will know exactly what i mean.
    • 42' The Middlesbrough backline is looking pretty resolute. Wheater and Huth are forcing the strikers wide every time, and Liverpool have no chance from there.
    • 40' WAHEY!!! Arbeloa and O'Neil both went for the ball on the right and took out the linesman... and Dirk Kuyt - who was warming up pitchside - to boot. Who said there was no room for comedy in football any more?
    • 38' Hyypia sends Aliadiere to the ground just outside the box again. It's another free-kick, but it's wasted.
    • 36' The flag was up though.
    • 36' Liverpool on the attack with Mascherano. He chips the ball into the box... Torres nods it down for BENAYON TO SHOOT!!! WONDERFUL SAVE FROM SCHWARZER. The Israeli was only six yards out...
    • 34' Jonathan Grounds shepherds the ball out for a Boro throw. He's kept Benayon in his pocket to far in this game.
    • 32' Gerard plays it across to Benayoun. He tries a shot from 35 yards.... But Schwarzer gathers it up, even if he did need two attempts.
    • 31' No, he escapes with just a talking to by referee Andre Mariner. Liverpoool to have a free-kick though.
    • 31' Huth chops Torres down mercilessly just inside the Boro half. Surely he will be booked for that.
    • 28' Liverpool could be back in here. Mascherano finds Torres... just Huth to beat... but the German does really well to stop the Spaniard's progress.
    • 27' That's his first goal since April and he thoroughly deserves it, having started the move that lead to the finish.
    • 27' GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Aliadiere heads it back across goal, beating the onrushing Reina to the ball, and Boateng scrambles it into the back of the net.
    • 27' Boateng chips the ball to Downing on the left. Downing crosses in... it's cleared badly by Arbeloa...
    • 24' Torres is caught offside to the left of the box. It was a deepfield through-ball from Gerrard to locate him.
    • 21' It wouldn't have counted anyway. The flag was up against the young defender on the near side.
    • 20' It's easily dealt with by Reina's punch. Rochemback collects the ball in midfield. Over to Young on the right, who puts a long cross in... WHEATER WITH THE HEADER.... WONDERFUL SAVE BY REINA TO TIP THE BALL OVER THE BAR!!!
    • 20' Downing has a go at Finnan, and he wins a corner as a result, which he will take.
    • 18' Wheater misjudges Young's pass back to him.. Boro could be in trouble here. GERRARD WITH A SHOT... but it's tame and Schwarzer easily claims it.
    • 17' Huth with a lovely through ball from the right to Tuncay... but the flag is up for offside against the Turk.
    • 16' Mascherano's come to and is walking. He should be back on the pitch in no time... he is.
    • 16' He blasts it straight at the wall... and Mascherano goes straight to ground. It looks like Downing hit that powerful strike into the Argentine's face, knocking him out cold.
    • 15' Downing will take it.
    • 14' Aliadiere goes down on the edge of the box. Hyypia says he dived. He's right too, but the free-kick is given to Boro.
    • 13' This time the corner comes long to HYYPIA... but he doesn't make a good connection and the header is miles over. He was steaming in at the near post, so Boro need to improve their marking.
    • 12' Liverpool play a short corner. Gerrard has the ball in space. GERRARD WITH A POWERFUL SHOT.... BUT MARK SCHWARZER SAVES WELL AT FULL STRETCH TO PUT THE BALL OUT FOR ANOTHER CORNER
    • 10' Sensational skill from Tuncay as he nutmegs Carragher before sliding a low pass to Luke Young. He has no chance to shoot on the edge of the box though as he is squeezed out by Carragher and Riise.
    • 9' Aliadiere is played through again... Reina has to come out of his area to clear the ball.
    • 8' Fabio Rochemback plays in a wonderful ball to Gary O'Neil on the right wing... O'Neil tries to be too clever and ruins the whole move. Cristiano Ronaldo he ain't.
    • 6' Stewart Downing whips it in... DAVID WHEATER GETS UP but his towering header clears the bar. Sami Hyypia put good pressure on him there.
    • 5' Finnan slips... and Aliadiere could be in here... Jamie Carragher has to slide in and concede a corner.
    • 5' It looks as though Torres is playing on his own up front with Voronin and Yossi Benayoun supporting him on either side. Interesting.
    • 4' Even inside the first four minutes, Liverpool have tried at least five long-balls. The towering figure of Rob Huth though is dealing with them all with the greatest of ease.
    • 2' Liverpool immediatley have a free-kick for a foul on Riise by Luke Young. Gerrard's long-ball comes to nothing though.
    • 1' We're underway at the Riverside as Boro kick us off.
    • 14:52 There's no place for new signing Martin Skrtel in the team, but Dan Agger is on the bench and may come on for his first appearance for four months at some point.
    • 14:50 Dirk Kuyt, Xabi Alonso, Charles Itanje and Ryan Babel all drop to the bench. Lucas and Peter Crouch are not in the 16.
    • 14:45 Liverpool make six changes. Fernando Torres returns to lead the attack and has Andriy Voronin alongside him. Pepe Reina, Javier Mascherano, Alvaro Arbeloa and Steven Gerrard are all back after missing the FA Cup match against Luton.
    • 14:42 Elswehere, George Boateng, Gary O'Neil, Tuncay and Jeremie Aliadiere come in. Julio Arca and Lee Cattermole are suspeneded while Ben Hutchinson and Adam Johnson drop to the bench.
    • 14:40 Five changes for Middlesbrough from the side that faced Bristol City in The FA Cup last weekend. Emanuel Pogatetz came down with a late illness so teenager Jonathan Grounds starts at left-back.
    • 14:00 Welcome to the Riverside Stadium for LIVE coverage of Middlesbrough v Liverpool in the Premier League.

  • Team Stats

    Middlesbrough Stats Liverpool
    40% Possession 59%
    10 Shots 13
    2 Shots on target 6
    1 Saves 1
    3 Corners 9
    12 Fouls 4
    11 Offsides 5
    1 Yellow cards 1
    0 Red cards 0
    20 Tackles 22
    202 Accurate passes 330
    61 Bad passes 62

  • Player Stats

    G =
    Goals
    S =
    Shots
    SoT =
    Shot on Target
    F =
    Fouls
    FW =
    Fouls Won
    O =
    Offsides
    A =
    Assists
    AP =
    Accurate Passes
    BP =
    Bad Passes
    T =
    Tackles
    • Middlesbrough
      G S SoT F FW O A AP BP T
      1 Mark Schwarzer 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1 0
      31 David Wheater 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 8 0 2
      40 Jonathon Grounds 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 13 9 1
      2 Luke Young 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 2 5
      14 Robert Huth 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 8 3 1
      10 Fábio Rochemback 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 36 10 1
      7 George Boateng 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 30 3 5
      4 Gary O'Neil 0 1 0 1 2 1 0 23 4 2
      19 Stewart Downing 0 3 1 0 0 1 0 25 17 1
      11 Jeremie Aliadiere 0 0 0 1 1 3 1 15 3 1
      17 Tuncay Sanli 0 1 0 0 1 5 0 25 7 1
      21 Ross Turnbull 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      18 Dong Gook Lee 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      5 Chris Riggott 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      36 Ben Hutchinson 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 2 0
      28 Adam Johnson 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
    • Liverpool
      G S SoT F FW O A AP BP T
      25 Jose Reina 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 1 0
      23 Jamie Carragher 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 36 1 4
      17 Alvaro Arbeloa 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 18 2 2
      3 Steve Finnan 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 23 1 1
      6 John Arne Riise 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 39 14 2
      4 Sami Hyypia 0 3 1 1 1 0 0 43 8 0
      8 Steven Gerrard 0 4 3 0 0 0 0 46 12 3
      20 Javier Mascherano 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 40 6 6
      11 Yossi Benayoun 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 5 1 1
      9 Fernando Torres 1 1 1 2 2 4 0 18 6 0
      10 Andrej Voronin 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 15 0 1
      18 Dirk Kuyt 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 3 1
      14 Xabi Alonso 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 25 5 1
      5 Daniel Agger 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      30 Charles Itandje 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      19 Ryan Babel 0 2 0 3 0 0 1 7 2 0

  • Summary

    • 84' Liverpool go forward again. Torres miscues... BABEL MIGHT SHOOT!!! But Grounds is in brilliantly to get it away.
    • 73 Boro could be back in now... REINA MESSES UP BY PUNCHING THE BALL AGAINST CARRAGHER'S CHEST!!! But Aliadiere can't get a shot in. Dodgy performance by the Liverpool keeper.
    • 71' Babel passes to Torres. The Spaniard is 35 yards out. He takes one touch, two touches and SHOOTS POWERFULLY!!!!! GOAL!!!!!!!!!! LIVERPOOL ARE BACK ON LEVEL TERMS FROM THE RIGHT BOOT OF FERNANDO TORRES
    • 66' Tuncay latches onto a throughball and has it on the touchline. He threads it to Downing... he fires in a shot from 15 yards out... OFF THE POST!!!! O'NEIL WITH AN EMPTY NET ON THE RE-BOUND... MILES OVER!!!! USELESS. JUST USELESS!!
    • 64' Over the top to Downing in loads of space on the left. REINA'S OUT OF HIS AREA AGAIN... but this time he makes a crucial intervention and clears the ball out of play.
    • 51' Grounds plays it long to Downing again... REINA IS MILES OUT OF HIS AREA... DOWNING BEATS HIM AND CROSSES FOR TUNCAY... but the Turk is 30 yards away from where he should have been. What a waste.
    • 47' Liverpool have a long ball lamped up by Tores towards Voronin... HE GOES DOWN AFTER CONTACT WITH HUTH AND WANTS A PENALTY!!!! The referee is having none of it.
    • 44' Grounds is sent, erm, to ground, by Mascherano's tackle. I was waiting to use that pun.
    • 40' WAHEY!!! Arbeloa and O'Neil both went for the ball on the right and took out the linesman... and Dirk Kuyt - who was warming up pitchside - to boot. Who said there was no room for comedy in football any more?
    • 27' GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Aliadiere heads it back across goal, beating the onrushing Reina to the ball, and Boateng scrambles it into the back of the net.
    • 18' Wheater misjudges Young's pass back to him.. Boro could be in trouble here. GERRARD WITH A SHOT... but it's tame and Schwarzer easily claims it.

Live Team Line-Up

  • Middlesbrough

    Manager: Gareth Southgate

    Starting line-up

    • M. Schwarzer
    • L. Young
    • D. Wheater
    • R. Huth Yellow Card
    • J. Grounds
    • G. O'Neil
    • G. Boateng Goal
    • F. Rochemback
    • S. Downing
    • S. Tuncay
    • J. Aliadière Substitution Out (74′)

    Subs

    • C. Riggott
    • R. Turnbull
    • L. Dong Gook
    • A. Johnson
    • B. Hutchinson Substitution In74′

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None

  • Liverpool

    Manager: Rafa Benitez

    Starting line-up

    • J. Reina
    • S. Finnan
    • S. Hyypia
    • J. Carragher
    • &. Arbeloa Substitution Out (46′)
    • Y. Benayoun Substitution Out (59′)
    • S. Gerrard
    • J. Mascherano
    • J. Riise
    • A. Voronin Substitution Out (76′)
    • F. Torres Goal

    Subs

    • X. Xabi Alonso Substitution In59′ Yellow Card
    • C. Itandje
    • D. Kuijt Substitution In76′
    • R. Babel Substitution In46′
    • D. Agger

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None