Player Ratings: LIVERPOOL 2-1 Middlesbrough

LIVERPOOL

Reina – 6: Made a stunning one handed save from an Andrew Taylor half-volley. Also made a shocking blunder that almost allowed Boro to score a second late in the game.

Arbeloa – 6: Contributed little in attack. Struggled to keep Downing in check and struggled even more against Mido.

Carragher – 7: Completely bamboozled by Tuncay and he would be relieved the Turk did not finish. Will be even more relieved to score the equalizer, with a little help from Pogatetz.

Skrtel – 6: Never looked convincing. But still managed to keep Alfonso Alves extremely quiet throughout the game. His weakness was really exposed when the pacier, trickier Mido was on the pitch.

Dossena – 7: Lively on the left early on with some amazing runs forward. Would have endeared himself to the Kop by getting up from a vicious knock with Aliadiere to keep on battling.

Kuyt – 7: Kept switching between the role of a right winger and a second striker. As usual, worked tireless to link up the midfield and attack.

Gerrard – 7: Other than a brief five to ten minute appearance in each half, he was completely anonymous. Yet, he still managed to pop up right at the end with the winner.

Alonso – 7: Battled hard in midfield. Reverted to his more defensive role after his attacking adventures with the national side midweek. Couldn’t get his long range passing hooked up.

Benayoun – 5: Another player who went completely missing for long periods of the game. Barely created anything for his forwards the entire 60+ minutes he was on. One to forget for the Israeli international.

Keane – 7.5: Had great understanding with Torres, Gerrard, Kuyt. Played almost as a playmaker in the second half, bombing in crosses and passes everywhere. Didn’t have too many look-ins at goal but still an extremely solid all-round performance.

Torres – 7: Showed plenty of pace and strength to trouble the Boro backline. Had a few decent scoring chances but could not put them away. ‘Pool fans will be highly encouraged to see his partnership with Keane blossoming sweetly already.

Substitutes:

Babel – 5.5: Just like the man he replaced, Benayoun, simply could not get into the game. Barely had a single touch of the ball.

Aurelio – 6: Brought on to shore up the backline and also to add some fresh legs and options in attack.

El Zhar – N/A

MIDDLESBROUGH

Turnbull – 7: A last minute inclusion to replace the injured Brad Jones and made a few crucial early saves. Hapless to stop the equalizer and had not chance to stop Gerrard’s winner.

Wheater – 7.5: Pinned back by Dossena’s advances early in the game. Saw more of him in attack in the later stages but did superbly to cancel Benayoun and then Babel.

Huth – 7: Coped well with the double team of Torres and Keane. Showed great bravery to intercept the Spaniard and got a kick in the face for his troubles. Looked a bit shaky late in the game.

Pogatetz – 7.5: Always at the right place at the right time to intercept everything Liverpool could muster, whether it was a shot, a cross or a pass, or Carragher’s shot-cum-cross which unfortunately ended up in the back of his own net.

Taylor – 6.5: Popped up everywhere on the pitch along the left channel. Played almost as a midfielder with the space and time he was afforded going forward.

Aliadiere – 7: Had an intriguing battle with Dossena early on. Drifted off in the middle of the game but came back strongly and looked very dangerous against a tiring Liverpool back four.

O’Neil – 7: Held up the midfield really well to break up Liverpool’s attack. Kept Gerrard out of the contest for large periods but as the incessant pressure mounted towards the end, he just tailed off.

Shawky – 6.5: Worked together well with O’Neil in the centre of the park. Didn’t see to much of the ball but he ran tirelessly.

Downing – 7: As usual, always a menace when he had the ball at his feet down the flanks but when it came to an end product, he failed to deliver.

Tuncay – 7: Could have scored one of the best goals of the round when he turned Carragher audaciously. Almost anonymous when Alves was on but as soon as Mido stepped in, he was a different player.

Alves – 4: Only had a number of half chances, if you can even call it that. Not surprised to see him taken off on the hour.

Substitutes:

Mido – 8: Made an immediate impact after coming on. He was fast, tricky to handle and he brought the best out of his teammates including Tuncay and Aliadiere. Scored a stunning goal but so unfortunate to end up on the losing side.

Hoyte – 5: Just could not help his defence hang on for the draw.