 Goals
Jansen 8
Owen 12 pen
Owen 68
Kewell 90.
Match
Report
Michael Owen provided the cutting edge with two goals to finish
off 10-man Blackburn and secure a dramatic victory for his Liverpool
side.
One brilliant strike by Matt Jansen followed by a penalty, a sending-off,
rival managers swapping fiery words then Owen's decisive winner
- this match truly had it all.
There was even an element of tragedy as young Czech striker Milan
Baros suffered a suspected broken leg before Jansen's stunning strike
had even the neutrals in Ewood Park on their feet.
Then came the controversy as Owen equalised from the spot, before
Lucas Neill was sent off for dangerous play.
Blackburn held out manfully but had no answer when Owen popped
up with 22 minutes left to grab the winner for his fifth goal in
five league games and Harry Kewell's late strike ended the contest.
What a baptism of fire for Barry Ferguson, making his debut for
Blackburn following his £7.5million transfer from Rangers,
and what a blow early on for Liverpool when Baros left the field
on a stretcher following what looked a completely innocuous challenge
by, of all people, Markus Babbel, who is on loan from the Reds.
Eight minutes in, Blackburn took the lead with an absolutely stunning
goal by Jansen.
Andy Cole did excellently to head on Vratislav Gresko's searching
long pass against Sami Hyypia, and the ball fell to Jansen 20 yards
out.
There was still plenty to do, and he steered the ball over Jamie
Carragher first one way and then the other before burying a tremendous
left-foot shot past Jerzy Dudek.
The lead did not last long. Shortly after Brad Friedel had thwarted
Hyypia with a point-blank save, El Hadji Diouf tricked Gresko into
conceding a penalty. Owen put it away - but only just as Friedel
was just a millimetre away.
There was more drama to follow as Neill was sent off in the 14th
minute for a foot-up challenge on Carragher. Referee Neale Barry
immediately showed a red card, though the Australian walked off
protesting his innocence.
Tempers were getting frayed on the bench too and Graeme Souness
was involved in some angry finger-pointing at rival manager Gerard
Houllier after Emerton and Steve Gerrard became involved in a minor
scrap.
David Thompson tried his luck from 30 yards but Dudek was never
troubled then Friedel, another old Liverpool hand, made his second
point-blank save this time to keep out Heskey who had been picked
out by Vladimir Smicer's deep cross.
Kewell started to exert more influence and as a result Liverpool's
threat on the Blackburn goal intensified.
He looked well positioned to score on the half-hour but Emerton,
his friend and fellow Aussie, made an important block with his legs.
In the 33rd minute Owen broke free on goal after a mix-up between
Babbel and Lorenzo Amoruso. He looked odds-on to score but tried
to chip Friedel and the keeper stood up well to block with his chest.
Kewell drove wide after Ferguson had given away possession in the
middle of the park, then the Australian teed up Gerrard who bent
in a curling effort that Friedel was forced to tip over.
There were more angry exchanges as David Thompson and his namesake
Phil, the Liverpool assistant manager, swapped not-so-niceties before
Souness and Houllier became involved in another exchange.
In first-half injury-time Friedel came to Blackburn's rescue again
to keep out Heskey's header, then Gresko took the ball off Owen's
toe when he looked certain to score.
Blackburn had the first chance of the half after Cole won a free-kick
on the edge of the box, but Thompson curled it straight into Dudek's
arms. Liverpool broke straight down the other end and Diouf held
off Gresko well before firing straight at Friedel.
Garry Flitcroft was then only a whisker away from restoring Rovers'
lead after some neat play involving Jansen and Cole.
Diouf gave Blackburn a going-over down the right all game and it
was his twisting run which saw Owen get the ball in the penalty
area and shoot on the turn, but it was a poor effort and drifted
over.
The Senegal player created another chance and this time it was
Heskey blasting wide when he should have scored.
In the 68th minute Liverpool finally made the breakthrough. Smicer
was given a second chance by some sloppy defending and he found
Owen unmarked who finished with ease from 12 yards.
Substitute Dino Baggio had an opportunity to make his debut of
the dream variety but he skied a good chance when Dudek had flapped
a cross to him.
There were three gilt-edged chances for Owen's hat-trick but on
all occasions Friedel had the last word with superb saves before
he was finally beaten by a fierce low drive by Kewell from the left
hand-side of the penalty box.
Press Association
Teams
Blackburn Friedel, Neill, Amoruso, Babbel, Gresko,
Emerton, Flitcroft (Tugay 70), Ferguson, Thompson (Yorke 64), Cole,
Jansen (Baggio 64).
Subs Not Used: Johansson, Kelly.
Sent Off: Neill (13).
Booked: Amoruso, Baggio.
Liverpool Dudek, Finnan, Biscan, Hyypia, Carragher
(Riise 18), Diouf, Gerrard (Le Tallec 85), Smicer, Kewell, Owen,
Baros (Heskey 5).
Subs Not Used: Traore, Luzi Bernardi.
Booked: Finnan, Smicer.
Att: 30,074
Ref: N Barry (N Lincolnshire).
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Audio/Video
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 Liverpool
manager Gerard
Houllier on a sour victory
The
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