Liverpool held as Gerrard fails to break the deadlock
(AFP)
Updated: 2005-08-14 09:27

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard produced a remarkable one-man attempt to break the deadlock as the European champions began their English Premiership campaign with a goalless draw at Middlesbrough.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, seen here in May 2005, produced a remarkable one-man attempt to break the deadlock as the European champions began their English Premiership campaign with a goalless draw at Middlesbrough. [AFP]

The England midfielder was responsible for seven attempts on goal at the Riverside, but narrowly failed to come up with the winning strike that he and his team deserved.

Liverpool couldn't even find a way past Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer when Middlesbrough were reduced to 10 men by the dismissal of defender Ugo Ehiogu in the 75th minute.

Inevitably, Gerrard was the Liverpool man involved in the red card when he was fouled by Ehiogu as he surged clear towards Schwarzer.

Gerrard's performance was the perfect response to the challenge laid down by Reds manager Rafael Benitez before the start of the Premiership campaign.

They may be the Champions League winners, but Benitez still had every reason to be concerned about the way Liverpool coped with their domestic matches last season.

Liverpool were beaten 11 times in the Premiership away from Anfield and failed to prevent the opposition scoring only once in all their away games.

Benitez is only too aware that similar failings this season will destroy any attempt to challenge the likes of champions Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United for the title.

He had questioned their willingness to battle for points last season and they had responded with five wins and 14 goals in their Champions League qualifying games.

But this was the Premiership and a far tougher obstacle in a Middlesbrough side that finished in a best-ever seventh position last season.

Not that they won over all their fans, with season ticket sales down by four percent and questions being asked about the entertainment levels at the Riverside.

There was little for those supporters to enthuse about in this opening game, particularly in the first-half when the two teams cancelled each other out.

Netherlands winger Boudewijn Zenden, making an early return to Boro after joining Liverpool pre-season, was jeered by the home crowd, but almost replied with a second-minute shot that Schwarzer saved.

The Australian was not tested again in the opening half, although he should have been beaten in the 21st minute.

Gerrard looked a certain scorer when Fernando Morientes headed Xabi Alonso's pass down to his feet, but the midfielder belted his shot high over the bar.

Middlesbrough had to wait 37 minutes for their first opportunity, which was presented to them by Jose Reina, the Reds goalkeeper signed from Villareal.

Reina was totally untroubled until he failed to deal with a corner and was reprieved when Ehiogu hooked the loose ball over the unguarded net.

Otherwise, Boro were largely stifled by Liverpool's five-man midfield, although their best move of the half created a glimpse of goal for George Boateng who shot wide from 25 yards just before half-time.

It had been a disappointing 45 minutes, though, and needed somebody to step up the pace -- and Liverpool had the perfect man for the job in Gerrard.

He had a quiet first-half by his lofty standards, but went in search of a goal immediately after the restart.

The midfielder hooked a shot wide in the 47th minute and shot straight at Schwarzer from long-range a minute later before going closest to a breakthrough in the 54th minute.

Gerrard was left unmarked on the edge of the area and struck a first-time volley inches wide of the post.

Other players took their cue from Gerrard as subsitutes Djibril Cisse and Boro's Mark Viduka almost found the target with headers at either end of the pitch.

Liverpool tried to take advantage when Middlesbrough were reduced to 10 men by the exit of Ehiogu, but Gerrard's 76th minute header looped on to the top of the bar and directed another header agonisingly wide 11 minutes from the end.

Close

IAAF World Athletics Championships Beijing beat Shanghai 2-0 in China FA Cup first round China tie 1-1 with Finland in 23rd Universiade women's soccer

Today's Top News     Top Sports News
Kenyan president visits China to boost trade and ties         Tropical storm sweeps ashore in China         Forex savings drop by US$592m in July         Sri Lanka's foreign minister assassinated         Iran pushes ahead on nuclear path         Experts call for review of sentencing	Liverpool held as Gerrard fails to break the deadlock       Man United starts with 2-0 victory at Everton       Bayern Munich win 5-2 at Bayer, hat-trick for Makaay       China storm to team gold at Universiade       China suffer 2nd defeat in Universiade men's football       Haier named as white goods sponsor of 2008 Olympics