Liverpool scored two goals in the final six minutes to claim an undeserved 2-1 victory over Middlesbrough at Anfield.
Lucky Liverpool scrape last-gasp victory
Liverpool scored two goals in the final six minutes to claim an undeserved 2-1 victory over Middlesbrough at Anfield.
Boro were heading for all three points after Mido had fired the visitors ahead with just over 20 minutes remaining.
But Liverpool can never be written off when attacking into The Kop and they somehow dragged themselves back into the game.
The first goal was full of fortune as Jamie Carragher's effort - which looked to be covered by Ross Turnbull in the Boro goal - deflected off Emanuel Pogatetz and into the net.
Then four minutes into injury time, captain marvel Steven Gerrard shrugged off his injury concerns to curl home an archetypal shot into the corner past the despairing Turnbull to give Rafa Benitez his first ever perfect six-point start to a season at Liverpool.
A pre-match injury to goalkeeper Brad Jones meant Turnbull was thrust into action at the last moment and 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.
It then took a fine flying save from Jose Reina to touch over an 18-yard shot from Boro's Andrew Taylor.
Middlesbrough's England winger Stewart Downing, a possible target for Liverpool, cut inside two defenders from the left before sending a shot just wide of the far post.
Torres menace
The pace barely dropped, and only fine defending by David Wheater twice stopped Torres in the box, the second time after the Spaniard had been put clear by Kuyt.
Torres should then have given Liverpool a half-time lead but his shot was deflected wide by Pogatetz.
All the effort in the world was there from Keane and Kuyt, but Boro's defence was standing firm.
Liverpool's set-plays were weak and ineffective, and corners in particular were repeatedly wasted.
Boro sent on Mido for Afonso Alves on the hour mark, the Teesside club clearly believing they could get something out of the game.
And they almost took the lead after 62 minutes when Mido crossed from the left and Tuncay produced a clever turn and flick before forcing Reina into a sharp save.
Liverpool sent on Ryan Babel, fresh from his Olympic campaign with Holland, in place of Yossi Benayoun after 65 minutes.
Torres immediately went close with a 25-yard strike, but it was Boro who grabbed the lead after 70 minutes.
Xabi Alonso conceded possession and the ball was switched from Aliadiere to Mido, some 30 yards out. His fierce, low drive beat Reina and found the bottom right corner.
Liverpool sent on Nabil El Zhar for Alvaro Arbeloa with seven minutes left and they finally managed to pile on the pressure.
They drew level when Carragher made the most of Mike Riley playing an advantage after a shot from Alonso hit Gary O'Neil's arm.
Amid loud appeals for a spot-kick, Carragher unleashed a shot which looked to be going off target but deflected past the unlucky Turnbull off Pogatetz.
Turnbull made a fine save from a Gerrard free-kick in injury-time. But in the fourth minute of added time, Liverpool's talisman smashed home the winner, driving the ball into the right corner of the net from the edge of the penalty area.
| Liverpool |
Team Statistics |
Middlesbrough |
| 2 |
Goals |
1 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 5 |
Shots on Target |
4 |
| 11 |
Shots off Target |
4 |
| 5 |
Blocked Shots |
1 |
| 14 |
Corners |
3 |
| 11 |
Fouls |
15 |
| 2 |
Offsides |
2 |
| 2 |
Yellow Cards |
1 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 76.3 |
Passing Success |
64.4 |
| 31 |
Tackles |
20 |
| 67.7 |
Tackles Success |
85 |
| 61.9 |
Possession |
38.1 |
| 49.5 |
Territorial Advantage |
50.5 |
|
