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Played
December 26, 2011 3:00 PM GMT
Anfield — Liverpool
Referee: M. Jones
Attendance: 44441
December 26, 2011 3:00 PM GMT
Anfield — Liverpool
Referee: M. Jones
Attendance: 44441
53′
Maxi Rodríguez
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| Liverpool | 1.20 | 2.70 | 1.20 | 5.00 | 1.22 | 7.00 | 1.21 | 1.22 |
| Draw | 6.50 | 1.40 | 6.25 | 1.22 | 6.00 | 1.10 | 6.60 | 5.75 |
| Blackburn | 16.00 | 26.00 | 13.00 | 19.00 | 15.00 | 25.00 | 19.00 | 12.00 |
Top of the Match
Mark Bunn
Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers
Mark Bunn
Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers
Flop of the Match
Andy Carroll
Liverpool
Liverpool
Charlie Adam
Liverpool
Liverpool
Goal.com Rating 
Fans' Rating Liverpool 1-1 Blackburn: Maxi Rodriguez equaliser cancels out Charlie Adam own goal as Steven Gerrard returns from injury
Steve Kean's men earned an invaluable point at Anfield, as Kenny Dalglish was left to rue a host of missed opportunities from his side as they recorded their sixth home draw
By David Lynch at Anfield
Getty Images
Liverpool dropped yet more points at home as they were held to a 1-1 draw by bottom of the Premier League club Blackburn Rovers.
A Charlie Adam own-goal had given Steve Kean's side an unlikely lead before Maxi Rodriguez saved Kenny Dalglish's blushes with a second-half header.
Liverpool made just one change from their disappointing 0-0 draw with Wigan in midweek, as Dirk Kuyt dropped to the bench to make room for struggling striker Andy Carroll, whilst captain Steven Gerrard returned to the Anfield bench having been absent since October.
Rovers made two changes from the side that lost 2-1 to Bolton on Tuesday, with Simon Vukcevic and Paul Robinson dropping out to be replaced by 17-year-old debutant defender Adam Henley and reserve goalkeeper Mark Bunn respectively.
Given Blackburn’s low confidence, it was no surprise when the hosts were the first to register a threat on goal. Luis Suarez was hauled down outside the box after a typically busy run and the Uruguayan sent the resultant free kick just over the bar, much to the relief of Bunn.
Charlie Adam then tested the reserve stopper with a low drive from the edge of the box which sent the 27-year-old diving to his right to cleanly smother the ball.
Whilst Blackburn's defensive woes are much maligned, they emphasised the potency of their attack early on as Yakubu and Junior Hoilett linked well, only for Glen Johnson to intervene as the Rovers duo looked to threaten inside the hosts' box.
Suarez then looked to open the scoring after a clever Maxi ball found Johnson, whose first-time pass released the 24-year-old only for his effort to hit the side netting. Just moments later he worked more space but slotted wide on his left after jinking cleverly between two defenders.
Christmas Carroll? | Not so for Liverpool, as they recorded their sixth Anfield draw
For all the Reds’ domination, it remained goalless and Carroll underlined his side’s profligacy with half an hour gone. A cross bounced kindly for the 22-year-old a matter of yards out, but the former Newcastle man delayed enough to allow Bunn to make a reaction save which denied a sure goal.
The striker almost atoned moments later as he put the ball in the back of the net from a Suarez ball across goal, but his celebration was cut short as the linesman flagged to signal that the former Ajax man had been offside before supplying the assist.
Blackburn hearts must then surely have been in mouths once more as they were gifted another let off just a minute later when Maxi was brought down in the box by Bunn, but the Argentine was declared offside and the goalkeeper escaped punishment.
After that close call, a 0-0 scoreline would have been greatly satisfying for Steve Kean who saw his team harry and frustrate a Liverpool side struggling for inspiration.
What he in fact got was much more, as his team took the lead with 45 minutes on the clock. Hoilett harried Daniel Agger on the byline to win a well-earned corner and after Pedersen swung in dangerously, Adam could do little more than shin into his own net as his side went in 1-0 down at the break.
The Reds had clearly heard some stern words at half-time and came out with increased purpose. Stewart Downing did well to win a corner from Henley on the right-hand side, and whilst the first attempt was wasted, Martin Skrtel cleverly helped it back in toward the unmarked Rodriguez who headed home from close range.
The home side sensed blood up against the frail confidence of a side bottom of the league and it did not take long before they went close again with Andy Carroll heading just over.
Dalglish's side were in ascendency as the half progressed, and Suarez should have given the hosts the lead but failed to direct his header goalward.
Yet it took until the 65th minute and the introduction of captain Gerrard for the Liverpool attack to spark into life, as the England midfielder provided some much-needed urgency on his return to Premier League action.
However with quarter of an hour remaining it was the visitors who nearly caused a late upset, as David Dunn jinked in from midfield but the 31-year-old could not do more than poke wide under heavy pressure.
Craig Bellamy's introduction was unable solve the Reds lack of attacking cutting edge, as they continued to concentrate attacks through Downing, whose wastefulness and inability to play the correct final ball exasperated the Anfield crowd.
Indeed, Liverpool's poor finishing was to prove costly as the Reds stuttered to their sixth draw at home this season, while Blackburn earned a much-needed point.
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A Charlie Adam own-goal had given Steve Kean's side an unlikely lead before Maxi Rodriguez saved Kenny Dalglish's blushes with a second-half header.
Liverpool made just one change from their disappointing 0-0 draw with Wigan in midweek, as Dirk Kuyt dropped to the bench to make room for struggling striker Andy Carroll, whilst captain Steven Gerrard returned to the Anfield bench having been absent since October.
Rovers made two changes from the side that lost 2-1 to Bolton on Tuesday, with Simon Vukcevic and Paul Robinson dropping out to be replaced by 17-year-old debutant defender Adam Henley and reserve goalkeeper Mark Bunn respectively.
Given Blackburn’s low confidence, it was no surprise when the hosts were the first to register a threat on goal. Luis Suarez was hauled down outside the box after a typically busy run and the Uruguayan sent the resultant free kick just over the bar, much to the relief of Bunn.
Charlie Adam then tested the reserve stopper with a low drive from the edge of the box which sent the 27-year-old diving to his right to cleanly smother the ball.
Whilst Blackburn's defensive woes are much maligned, they emphasised the potency of their attack early on as Yakubu and Junior Hoilett linked well, only for Glen Johnson to intervene as the Rovers duo looked to threaten inside the hosts' box.
Suarez then looked to open the scoring after a clever Maxi ball found Johnson, whose first-time pass released the 24-year-old only for his effort to hit the side netting. Just moments later he worked more space but slotted wide on his left after jinking cleverly between two defenders.
Christmas Carroll? | Not so for Liverpool, as they recorded their sixth Anfield draw
For all the Reds’ domination, it remained goalless and Carroll underlined his side’s profligacy with half an hour gone. A cross bounced kindly for the 22-year-old a matter of yards out, but the former Newcastle man delayed enough to allow Bunn to make a reaction save which denied a sure goal.
The striker almost atoned moments later as he put the ball in the back of the net from a Suarez ball across goal, but his celebration was cut short as the linesman flagged to signal that the former Ajax man had been offside before supplying the assist.
Blackburn hearts must then surely have been in mouths once more as they were gifted another let off just a minute later when Maxi was brought down in the box by Bunn, but the Argentine was declared offside and the goalkeeper escaped punishment.
After that close call, a 0-0 scoreline would have been greatly satisfying for Steve Kean who saw his team harry and frustrate a Liverpool side struggling for inspiration.
What he in fact got was much more, as his team took the lead with 45 minutes on the clock. Hoilett harried Daniel Agger on the byline to win a well-earned corner and after Pedersen swung in dangerously, Adam could do little more than shin into his own net as his side went in 1-0 down at the break.
The Reds had clearly heard some stern words at half-time and came out with increased purpose. Stewart Downing did well to win a corner from Henley on the right-hand side, and whilst the first attempt was wasted, Martin Skrtel cleverly helped it back in toward the unmarked Rodriguez who headed home from close range.
The home side sensed blood up against the frail confidence of a side bottom of the league and it did not take long before they went close again with Andy Carroll heading just over.
Dalglish's side were in ascendency as the half progressed, and Suarez should have given the hosts the lead but failed to direct his header goalward.
Yet it took until the 65th minute and the introduction of captain Gerrard for the Liverpool attack to spark into life, as the England midfielder provided some much-needed urgency on his return to Premier League action.
However with quarter of an hour remaining it was the visitors who nearly caused a late upset, as David Dunn jinked in from midfield but the 31-year-old could not do more than poke wide under heavy pressure.
Craig Bellamy's introduction was unable solve the Reds lack of attacking cutting edge, as they continued to concentrate attacks through Downing, whose wastefulness and inability to play the correct final ball exasperated the Anfield crowd.
Indeed, Liverpool's poor finishing was to prove costly as the Reds stuttered to their sixth draw at home this season, while Blackburn earned a much-needed point.
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Goal
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Assist
Penalty Save
Penalty Shootout Goal
Penalty Shootout Miss
Yellow Card / Red Card
Red Card
Substitution IN
Substitution OUT
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Goal.com Rating
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Top & Flop Global Ranking
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Results
Times In GMT
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Robin van Persie
Striker Arsenal |
30 | 2 |
|
Wayne Rooney
Striker Manchester United |
27 | 6 |
|
Kun Agüero
Striker Manchester City |
23 | 3 |
|
Aiyegbeni Yakubu
Striker Blackburn |
17 | 4 |
|
Emmanuel Adebayor
Striker Tottenham |
17 | 3 |
