Liverpool leave it late to snatch win against Boro
Gerrard's late goal was cruel on Middlesbrough
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Saturday, 23, Aug 2008 09:15
Liverpool snatched a late winner against Middlesbrough to go top of the table thanks to Steven Gerrard's injury-time goal.
Gerrard pounced on a loose ball on the edge of the area and rifled home a trademark shot that left young stand-in goalkeeper Ross Turnbull with no chance.
For much of the second half it appeared as if Mido's strike was going to be enough for Boro to win all three points but Jamie Carragher helped Liverpool equalise when his long-range shot deflected in off Emmanuel Pogatetz.
That gave Liverpool the lifeline they needed and Gerrard did the rest, though it was a far from convincing win for the home side.
The Reds failed to break down a stoic Boro defence in the first half. A series of last-ditch blocks helped Boro keep a clean sheet in the first 45 minutes while Robbie Keane also mis-kicked a good chance on the edge of the box.
At the other end Pepe Reina had to be at his best to stop Andrew Taylor's volley from going in the top corner.
Boro were happy to play on the counterattack and then took a surprise lead when Mido scored his second goal of the season. The Egyptian fired home an excellent drive from 25-yards.
The away team sat back on their lead but Liverpool could still not find a way past Boro's well organised defence until Carragher let fly from distance.
It seemed harsh on Boro that they would lose their lead in such a way but worse was to come when Gerrard scored three minutes into injury time.
The goal left Gareth Southgate thinking of what might have been while Liverpool started the season with back-to-back wins for the first time since Benitez took charge.