BLACKBURN 1 LIVERPOOL O

Match Highlights

Team of the day:
Reina, Riise, Hyypia, Agger, Finnan, Gonzalez, Carragher, Alonso, Gerrard (captain), Bellamy, Crouch.
Subs - Dudek, Kuyt, Aurelio, Pennant, Garcia

liverpoolfc.tv reports..

Liverpool have lost for the first time in eight Premiership matches after a second half goal from Benni McCarthy gave Blackburn Rovers an unlikely 1-0 win in a game that the Reds dominated at Ewood Park on Boxing Day.

It was a frustrating afternoon for Liverpool after they created chance after chance to score, but found former goalkeeper Brad Friedel in superb form. And they crashed to defeat when Blackburn capitalised on their only period of superiority in the game to score through McCarthy at the start of the second half.

Rafa Benitez made three changes to his side for this the second of four games in just nine days over a busy festive period and one of those changes, Peter Crouch, almost had an instant impact when forcing Brad Friedel into a first minute save with a header.

Friedel was to be a busy goalkeeper, but Blackburn threatened briefly when Savage headed wide in the 12th minute and Pedersen's 25 yard shot needed to be saved by Reina. But the Reds were soon back on top and Friedel had to save another Crouch header in the 18th minute after Finnan's deep cross had found him unmarked.

The Reds came into this unbeaten in seven Premiership fixtures and they were playing with confidence and creating a lot of chances. Craig Bellamy, returning to his former club, was looking sharp and he was giving the Rovers defence a torrid time.

Bellamy has already scored against his ex-employers this season and he came within inches of doing so again when his 34th minute shot flew inches wide. And he'd earlier seen his 16th minute shot saved by Friedel after Carragher had won the ball in the area.

Friedel made it a hat-trick of saves from Crouch headers in the 35th minute and it was the best of the three, but Liverpool were punished for not taking their chances when Blackburn took the lead against the run of play at the start of the second half.

It came when Tugay found Pedersen in the left channel and his low cross was converted from close range by Benni McCarthy, the scorer of Blackburn's goal at Anfield earlier this season.

It was the first goal the Reds had conceded in eight Premiership games, but after dominating the first half, it was a goal that would change the game because they would now have to chase an equalizer. It was an unlikely scenario after the first 45 minutes we'd had.

Rafa Benitez responded by replacing Peter Crouch with Dirk Kuyt in the 57th minute and the Dutchman had a great chance to level the scores in the 75th minute, but Friedel was there again spread himself brilliantly and block Kuyt's point close range effort. The Reds were now back on top and Xabi Alonso hit the outside of the post with a 76 minute shot, but they couldn't find a way passed man of the match Friedel.

Luis Garcia brought another brilliant save out of Friedel as Blackburn's defending became increasing desperate and then Friedel made his best save of the match and made the points safe for Blackburn when he flung himself to his left to make a brilliant one handed save to deprive Alonso.

Rafa's thoughts..

"We have seen this many times this season when we have created a lot of clear chances, but haven't scored," said Benitez.

"Their goalkeeper was fantastic, but I have to be disappointed that we have got nothing from a game where we created so many clear chances.

"Crouch had three clear chances in the first half, but maybe it was down to bad luck and good goalkeeping that we didn't score.

"We made a mistake for the goal Blackburn scored and we now must look to the next game against Tottenham and take our chances there."

louis' comments..

a frustrating game for me. we should have won as what our manager had said. in football, it's very simple. if you don't put the ball into the net, you don't win.

we dominated the first half. every single player knew what their job was and kept to it. blackburn didn't have much on the ball. alonso was passing the ball well, gerrard was keeping the shape of the team. however, i was wondering whether peter crouch know how to score with his head? he's such a tall player and heading is his best assest. crosses from the wing from bellamy and finnan, what did he do? headed straight to the keeper.

peter, you are in the starting eleven after so many games. and yet, you are putting such a performance. i could see his frustration when he's being subbed out. bellamy was good at his runs and kept blackburn defenders on the toes, however, his hard work was not converted into goals.

alonso tried hard, steve finnan was running his legs out. but we just lost everything in the second half. blackburn was up on the tempo and they scored one. we were scrabbling outside our penalty area and none of the players could hold onto the situation and clear the ball. *wish that dietmar hamann was there though.* after that, they scored. what the f**k? poor goal to concede. away from home, once you concede a goal, it's hard to get back to the game. aurelio, kuyt and garcia came in but left little impact. kuyt was as hardworking as ever, but his efforts were in vain.

blackburn had just lost 6-2 last weekend and now, beaten us. simply disappointing and frustating. the unbeaten run had stopped. it's a poor performance as we can't score and yet lost the game. bolton and portsmouth are climbing up. chelsea had just lost 2 points and we can't capitalised on it. i wonder if it's tired legs or what, there's no excuses for us such a big club to be giving the fans such performances. i'm upset by this defeat. truly is.

white hart lane is next. it's going to be hard. martin jol's men will be determined to pull one back after we beaten them 3-0 at anfield. nevertheless, rafa benitez should know what it takes to play so many matches during the christmas period. it's his third year in charge now. there's no more room for mistakes. no more.

you'll never walk alone.

cheers.