LIVERPOOL // For the second week running Liverpool left it late before grabbing all three points in dramatic fashion yesterday. The Egyptian striker Mido had fired a 70th-minute beauty which led to Middlesbrough being just four minutes from a shock win at Anfield after young stand-in keeper Ross Turnbull had kept the Reds at bay.
But an 86th-minute own-goal from the Austrian defender Emmanuel Pogatetz, who deflected in Jamie Carragher's speculative drive, levelled the scores before the inspirational captain Steven Gerrard fired home from the edge of the box deep into stoppage time to send Anfield wild. But Rafa Benitez will not have been pleased with his side's lacklustre performance. Despite clear-the-air talks this week between Benitez and chief executive Rick Parry over the failure produce the funds to sign the Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry this summer, all is still not rosy at Anfield. Liverpool scraped a 1-0 away win at Sunderland on the opening day of the season last week and they were just as unconvincing here.
Boro lost first-choice goalkeeper Brad Jones when he suffered an injury in the warm-up and Turnbull came in to produce a string of superb saves. Dirk Kuyt, Fernando Torres and Robbie Keane were all thwarted in the first period of a hugely entertaining match in which Boro were a genuine threat to the home side. After three minutes Torres' surge towards the box ended with a pass to Kuyt, and the Dutchman sent in a fierce drive which the goalkeeper turned aside at full stretch.
Then Andrea Dossena, making his home debut, struck a swirling cross-shot which Turnbull pushed behind. Boro were contributing well to a fierce, frantic game and it took a fine flying save from Jose Reina to touch over an 18-yard shot from Andrew Taylor. Boro's front pair of Tuncay and Afonso Alves gave Carragher and Martin Skrtel plenty to think about, but it was Gerrard who almost scored at the other end when his dipping drive flashed just over after neat build-up play between Torres and Kuyt.
Then Stewart Downing, a possible target for Liverpool, cut inside two defenders from the left before sending a shot just wide of the far post. After 39 minutes Keane made a chance for Torres whose shot was deflected wide by Pogatetz. Despite having the majority of possession, Liverpool were not making clear chances. 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; in particular, corners were constantly wasted.
Boro sent on Mido for Alves on the hour, the Teesside club clearly believing they could get something out of the game - and he produced. Xabi Alonso conceded possession, and the ball was switched from Jeremie Aliadiere to Mido, 30 yards out. His fierce, low, drive beat Reina into the bottom left-hand corner. It looked like being a famous victory for the Teesiders but, in typical Anfield fashion, Benitez's side pulled a win out of the hat. * PA Sport
