Rovers grab vital draw at Anfield

The Anfield malaise continues for Liverpool Even the return of captain Steven Gerrard after a two-month absence failed to lift Liverpool out of their current Anfield malaise as the Premier League's bottom club Blackburn Rovers left with a 1-1 draw and a point they barely deserved.
The England international, sidelined since October with an ankle problem, played the final 21 minutes but could not inspire a change in fortunes. Kenny Dalglish's side, although unbeaten at home this season, have now drawn six and won three and been held five times in the last six outings at Anfield.
And had it not been for Maxi Rodriguez's 11th goal in his last 12 starts the result could have been more embarrassing after Charlie Adam had put through his own net on the stroke of half-time.
A familiar pattern of failing to take chances emerged very early on but the difference here, throughout the whole side, was the lack of spark and crispness which the Reds have usually had.
Bunn keeps home side at bay
Luis Suarez's second-minute free-kick which sailed just over set the tone before Adam sliced an ambitious volley from outside the area which gave Mark Bunn, deputising for the injured Paul Robinson, a much easier save than he could have anticipated.
There followed two efforts from Suarez, one into the side-netting from Glen Johnson's pass, and the other missing the target completely with a left-footed shot from a similar position on the right of the penalty area.
In recent months opposition goalkeepers have made a habit of saving their best performances for Anfield and Bunn's point-blank block from Andy Carroll, starting for the first time in four matches, after Stewart Downing had kept in Jose Enrique's deep cross had a familiar look to it.
Carroll had a goal ruled out on the half-hour as Suarez was offside, and the assistant's flag rescued Bunn from conceding a penalty when he brought down Rodriguez, although it was inactive Suarez and not the Argentinian who had got ahead of the Rovers defence.
Blackburn's attacking was sporadic at best and when they did get a chance to test the meanest defence in the Premier League they wasted itm as Ayegbeni Yakubu's cross from a quickly-taken corner was well over-hit.
In the end they needed a helping hand as, totally against the run of play, Adam diverted Morten Gamst Pedersen's inswinging corner past his own goalkeeper just seconds before half-time.
It capped a disappointing few days for the Scotland international, who also put through his own net against Rovers for Blackpool last season, and missed a penalty in Wednesday's goalless draw at Wigan Athletic.
It took Liverpool eight minutes to equalise. Downing's cross was cleared only as far as Martin Skrtel, who hooked the ball back to the far post where Rodriguez headed in from close range.
The goal gave the Reds the spark they needed and, with Bunn wasting time at every opportunity, Suarez headed wide Downing's corner from a spot very close to where his team-mate had equalised.
Reds suffer in front of goal
A Carroll overhead kick was cleared by Grant Hanley while another Rodriguez far-post header, this time back across the six-yard area, was crying out for a final touch with no Liverpool player anywhere near.
Gerrard finally got his long-awaited return to action in the 69th minute when he replaced Adam and ran straight on to curl in a free-kick which was headed over by Rodriguez. Suarez then headed over Johnson's cross before the England defender was relieved to see David Dunn stab wide after needlessly giving away possession in midfield.