Gerrard´s landmark day falls flat as Liverpool draw

Steven Gerrard’s hopes of celebrating his 500th Liverpool appearance with three points ended in disappointment as his side were held to a 0-0 draw here by Blackburn Rovers.

Although this was a landmark occasion for the Liverpool captain, he will want to forget Saturday’s game at Ewood Park – a shocking advert for the Premier League – in a hurry.

In a match of few chances, Liverpool substitute David Ngog missed the best opportunity when he hit the bar from four yards out.

Blackburn, tired after their epic penalty shoot-out League Cup win over Chelsea in mid-week, will be pleased with a point in what was Sam Allardyce’s first game back since the Rovers manager underwent minor heart surgery.

Gerrard is now 13th on Liverpool’s list of all-time appearances after leading his side out at Ewood Park, just 20 games behind his boyhood hero, Kenny Dalglish.

Ian Callaghan heads the list with 857 appearances, a tally unlikely ever to be surpassed.

It was against Blackburn that Gerrard got his first taste of Premier League action 11 years ago.

Back on November 29, 1999 the fresh-faced teenager came on as a last-minute substitute for Vegard Heggem in a comfortable 2-0 win.

Little did the 40,000 Liverpool fans at Anfield that day realise what kind of mark the midfielder would go on to make.

Yet despite winning two FA Cups, two League Cups, two Community Shields, one Champions League, one UEFA Cup and two Super Cups, Gerrard has still to get his hands on the medal he craves the most.

Despite leading his side to a runners-up spot last season, the Premier League title seems as distant to Gerrard as it did a decade ago.

So the chants from the Blackburn fans during the early stages of Saturday’s game will have hurt.

“Stand up if you’ve won the Premier League” they roared as they reminded the Merseysiders of their 1995 triumph.

After enjoying a free mid-week following their victory over city rivals Everton last Sunday, Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez had demanded a high-tempo start from his players.

Yet with striker Fernando Torres missing for a fifth successive game through injury, it took them 12 minutes to carve out an opening and much longer to force their first real chance.

Allardyce marked his return by recalling Benni McCarthy to the side. It was the South African striker’s second league appearance of the campaign and came on the back of his hard-working performance against Chelsea.

But McCarthy caused the visitors’ defence few problems during an opening 45 minutes when Gerrard came closest to breaking the deadlock seven minutes before half-time.

It would have been fitting for him to mark his milestone occasion with a goal yet Chris Samba deflected Gerrard’s effort from an acute angle behind for a corner.

Benitez, frustrated by Liverpool’s lack of creativity, hauled off Albert Riera six minutes into the second half, with young French striker Ngog introduced to the attack and Dirk Kuyt switching to the left wing.

Liverpool’s frustrating afternoon was summed up in the 70th minute.

A powerful run by Glen Johnson opened up the home defence and the England full-back squared for Ngog inside the six-yard area.

It seemed Ngog could not miss but his shot hit the underside of the bar before rebounding to Kuyt, whose follow-up was blocked.

Rovers then almost snatched a late winner, McCarthy firing inches wide from the edge of the area.