Liverpool 1 Blackburn 1

Liverpool striker Emile Heskey started for the first time in ten matches and proved lively to watch with striking partner Michael Owen.

But it was Norwegian midfielder John Arne Riise who opened the scoring for the home team when he curled a well placed Danny Murphy pass into the top right of the net in the 17th minute.

One minute before the half time whistle Rovers defender Martin Taylor got the chance to even the score.

Although his 25-yard free-kick whistled through the legs of the Liverpool defenders, the ball slid just inches wide of the post.

The visitors came out fighting in the second half determined not to give Gerard Houllier's side the other two points.

In the 54th minute they had the chance to equalise after Reds keeper Chris Kirkland left the goal wide open.

David Thompson spotted the mistake and crossed the ball to Andy Cole, but a poor attempt saw it sail over the post and an easy opportunity was missed.

But Kirkland was careful not to make the same mistake again and successfully blocked a powerful strike from Egil Ostenstad in the 65th minute - Blackburn's first on-target shot of the game.

Cole redeemed himself in the 76th minute when an unexpected shot from 25 yards flew over Kirkland's head and netted Rovers an equaliser and a Premiership point.

But the Reds did not give up and a cracking drive from Czech iInternational Milan Baros in stoppage time was only just saved on the line by Rovers keeper Brad Friedel.