Fowler's howlers as Liverpool's luck deserts them

Robbie Fowler was left cursing his luck at Anfield today as Liverpool failed to put the squeeze on leaders Manchester United. The 22-year-old striker twice saw efforts hit the post and misdirected a number of other close-range chances on a day of frustration for the Kop.
Liverpool's luck was completely out, with Dominic Matteo seeing a header hit the bar in injury time following a cross from the left by Stig Bjornebye.

If Liverpool do miss out on the title, then manager Roy Evans will no doubt reflect on the number of points that slipped away in their own backyard.

Blackburn have become a difficult side to beat since Tony Parkes became caretaker manager at the end of October.
And the players proved that the events of yesterday, when Sven Goran Eriksson confirmed he would not be taking over as manager, had not unsettled them that much.

Top Norwegian coach Harald Aabrekk - technical director of Brann Bergen, Liverpool's opponents in the Cup Winners' Cup quarter-final in two weeks' time - was among the spectators. And he would surely have been impressed with the number of chances Evans' side carved out in the first half.

Fowler was only inches away from giving Liverpool the lead after 15 minutes, when Jamie Redknapp delivered a deep cross and Fowler got above keeper Tim Flowers, only to see his header come back off the base of a post. The little goal-poacher then fired a shot wide after being set up by Jason McAteer, before carving out a chance for Redknapp. However, his header carried little power and Flowers was able to save comfortably.

Flowers came to Blackburn's rescue when he turned away a stinging 20-yard freekick from Redknapp as the home side stepped up the pace. Redknapp miscued in a good position, while Mark Wright and McAteer sent close-range shots into the crowd as Blackburn were forced on the back foot.

However, the Lancashire club, who will renew their search for a new manager next week, threatened on the break. Garry Flitcroft twice found himself unmarked and in sight of the Liverpool goal, but both times failed to test David James.

The big keeper was only called into action once in the opening 45 minutes, when he did well to turn away a fierce 20-yard drive by Jason Wilcox.

Flowers had his work cut out again only 60 seconds into the second half, when he beat away a powerful shot from Fowler with Steve McManaman in a better position. Fowler then thumped a curling shot beyond the Blackburn keeper from just inside the penalty area, but to his disbelief it came back off a post.

The Kop were becoming increasingly frustrated and Fowler twice snatched at good opportunities inside the area, both times firing into the crowd. Blackburn found it hard to stay in the game, but had loud appeals for a penalty waved away by referee Martin Bodenham when James appeared to bundle Kevin Gallacher over. Parkes switched things around in the 57th minute, bringing on Danish striker Per Pedersen, who completed a £2.5million move from Odense yesterday.

However, it was Liverpool who continued to dominate, but their day of frustration was summed up when Matteo's late header hit the bar.

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