Blackburn 0-0 Liverpool:   Liverpool's recent troubles in front of goal were plainly evident as
they struggled to create chances in a frustrating goalless first half against Blackburn at Ewood Park.

Reds manager Rafael Benitez left England striker Peter Crouch on the bench again and it was the hosts who dominated, with David Bentley hitting a post and David Dunn crashing a shot against the crossbar.

Liverpool's only real chance fell to Ryan Babel, but Rovers goalkeeper Brad Friedel was more than equal to his effort.

It took until the 30th minute for Liverpool to have a shot on goal and even then it was blocked before it could even trouble goalkeeper Brad Friedel.

John Arne Riise's left-wing cross fell at the feet of Dirk Kuyt and rebounded to Yossi Benayoun but as he wound up for a strike Stephen Warnock, playing against the club he left in January, slid in to halt the danger.

And the visitors were almost made to pay in the 35th minute when Andre Ooijer's long ball was knocked on by Roque Santa Cruz to David Bentley, who evaded Riise's tackle only to see his shot scrape the outside of Reina's left-hand post.

Liverpool's frustrating afternoon was epitomised when a Morten Gamst Pedersen free-kick was quickly cleared only for Mohamed Sissoko to knock the ball too far in front of Ryan Babel who
had acres of space in front of him to counter-attack down the left.

The Reds finally managed a shot on target with five minutes of the half remaining when Babel cut back on to his right foot on the left of the area and curled a shot which Friedel comfortably parried away.

Just seconds before the break, David Dunn, turned the ball on to his weaker left foot before crashing a 20-yard shot against the crossbar.