Bellamy on target but Reds draw

Liverpool conceded their 100% home Premiership record with a performance riddled with errors.

Benni McCarthy punished poor defending to give Blackburn an early first-half lead and for long spells the visitors looked organised and efficient enough to warrant at least the point they certainly earned.

But it was Craig Bellamy against his former club with his first Premiership goal for Liverpool who salvaged a point with a second-half equaliser.

Early chances went begging, first when Rovers keeper Brad Friedel failed to gather a John Arne Riise long throw, and a surprised Peter Crouch failed to connect in the six-yard box. Then from Jermaine Pennant's chip, Steven Gerrard saw a header sail wide.

Rovers survived thanks to Lucas Neill's goalline clearance from a Crouch shot, Friedel having only palmed away a Riise drive. Crouch was then unable to get enough power behind a 12-yard shot.

Bentley was causing uncertainty in Liverpool's defence, and when he produced a cross on 17 minutes, it fell perfectly for the McCarthy to drive past Jose Reina.

Steven Gerrard, playing in the central midfield role he is constantly denied by club and country, found space to curl in a 20-yard shot that Friedel touched away.

Neill had Reina scurrying across his goal chasing a 30-yard shot that went wide, before Robbie Savage was booked for a foul on Gerrard.

Even when Crouch headed down for Luis Garcia, the Spaniard failed to connect on the far post, while Riise drove wide after a Steve Finnan cross had eluded Crouch and Bellamy.

But on 64 minutes Bellamy did connect. Fabio Aurelio's corner sailed into the box and the striker nodded home from six yards.