It’s been more than half a year since Middlesbrough went to Anfield and almost secured the biggest shocker of the season. Sure, it was only the second match of the campaign, but Boro never win crucial matches.
Manager Gareth Southgate predicted a trip to Europe before the season. After an opening victory at the Riverside against Tottenham Hotspur, fans of the northeast club sensed maybe this could be their year.
The first 85 minutes at Liverpool were nothing short of brilliant.
Middlesbrough played stellar defense in the first half, keeping Liverpool from testing young goalkeeper Ross Turnbull. Regular keeper Brad Jones had been injured during warmups. Liverpool, however, controlled possession, keeping Boro from having any real opportunities.
The clubs entered halftime scoreless.
Boro went a goal ahead in the 70th minute on a Mido shot from about 30 meters out, putting the Teessiders less than half an hour from their first away victory against Liverpool since 1976. But Liverpool fought back, nearly tying the match twice before the Red’s Jamie Carragher issued a cross that bounced off Boro’s Emmanuel Pogatetz and into the back of the net in the 86th minute.
With just seconds left in stoppage time, Xabi Alonso passed from midfield to Steven Gerrard, who took the ball on one bounce and deposited it in the top left corner of the net. Turnbull had no chance at it.
And Boro’s season went downhill from there.
Now, here we are, the final day of February. Boro has not won a league match since it stunned Aston Villa at Villa Park 1-2 last November. Hull City is the only other Premier League side not to win yet in 2009.
Over the string of 14 matches, Boro has found only five of a possible 42 points, watching themselves drop from mid-table to 19th, one point ahead of West Bromwich Albion. In fact, Boro have been so anemic they succumbed 3-0 at the Hawthorns to West Brom back in January.
Yet, by the grace of god, Boro remains only two points from safety.
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