Liverpool 2-0 Middlesbrough

From the BBC
Liverpool 2-0 Middlesbrough

A minute's silence in memory of Emlyn Hughes was impeccably observed

Liverpool striker Neil Mellor grabbed a brace to knock holders Middlesbrough out of the Carling Cup.

Mellor got his first during an end-to-end climax to the game with substitute Richie Partridge providing the cross.

Middlesbrough will feel aggrieved by the defeat as Boudewijn Zenden had a goal disallowed for offside while Joseph Desire Job also hit a post.

But Mellor made sure of the Liverpool win when he diverted in a Darren Potter ball into the Boro box.

There was an impeccably observed minute's silence before the game to honour former Anfield great Emlyn Hughes who died on Tuesday.

And Reds midfielder Igor Biscan continued his rich vein of recent form as he impressed and he saw an early 25-yard shot saved.

Liverpool looked the more threatening and striker Florent Sinama-Pongolle saw a close range angled shot parried by keeper Nash.

Mellor (left) scored two late goals for Liverpool

Stephen Warnock gathered the loose ball and crossed for Mellor only for the forward to head disappointingly over from six yards.

The game became a rather subdued affair, although Middlesbrough will feel they should have gone into the interval ahead.

Zenden put the ball in the net but his effort was ruled out for offside.

The home goal again came under threat and keeper Jerzy Dudek was forced into vital saves to keep out shots from Job and Viduka.

Nash was also proving tough to beat in the Middlesbrough goal and he did well to keep out a Warnock shot.

Job hit the post for Boro but Mellor gave Liverpool the lead after 83 minutes and confirmed his side's victory when he also struck as the visitors poured forward in search of an equaliser.