A late Alun Armstrong goal gave Town a point in a game they probably should have won. A goalless first half had seen Town the better side but despite a good chance falling to Marcus Stewart the deadlock couldn't be broken. Emile Heskey put Liverpool ahead straight after half-time.

The Blues lined up with Jim Magilton returning to the line-up after missing out at Southampton. Jamie Clapham missed out as Jermaine Wright moved to the right and Martijn Reuser switched to the left. Chris Makin, making his home debut, continued at right-back while Fabian Wilnis was on the bench.

The evening also saw the debut of the South Stand upper tier. 1500 fans sat in the new stand which looked very impressive from our vantage point in the North Stand.

Liverpool, who were lining up with just Emile Heskey up-front, started the better and had the first real opportunity when they were awarded a freekick just outside the area. However, Patrik Berger hit the wall with his kick.

Town got their passing going and had the best of the possession, but couldn't really create too many chances. Jermaine Wright forced a save from Sander Westerveld when hitting a shot as the ball was cleared from a long Reuser throw. Alun Armstrong hit a shot from distance which Westerveld saved.

At the other end Ziege ought to have done better when he got clear of the Town defence. This looked to some degree down to Heskey impeding a defender, but unfortunately for Liverpool the German hit his shot away from goal.

Marcus Stewart almost put Town ahead when he got on the end of a Martijn Reuser cross from the left. Unfortunately he seemed to see the ball late, his touch failed him and the ball bounced to Westerveld.

The Liverpool keeper wasn't having the best of halves. A couple of kicks went straight out of play and he almost passed the ball staright to Marcus Stewart when the Town striker was on the edge of the area.

Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier had spent much of the half on the touchline waving his arms about protesting about one thing or other. It was surprising he wasn't spoken to by referee Steve Dunn. The Town fans berated his recent moaning in song.

Dunn himself didn't avoid scorn from the home fans with a number of very odd decisions going to Liverpool. Heskey in particular appeared to be dragging John McGreal about on virtually every header, something not seen by the Dunn.

Town had had the best of it and the Town fans applauded their side off at half-time. There were no subs made as the game moved into the second half and fans were hoping for a good start to get things going. Unfortunately completely the opposite happened and Liverpool went ahead after just 18 seconds.

Emile Heskey caught the Town defence asleep as he ran on to a flick, into the area and slipped the ball past Wright as several defenders closed in.

It was a cruel blow for Town and they found it difficult to settle into a rhythm. Fans became increasingly frustrated at the length of time it was taking to complete throw-ins and some of the more theatrical elements in Emile Heskey's game. Particualrly when he collapsed to the floor as if he had been caught in the face with Bramble and McGreal in attendance. Neither had touched the England striker but he still saw fit to spend a few minutes on the ground receiving treatment. Matt Holland and John McGreal tried to persuade the referee to make Heskey receive his treatment off the pitch, but to no avail.

Heskey also annoyed the home fans with a dreadful late challenge on Fabian Wilnis which left the Town sub in a heap. Dunn missed the incident completely.

Wilnis had replaced Bramble who had not had his best of nights. A number of passes went astray and he was clearly unhappy with himself. Scowcroft had replaced Jermaine Wright on the right of midfield.

It was Scowcroft who went closest for Town as the Blues started to peg the Reds back. A cross from McGreal looped to the far post and Scowcroft had a free header. The West Suffolk based player headed across goal when the net was gaping. He held his head as fans' frustrations grew.

Just when it was beginning to look like the three points were going to go to Merseyside Alun Armstrong popped up for his sixth goal of the season. The ex-Middlesbrough man had been receiving treatment on the sidelines from Dave Williams after being accidentally caught in the face as he slid in for a tackle with a defender. He re-entered the field of play, but wasn't picked up by a defender and ghosted in on the far post as Jim Magilton crossed the ball deeply. Armstrong slipped in between two defenders and Westerweld and neatly placed the ball into the net.

Town continued to put on the pressure as Liverpool sat back. Houllier had another chance to have a bit of a moan when he thought that Emile Heskey had been wrongly flagged offside.

The whistle went with the Town fans reasonably happy with the result. Back in August a draw at home to Liverpool would have been greeted with hysteria, however we have grown to expect a lot more after such a phenomenal season.

A draw was not the result either side really wanted, but it puts Town back up to third, if only on goal difference. Liverpool and Leeds meet later this week before Town play Newcastle on Saturday. Good results for Town in those games could see us in a very healthy position indeed.

Photo: Action Images

Ipswich Town Polls