Spot of luck lifts Liverpool

The save that might have settled his nerves was still proving elusive when Ipswich snatched a 14thminute lead, courtesy of yet another defensive lapse. At least Dudek could not be faulted this

time as Darren Bent latched on to a Jermaine Wright ball down the right and his low cross caught Markus Babbel in two minds.

The Liverpool defender neither controlled nor cleared the ball and could only look on helplessly as it fell for the lurking Tommy Miller to fire home from close range.

In another psychological ploy, Houllier tried to rouse Steven Gerrard from his recent lacklustre form by naming him captain. There was little evidence of it paying off, though, as Liverpool laboured for a way through and were restricted to a Vladimir Smicer drive that Andy Marshall saved with his legs.

Debutant Neil Mellor finally made an impact as he earned the 54th-minute penalty that brought Liverpool level. Defender Mark Venus was trying to usher a Gerrard through-ball out of play when Mellor appeared on the right of the area. In desperation, Venus stuck out a boot but only succeeded in tripping the youngster.

Mellor looked eager to take the kick until stand-in skipper Gerrard ruled that the responsibility should go to El Hadji Diouf - a decision that paid off when Diouf scored with a low shot to the Marshall's right.

Mellor almost marked his debut with a goal barely 60 seconds later, beating Marshall with a drive that bounced back off the foot of a post.

Ipswich almost stole it when substitute Jim Magilton hit the post with a late header.