ROVERS were unable to stretch their winning run to eight matches after a pulsating Premier League encounter against Liverpool somehow ended goalless, but they can't have been disappointed with that.

Something had to give as both sides went into the game on the back of impressive records, Rovers winning seven on the spin, whilst the visitors hadn't been defeated on their travels in the league all season.

It was the home side who had the better of the first half, David Bentley saw an effort hit the outside of the post, then just before the break it was David Dunn's turn to rattle the woodwork, his sensational 25 yard strike coming down off the crossbar with Reina beaten.

Rovers continued to force the pace early on in the second half, Carragher escaped when he blocked an Ooijer shot with his arm, then Santa Cruz headed over when unmarked.

But as the game entered the final stages it was the visitors who dominated, Kuyt was the villain as on no less than three occasions he fluffed his lines, whilst Brad Friedel was the hero as he twice denied Steven Gerrard efforts.

The 30,033 fans who turned up were given full value, goals were the only ingredient lacking from a enticing encounter.

Mark Hughes made just the three changes from the side that had played so well to defeat Portsmouth in the Carling Cup on Wednesday night. Andre Ooijer and Stephen Warnock were restored to the Rovers defence, whilst Brett Emerton, an early substitute in the win at Fratton Park, came in for the injured Aaron Mokoena. After a fitness test before the game, David Bentley was passed fit.

As is often the case with these high-profile local derbies, the atmosphere and eagerness from the crowd isn't often replicated down on the pitch, the first half taking its time to get going.

Liverpool were enjoying plenty of the ball, but it all centred around the middle of the park, whilst Rovers probably had more of the ball in the final third and looked the more threatening side, but a powerful header from outside the area by Morten Gamst Pedersen was on target, but it was never going to trouble Spaniard Jose Reina, but it proved to be the only shot on target in the first twenty minutes of the game.

It was only in the final fifteen minutes of the first half that the game lived up to it's top-billing. A cross from the left by Riise was missed by Ryan Nelsen, the ball ran loose to Yossi Benayoun, but the home side were grateful to former Red Stephen Warnock's fine block.

On 35 minutes Rovers went the width of a post from taking the lead, a clearance upfield was nodded on by Roque Santa Cruz, Pedersen played the ball forward for David Bentley to chase, holding off the challenge of John Arne Riise, he left fly with a shot that beat Reina, but was disappointed to see the ball come off the foot of Reina's left post and behind for a goal kick.

Then it was Liverpool's turn to threaten, prompted by fine work from Benayoun, captain Steven Gerrard found Ryan Babel out on the left, Andre Ooijer slipped prompting the former Ajax man to shoot across goal but Friedel was alert to beat the ball away and Nelsen completed the clearance.

On the stroke of half-time Rovers were again thwarted by the woodwork, Santa Cruz's persistence on the left saw a Pedersen cross cleared as far as David Dunn, he took the ball down before letting fly with a fierce left-foot shot that crashed down off the crossbar, only great defensive work from Carragher stopped David Bentley from forcing the ball into the empty net.

Both managers resisted the temptation to make changes to their sides at the start of the second half, Rovers starting as they ended the first, taking the game to Rafa Benitez's side.

It was Chris Samba who had an early chance on 52 minutes, but he just couldn't get the ball from out of his feet, but with McCarthy screaming for the ball the Rovers defender saw his effort deflect over the bar.

Liverpool hit back with a great chance, a ricochet off Ryan Nelsen on the right touchline saw Dirk Kuyt clean through on goal, but with possibly too much time, the Dutchman seemed in two minds as what to do and in the end the chance was gone as Friedel pounced on the ball.

Three minutes later and Rovers had huge claims for a penalty, a Bentley corner was headed down by Ryan Nelsen, Andre Ooijer hooked the loose ball towards goal only for Jamie Carragher to block the ball with his arm. Referee Martin Atkinson waved away Rovers' claims, a corner kick their only reward.

But from that corner kick Rovers could have opened the scoring, Roque Santa Cruz was given acres to win his header but the Paraguayan put it over the bar.

The Liverpool fans were unimpressed with the fare on offer from their team, "attack, attack, attack" they chanted, but it was only in the final fifteen minutes of the game that they came into life.

That was in no small way to the introduction of Peter Crouch, a corner kick saw the England striker power is header towards goal only for David Bentley to head the ball away.

Whilst Rovers had changed just three players from Wednesday night's Carling Cup win, Liverpool only started with three players from their cup win over Cardiff City, and that freshness appeared to show as the game entered its final throes.

Steven Gerrard, one of the players to play for Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday, was the drive an determination for the side in red, his one-two with Dirk Kuyt forced a fine save from Brad Friedel, the American pushing the ball away. Moments later the Liverpool captain was again denied by the Rovers number one as a Crouch knockdown set him up, but his driven ball was again beaten away by Friedel.

There was still time for Dirk Kuyt to miss two late chances, but any late goal would have been harsh on Rovers. As the final whistle blew the television cameras focused on Brad Friedel and Chris Samba at the end of the game, but it was a match where all of the Rovers players on view played their part and in the end a draw was probably a fair reflection overall.

Now there is just the small matter of Manchester United at Old Trafford next Sunday afternoon, lets keep that unbeaten run going!

ROVERS: Friedel, Ooijer, Samba, Nelsen (c), Warnock, Emerton, Bentley, Dunn (sub Tugay 57 mins), Pedersen, Santa Cruz, McCarthy (sub Derbyshire 89 mins).
Subs not used: Brown (GK), Khizanishvili, Treacy.

LIVERPOOL: Reina, Finnan, Hyypia, Riise, Gerrard (c), Benayoun (sub Crouch 72 mins), Kuyt, Babel (sub Kewell 63 mins), Mascherano, Sissoko, Carragher.
Subs not used: Martin (GK), Arbeloa, Lucas.

Booked: Carragher (Liverpool)

Attendance: 30,033