Blackburn Rovers Reserves...2 Liverpool Reserves...2

BLACKBURN Rovers striker Matt Jansen boosted his chances of a first team recall by grabbing a timely goal in this thrilling encounter with Liverpool at Christie Park.

Jansen's career at Blackburn appeared to have ground to a halt under Graeme Souness, who chose to overlook him for each of Rovers' opening four matches in the Premiership this season.

However, Souness's sudden departure for Newcastle earlier this week has given the 26-year-old striker fresh hope in his quest to win back a first team shirt.

And the striker seized the opportunity to impress watching caretaker boss Tony Parkes last night by capping a hard-working performance with a sweetly struck first half finish that helped to extend the reserves' unbeaten start to the season.

Jonathan Douglas and the lively Jemal Johnson also caught the eye on a night when both sides contributed to an entertaining encounter.

It was Rovers who carved out the game's first real chance with barely four minutes on the clock but Douglas planted a free header straight into the arms of a grateful Patrice Luzi.

That was to prove costly as Liverpool then broke the deadlock with a peach of a goal just two minutes later.

The impressive Ritchie Partridge fed Mark Smyth out on the right and the tricky striker cut inside, evading several defenders on his way, before arrowing a brilliant shot beyond David Yelldell into the far corner.

That prompted a sustained spell of Liverpool pressure and Stephen Warnock should have made it 2-0 after the ball dropped kindly but he dragged his shot wide from 12 yards out.

Rovers were far from out of it, though, and Douglas was desperately unlucky not to restore parity when his shot from the edge of the box cannoned back off the crossbar.

As it was, an equaliser did arrive four minutes from the break and it came from the boot of Jansen.

Djimi Traore conceded a free kick 20 yards out and Jansen's powerful shot carried too much venom for Luzi, who pushed it into the roof of the net.

Rovers emerged for the second half with an extra spring in their step and within four minutes of the restart they were leading 2-1.

Zak Whitbread made a hash of cutting out a Jemal Johnson cross and his attempted clearance squirmed through Luzi's grasp and over the line.

Rovers' joy was to prove short-lived, however, as Liverpool struck back in the 56th minute, Partridge burying a fierce low drive inside the far post.

Then the home side were indebted to a fine save from Yelldell, who reacted sharply to keep out a Neil Mellor snap-shot.

Rovers were awarded a penalty in the 65th minute when Whitbread sent Johnson sprawling in the area but Luzi made amends for his earlier errors by throwing himself to his left to tip the striker's spot-kick wide.

In a nail-biting finale, Jansen went close to snatching all three points but then Rovers survived a couple of late scares when Whitbread and Mellor missed golden chances for Liverpool.

ROVERS: Yelldell, Peers, Morgan, Douglas, Jones, Bruce, Danns, Harkins, Jansen, Johnson, Byrom. Subs: Hodge (for Byrom, 60), Derbyshire (for Johnson, 79) Not used: Drench, Welch, Nolan

LIVERPOOL: Luzi, Ostemobor, Traore, Raven, Biscan, Whitbread, Partridge, Mannix, Mellor, Smyth, Warnock. Subs: Not used: O'Donnell, Harrison, Petier, Wilkie, Townley Attendance: 1,118