Defeat so cruel on Gareth Southgate

Boro manager Gareth Southgate was desolate after an unlucky defeat left them still seeking their first win at Anfield since March 1976.

"I'm heartbroken for the boys," said Southgate. "My players are really down in the dressing room because they know they could easily have won.

"They know that, even if they had come away with a point they would have been disappointed, given the nature of their equaliser.

"It was freak goal but it got them back in the game at a time when we were really comfortable."

The 'freak' occurred when Jamie Carragher's deflected drive beat goalkeeper Ross Turnbull - a last-minute inclusion when Brad Jones dislocated a finger during the warm-up.

Southgate added: "Once they were level maybe an element of fatigue and a desire to protect what we had rebounded on the players.

"It's important they don't lose confidence from this setback. But there were some big performances out there, they were up for the fight and didn't look in awe of coming here and playing.

"I have to look at the bigger picture and if I look at where we are compared to 12 months ago, the improvement has been light years."

Goal-scorer Mido, on target for the second successive week, earned praise from the Boro boss. "He has shown how important he can be for us in the past two weeks. We need players like him," said Southgate.