Thompson salutes battling Liverpool

Danny Murphy floats in his free-kick goal

Caretaker boss Phil Thompson has hailed Liverpool's 1-1 draw with Boavista as one of the club's best away displays in Europe.

Danny Murphy gave the Reds a 17th-minute lead when his curling free-kick slipped through a gap in the defensive wall.

But Silva headed home a second-half equaliser for Boavista, and Liverpool resisted waves of attacks by the Portuguese champions.

With Borussia Dortmund beating Dynamo Kiev 1-0 in the other match in Group B, everything will now rest on next Tuesday's final group matches.

Liverpool must avoid defeat at home to Dortmund to qualify for the next stage of the Champions League.

I can't praise the lads enough

Liverpool caretaker boss Phil Thompson

Thompson said: "This draw was just as good and impressive as some of the fine away displays we produced last season to win the Uefa Cup, winning in Rome, and drawing away to Barcelona and Porto.

"From front to back, it was a great team performance."

He said the Liverpool defence had been "outstanding," particularly after the early loss of Sami Hyypia with a hamstring injury.

"If Emile Heskey had scored with a chance early in the second half, I believe we would have won," said Thompson.

"Liverpool produced a good work ethic. Everybody battled for the team. I know we can play a lot better, but everyone worked for each other."

Thompson has been pleased with the side's performances in the absence of manager Gerard Houllier, who is recovering from emergency heart surgery.

"I don't know whether Gerard watched the game back home.

"But if he did, I hope when Boavista scored it didn't do any damage to his recovery. But I'm sure he will be proud of the team's performance."

Thompson added: "To lose Sami like that was a bad blow.

"But he came off quickly, as soon as he felt the hamstring twinge, and hopefully we will be able to treat the injury quickly and that will mean he won't be out for too long.

"We have got to be confident of going through now with a final game at home.

"Dortmund are creeping up on us, but I'm sure the Kop will give them an exceptional welcome next week! It will be a packed house."