Liverpool 2-0 Middlesbrough

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Liverpool maintained their hold on the final Champions League place with an impressive win over Middlesbrough.

Danny Murphy and Emile Heskey scored to reclaim fourth spot from Aston Villa, who had earlier beaten Tottenham.

Boro's Joseph Desire Job missed a glorious chance, while Michael Owen hit the bar before winning the penalty from which Murphy opened the scoring.

And Heskey added a second when he slotted in from close range after an inadvertent Owen pass.

The match got off to a committed and energetic start with two Harry Kewell shots stinging the hands of keeper Mark Schwarzer in the opening five minutes.

Boro should have gone ahead when Job had a clear shot on goal from eight yards only to see his shot saved by the legs of keeper Jerzy Dudek.

Owen almost punished the visitors as Liverpool went straight up the other end but his first-time shot from a Vladimir Smicer cross was deflected over by Ugo Ehiougu.

KEY MOMENTS 14 mins: Owen's shot rattles the post 48 mins: Murphy slots in a Liverpool penalty 52 mins: Heskey adds a second

Almost immediately, a fortunate rebound off Chris Riggott let Owen in again and, this time, his angled shot across goal rattled the far post before being cleared.

John Arne Riise flashed a shot just wide and Kewell had a diving header from Steve Gerrard's free-kick ruled out for offside as Liverpool pressed for an opener.

The home side were doing everything but score and the Anfield outfit's efforts were summed up as the half ended with Sami Hyypia heading a corner just wide.

The second half began in similar fashion when, in quick succession, a poked shot from Owen was blocked by Schwarzer before he saved a well-struck volley from the same player.

Carragher was magnificent From Farokh Vakil Have your say on 606

The pressure finally told on Boro when Riggott pulled down Owen in the area and Murphy scored confidently from the spot.

A second quickly arrived to ease the pressure on Liverpool as Owen inadvertently found Heskey and he slotted in.

Gerard Houllier's players eased off after their double goal-burst as Boro struggled to break them down, with only a Szilard Nemeth shot troubling Dudek to make a save.

The win now puts Liverpool a point ahead of Villa and three in front of Newcastle, who have a game in hand.

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Liverpool: Dudek, Carragher, Henchoz (Heskey 45), Hyypia, Riise, Murphy, Hamann, Gerrard, Smicer (Finnan 45), Kewell, Owen.
Subs Not Used: Baros, Cheyrou, Luzi Bernardi.

Booked: Gerrard.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Mills, Ehiogu, Riggott (Downing 64), Queudrue, Mendieta, Greening, Boateng, Zenden, Job (Ricketts 82), Maccarone (Nemeth 64).
Subs Not Used: Jones, Bates.

Booked: Mills.

Attendance: 42,031

Referee: A D'Urso (Essex)