Liverpool 2 Charlton 2

Charlton may have already been down but that didn’t stop them putting in a decent performance at Anfield. The Addicks had twice led and deserved three points but a late penalty decided the draw.

One player who made a huge impression on the game was Lloyd Sam, he was absolutely outstanding and he looks to have a big future at The Valley.

Charlton took advantage of an early mistake from Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano and were ahead after just two minutes. Sam picked up the ball and raced to the touch line to cut back for Matt Holland to bundle home.

Liverpool should have equalised when Madjid Bougherra slipped to let in Alvaro Arbeloa but he fired wide of debutant Darren Randolph’s goal.

As the half progressed Charlton were piling forward looking for another, Darren Ambrose went close and Darren Bent crossed for Alexandre Song but he saw his effort hacked clear off the line.

Zheng Zhi twice went close to putting Charlton further ahead in the second half before Xabi Alonso equalised in front of the kop end.

Ten minutes later Charlton got in front with a fantastic move. Charlton swept forward and Bryan Hughes chested into the path of Ben Thatcher who saw his shot saved by Daniele Padelli before Darren Bent volleyed home the rebound.

Charlton were denied the win when Bougherra handled the ball in the area in the last minute. Harry Kewell stepped up and found the net despite Randolph managing to push the ball onto the post.

Alan Pardew was full of praise for the Addicks at the end : ‘I said lets come here with a smile on our face and play Liverpool as best we can and I thought we were excellent and played some very nice stuff.

‘We’ve been up against some teams fighting for Europe in recent weeks and in all honesty Liverpool didn’t have a great deal on today’s game.

‘But you still have to do the job. It was a good performance from us and I will take a lot of positives.

‘The players can hold their heads up high and I feel we’ve gone down in the right manner and that’s a consolation for us. It’s important now to restructure for next year.”

Liverpool: Padelli, Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Arbeloa (Alonso 61), Gerrard, Mascherano, Zenden (Kewell 57), Riise, Kuyt, Fowler (Crouch 88).

Subs Not Used: Martin, Hyypia.

Charlton: Randolph, Young, Bougherra, Hreidarsson, Thatcher, Ambrose (Hughes 52), Holland, Song, Zheng (Marcus Bent 90), Sam (Hasselbaink 82), Darren Bent.

Subs Not Used: Elliot, Fortune.

Att: 43,134

Ref: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire).