The FA Premier League
Attendance: 39,027
Referee: P. Danson (Leicester)
Half-Time Score: 1-0
First Half Goal:
Stan COLLYMORE (1)
Players:
David JAMES (gk)
Mark WRIGHT
Dominic MATTEO (Phil BABB 18)
Neil RUDDOCK
Stig Inge BJ�RNEBYE
Jason McATEER
John BARNES (Captain)
Michael THOMAS (Patrik BERGER 64)
Jamie REDKNAPP
Stan COLLYMORE
Robbie FOWLER
Substitutes Not Used:
Tony WARNER (gk)
Mark KENNEDY
Lee JONES
Yellow Cards
Mark WRIGHT
Robbie FOWLER
Substitutes Not Used: Clarke, Reeves, Harford, Murphy.
Goal Scorer: Leonhardsen (67).
By Ken Gaunt, PA Sport Liverpool slipped and stumbled for the second time inside a week at Anfield to pose serious questions about their Premiership Championship challenge. Manager Roy Evans was anxious that his side improved on the 1-1 draw with Merseyside rivals Everton on Wednesday. Instead today's game was like an action replay with the visitors securing a point after going a goal down inside a minute. Wimbledon got back into the match by grabbing the equaliser after 67 minutes through the Norwegian international Oyvend Leonhardsen. That goal extended the club's unbeaten run and was further evidence that they themselves could pose a major threat when the honours are handed out in May. Stan Collymore returned to the Liverpool starting line-up because Steve McManaman was sidelined with a hamstring injury picked up in midweek. Collymore could not have wished for a better start, the goal coming after less than a minute. Jamie Redknapp played a neat square ball to Robbie Fowler, who pushed it forward deep into the Wimbledon half. Dean Blackwell should have cut it out, but lost possession with Collymore on his shoulder. He took it on and directed a fierce shot from the edge of the area beyond keeper Neil Sullivan. Wimbledon quickly hit back with John Barnes losing possession and Marcus Gayle sent in a fierce shot that keeper David James smothered well. Liverpool suffered a blow after 16 minutes when Dominic Matteo was stretchered off after a clash of heads with Robbie Earle to be replaced by Phil Babb. Collymore was looking bright and lively and a mistake by Chris Perry gave him another opportunity to add to his tally. But Blackwell made up for his earlier error by clearing only yards from the goal line. Jason McAteer then thundered in a 20-yard drive that went inches wide of the target and keeper Sullivan did well to tip away a useful shot from Fowler as Liverpool stepped up the pace. Liverpool continued to press at the start of the second-half with Sullivan clearing from Collymore after Michael Thomas had threaded the ball through. But Wimbledon are nothing if not battlers and their team spirit is one of the main reasons why they have become such an unlikely force in the Premiership. And they stunned the Kop by equalising when Gayle played the ball through and keeper David James committed himself to the clearance. However, he miss-timed his challenge allowing Leonhardsen to steer the ball into the empty net. Anxious Liverpool manager Roy Evans then brought on Patrik Berger for Thomas in a bid to turn things around and it was not surprising that Wimbledon were forced to back pedal in the last 20 minutes. McAteer got away from Neil Ardley only for Sullivan to beat away his shot. Then the keeper held a powerful effort by John Barnes as Wimbledon secured another point to keep them among the Premiership's elite. KINNEAR ON COURSE TO REALISE EUROPEAN DREAM Wimbledon manager Joe Kinnear is dreaming of Europe after his side stretched their unbeaten run to 15 games at Anfield today. Stan Collymore put Liverpool ahead with a goal after only 33 seconds, only for Oyvind Leonhardsen to equalise in the 67th minute. It means Wimbledon stay among the Premiership elite and Kinnear said: "We have got to be looking for a place in the top six. "Wimbledon against Inter Milan, that's got a ring to it, hasn't it. We all have our dreams. "Newcastle, Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal have to be the main title contenders. We have got to be realistic and aim for a place in Europe. "It is a nice feeling talking about the title race. Usually we are more worried about relegation. "My main wish is that we stay injury free as that we don't have the buying power of other clubs." Liverpool were without Steve McManaman for today's game as he picked up a hamstring injury in the midweek draw with Everton. And manager Roy Evans was forced to make another change after 16 minutes when centre back Dominic Matteo was carried off with a wound to the top of his head that needed five stitches. Collymore replaced McManaman and couldn't have wished for a better start after a mistake by Dean Blackwell. The crowd became increasingly frustrated, especially after Leonhardsen's leveller and a chorus of boos echoed around the stadium at the end. Evans said: "I don't think we deserved that. The crowd's anxiety spread to the players. "But we can't just hump balls forward, we are a passing side and no one should question our commitment. "Of course it was frustrating and we are not firing on all cylinders. I feel we can do better but this is a tough old league."