Pool dive into second

The European champions head to Japan on Sunday as they pit their collective skills against the best from the planet's other continents and after setting a club record tenth consecutive clean sheet, Rafa Benitez's side could hardly wish to be in better form.

But they also appear to have another - potentially decisive - factor going for them at the moment, luck.

After a fruitless first half where the partnership of Morientes and Peter Crouch threatened, but only fashioned a single chance which Mohammed Sissoko could only head straight at Mark Schwarzer.

The stoic central defensive Boro duo of Gareth Southgate and Chris Riggott looked as though they might nick their side a point.

And when a wrongfooted Jose Reina was fortunate to see Mark Viduka's shot ricochet to safety off his legs a minute after the restart, Boro boss Steve McClaren could have been forgiven for thinking his side may just come away with all three.

But Boro's stubborn resistance was undone twenty minutes from time as Steven Gerrard's diagonal burst sowed panic leaving space for Luis Garcia to run into - his first-time ball hooked awkwardly across the box for Morientes who slotted home.

That was a rare touch of quality, but Lady Luck was again smiling just two minutes later as Reina looked to have been beaten by James Morrison's low shot only for the ball to rocket behind after catching the inside of his right foot.

And four minutes further on, she was not smiling, but unashamedly flirting and casting 'come hither' glances in the direction of Benitez's men as Steve Finnan's long ball flicked off the head of Boro left-back Franck Queudrue only to drop invitingly into the path of an unmarked Morientes who lobbed Schwarzer with insolent ease.

And to rub salt into Boro wounds, Riggott - arguably the man of the match - was sent for an early bath after picking up a second yellow card six minutes from time for barely catching Gerrard on halfway - a tackle similar to one Reds defender Sami Hyypia had got away with scot-free just minutes earlier.

Man of the Match: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) - indefatigable

Turning point: Jose Reina's lucky save from Mark Viduka a minute into the second half.

Talking point: How are an ordinary-looking, unexceptional Liverpool side so successful?