JUST over a month ago Boro fans would never have dreamt they could spend 45 minutes watching their team match a Liverpool side for passing and movement, and also create three or four scoring chances at Anfield.

Then again six weeks ago many of the faithful on Teesside didn't believe their side were a match for Bradford, let alone Liverpool.

In the time that Terry Venables has spent as head coach, the turnaround has been dramatic and on Saturday Boro showed that it's not just in defence where the improvements have come.

Middlesbrough appear keen to reward his efforts and reports at the weekend indicate that this week Steve Gibson will attempt to make him the highest paid manager in world football.

Gibson hopes to persuade him to stay at the Riverside with a £2m-a- year offer after seeing the wonders he has already worked on the squad, which have seen them remain unbeaten in eight games and concede just two goals.

A case in point is a certain Christian Karembeu.

When Karembeu swapped Madrid for Middlesbrough, the fans were expecting plenty from a World Cup and Euro Championship winner.

They were hoping to see exciting play and read about the skills of a world class player. What they got was far from exciting play, and they read about the husband of a Wonderbra model, who created more interest about where he would set up home with Adriana Sklenarikova.

He had the flicks and back heels, but the Frenchman seemed to have forgotten that the idea of football is to pass and move. He appeared more happy to pass, stay, and occasionally admire.

Since the new head coach arrived, Karembeu has been a revelation playing in a more advanced role when Alen Boksic plays as the lone front man.

At Anfield he pushed up further to find himself plenty of space to run at the Liverpool back four, linking up with Boksic at every opportunity in the first half.

In the corresponding game last season Middlesbrough came to Anfield solely to defend, and they played for most of the game with 11 men behind the ball to earn a 0-0 draw.

Anyone expecting the same this time, and Mr Houllier certainly was, would have seen a team that more than matched their more illustrious opponents in the opening 45 minutes.

The Venables secret to football success appears to have moved on from chapter one.

"We are working through the team," he said after he game.

"We have tried to get solid at the back and then we've moved through the team in the last couple of weeks."

It showed on Saturday with the defence again solid - helped in the second half by some woeful finishing from Michael Owen - and the midfield getting bodies behind the ball when necessary, and looking to break when possible.

Gerard Houllier admitted he has a problem with a troubled Owen, putting it down to confidence after he missed another hat-trick of chances, before admitting they club was working on his physical fitness.

Liverpool weren't that bad, apart from their finishing, but they met a pumped up Middlesbrough side determined to come away from the North-West with something.

After the impressive Steven Gerrard had failed to control an early attempt from the edge of the box, the link up between Karembeu and Boksic began to provide Middlesbrough with a real hope of success.

In the 11th minute Karembeu fed Boksic, and his clever back heel was straight into the path of the Frenchmen, who was unable to direct his effort from the edge of the box on target.

With the Boro defence standing firm, and Steve Vickers outstanding, Liverpool were trying to pass the ball into goal.

On 22 minutes another surging run from Gerrard took him across the edge of the box and he released Vladimir Smicer on the right. His cross found Emile Heskey on the edge of the box but his left footed half-volley was just wide.

A minute later Boro were forced to reshuffle as Gianluca Festa limped out of the game with a dead leg to be replaced by Colin Cooper.

A sublime piece of skill by Boksic after 32 minutes was the highlight of the opening half when the Croatian turned Sam Hyypia and Stephane Henchoz inside out before a delicate chip from 30 yards had the keeper beaten, but just drifted wide of the post.

Just before the half time whistle Boro had two chances in the space of a minute to take the lead.

A good link up again between the French and Croatian internationals, gave Boksic the chance to run at the Liverpool defence in the box. His cross was just too deep for Karembeu with Noel Whelan following in unable to control his effort.

Then a 40-yard ball from Paul Ince was chested down in the box by Boksic, but his shot on the turn was cleared by Westerveld.

Boro almost gifted Liverpool an opener at the start of the second half when a back pass from Cooper went straight into the path of substitute Owen, who fired over.

Liverpool were finding more and more space and after 55 minutes a chipped ball by Jari Litmanen saw Owen hold off Ugo Ehiogu but the onrushing Schwarzer cleared.

After Owen had wasted another chance, both managers decided a change was needed.

The biggest cheer of the day greeted the introduction of Robbie Fowler, and Venables, sensing his side were unable to match their first-half efforts, brought on Phil Stamp and Robbie Mustoe, for Karembeu and Paul Okon.

Boro appeared to react better to the changes and Liverpool were limited to long-range efforts afterwards, which were many and wasteful. Fowler and Owen again failed to link up to any degree and Boro's second-half performance was epitomised by Boksic heading clear in his own box after 82 minutes.

The vocal travelling support were understandably delighted at the final whistle, and the visit of Wimbledon or Notts County in the FA Cup, a potential banana skin six weeks ago, should provide a little light relief for Venables' men