Cristiano Lucarelli extended Milan's crisis and allowed Roma to catch them in joint second place.

It was a very tense week for both teams, as the Rossoneri lost two on the trot between the derby and Coppa Italia quarter-final to Udinese. Livorno Coach Serse Cosmi resigned after a blazing row with President Aldo Spinelli, but was asked to stay on. Milan have lost just three of their last 20 official games and, curiously, failed to score in any of those defeats.

Alessandro Nesta, Alexandre Pato, Massimo Oddo and Oguchi Onyewu were sidelined, while Mozart and goalkeeper Alfonso De Lucia sat out Livorno bans. Andrea Pirlo and Nelson Dida picked up injuries before kick-off, so Christian Abbiati had his first Serie A start in 10 months. This was the 36th top flight meeting between the clubs and the only Tuscan victory at San Siro was in 1941-42.

Francesco Benussi needed two touches to get a Ronaldinho free kick under control right on the line. Marco Borriello had penalty appeals for a tussle with Nico Pulzetti.

David Beckham's free kick flashed across the face of goal, then the England midfielder aimed a weak effort straight at the goalkeeper.

Milan were pushing, but also unlucky, as Ronaldinho's screamer from the edge of the box cracked against the base of the upright to ricochet back out. Moments later Thiago Silva from distance tested Francesco Benussi.

Clarence Seedorf drilled wide, but Romano Perticone turned his volley over the bar at the other end.

It was a Livorno howler that handed Milan their opener on the stroke of half-time. Benussi horribly fumbled Beckham's cross and pushed it into the path of Massimo Ambrosini, who fired in from nine yards.

Benussi smothered an audacious Beckham backheel flick. Marco Borriello got a knock to the head and in the second half made way for Klaas Jan Huntelaar, who immediately stung Benussi's gloves.

Instead, Livorno equalised at San Siro with veteran Cristiano Lucarelli. He was kept in play by Thiago Silva when redirecting Claudio Bellucci's wayward shot from the edge of the box, prodding it past Abbiati from six yards.

Huntelaar couldn't make the most of an Ignazio Abate volleyed assist, as he pushed the ball on to the side-netting under pressure from Benussi.

On 66 minutes Ignazio Abate's strike was deflected round the post and from the resulting corner Benussi did very well to palm a soaring Ambrosini header off the line with one strong hand.

Huntelaar should've restored Milan's lead when clear on goal from six yards, but he incredibly ballooned over. Ronaldinho, Seedorf and Huntelaar combined until Beckham's angled drive was charged down by defenders.