Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres were both on target as Liverpool ran out 3-1 winners over Blackburn.
Gerrard and Torres get the ball rolling for Liverpool
Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres were both on target as Liverpool ran out 3-1 winners over Blackburn Rovers at Anfield.
The Reds dominated the first half, but much of the attention surrounded referee Alan Wiley as he waved away appeals for a penalty when Gerrard went down after knocking the ball past goalkeeper Brad Friedel, before Christopher Samba was fortunate not to be penalised for a clumsy foul on the England midfielder.
But it mattered little, with Gerrard breaking the deadlock on the hour mark as he played a clever one-two with Lucas before squeezing through the Rovers defence to slot home coolly.
Blackburn manager Mark Hughes brought on Benni McCarthy in an attempt to boost his side's attacking prowess, but Torres' fine header took his tally to 30 goals with substitute Andriy Voronin tapping home to make it 3-0, while Santa Cruz volleyed home an injury-time consolation to restore some pride for the visitors.
Chance
The first chance came after nine minutes when Gerrard, playing his 300th league game for the club, saw a whipped in cross flicked narrowly wide by Torres.
A fine challenge by ex-Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock then stopped Torres in full flow.
Soon after, Gerrard went down too easily as Rovers goalkeeper Brad Friedel came out to meet him on the left of the box, and Wiley waved away appeals for a penalty.
Wiley then ignored far more obvious claims for a free-kick when Samba bundled Gerrard over on the edge of the box.
And when Torres and Dirk Kuyt combined to set-up Gerrard for a 20-yard shot that looked to be deflected wide the official gave a goal-kick, much to the growing anger of the home crowd.
Kuyt then saw a 25-yard shot held by Friedel before the Dutch forward headed just wide from a Gerrard free-kick.
Warnock received a tremendous reception from the Kop at the start of the second half, the young full-back having played 67 games for Liverpool before moving to Ewood Park 15 months ago.
Breakthrough
Morten Gamst Pedersen saw two free-kicks saved by Jose Reina before Lucas, at the other end, fired wide.
After 59 minutes, Benitez introduced Yossi Benayoun in place of Babel and his energy was instrumental in the early build-up to a fine Gerrard goal on the hour.
Benayoun won possession and fed Lucas, the Brazilian exchanging passes with Gerrard before the Liverpool skipper cut into the box and side-footed the ball past Friedel.
Roberts appealed for a penalty in the 71st minute after a clash with Martin Skrtel, replays suggesting he was more sinner than sinned against.
But when the same pair clashed again a minute later, Skrtel was booked.
Rovers, who sent on McCarthy for Pedersen a minute later, were far from out of it and David Bentley sent a 25-yard free-kick just wide.
But Liverpool went further ahead after 82 minutes.
Lucas won possession and fed Gerrard on the right. When his cross curled into the box, Torres was there to head past Friedel.
Gerrard was denied another penalty by the official as he fell under a Samba challenge, before Torres was spared any further involvement, allowing Voronin a late run-out.
And in the final minute Voronin slid home the third from substitute John Arne Riise's low cross.
In injury time Santa Cruz volleyed home on the turn after a poor header from Skrtel, but by then the points had been well won by Liverpool.
| Liverpool |
Team Statistics |
Blackburn Rovers |
| 3 |
Goals |
1 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 6 |
Shots on Target |
3 |
| 9 |
Shots off Target |
4 |
| 3 |
Blocked Shots |
1 |
| 5 |
Corners |
1 |
| 12 |
Fouls |
10 |
| 1 |
Offsides |
2 |
| 1 |
Yellow Cards |
0 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 81.8 |
Passing Success |
71.8 |
| 31 |
Tackles |
31 |
| 61.3 |
Tackles Success |
64.5 |
| 54.7 |
Possession |
45.3 |
| 56.1 |
Territorial Advantage |
43.9 |
|
