Liverpool produced another stuttering performance but did just enough to beat Blackburn 3-1 in their Premiership fixture at Ewood Park on Saturday, thereby heaping more misery upon Rovers boss Paul Ince. Xabi Alonso, Yossi Benayoun and Steven Gerrard scored for Liverpool, with the solitary Rovers goal coming from Roque Santa Cruz. The result ensures that Liverpool retain their one point lead at the top of the table, while Rovers could end up at the bottom should West Bromwich Albion beat Portsmouth today.
The final scoreline was rather flattering if you were a Liverpool fan, considering that Blackburn kept them out successfully for close to seventy minutes.
In the absence of the injured Fernando Torres, Rafa Benitez chose to start with Ryan Babel and Yossi Benayoun on the wings and Dirk Kuyt as his sole striker, keeping Robbie Keane on the bench. Emiliano Insua got his first start of the season at left back, and Sami Hyypia partnered Jamie Carragher in central defence.
Liverpool dominated the opening exchanges, but were unable to finish their moves off. Benayoun probably had the best chance for Liverpool in the first half, but was thwarted by an oustanding challenge from Stephen Warnock. At the other end, Gerrard sloppily gave away possession to Morten Gamst Pedersen, and the Norwegian’s thunderbolt was just about tipped on to the woodwork by Pepe Reina.
Liverpool started the second half with greater urgency, knowing that Chelsea were leading 2-0 at the Reebok Stadium. Gerrard forced Robinson into action, but Yossi Benayoun was not quick enough to get to the rebound, and Blackburn scrambled the ball away. A few minutes later they were not so lucky. Steven Gerrard crossed the ball into the area, and the ball fell to Alonso after Kuyt had attempted to shoot. The Spanish midfielder calmly sidefooted it into the bottom right corner, past a despairing Robinson.
Fans of the Reds would also remember Alonso’s goal against Chelsea, which ultimately proved to be the difference between the two sides.
Roque Santa Cruz wasted a glorious opportunity to level things in the 75th minute, heading wide. Blackburn paid for the miss as Benayoun doubled Liverpool’s lead at the other end. He collected Kuyt’s pass, skipped past Warnock and fired home past Robinson from a tight angle.
Santa Cruz gave Blackburn a glimmer of hope when he headed home in the 86th minute. Liverpool failed to deal with Blackburn’s set piece, and were caught napping when Ooijer headed the ball to an unmarked Santa Cruz, who rose to score his first home goal of the season.
But as Blackburn pushed for the equaliser, they left spaces open in the middle, and Liverpool capitalised on one such opportunity to close the game. The ball was pushed forward, and Robinson rushed ahead to deny Nabil El Zhar. He ended up giving the ball to Albert Riera, and the Spaniard squared it for Gerrard, who coolly converted to make it 3-1.
Fifth successive league defeat for Blackburn, but Ince would have spotted a few positives in their performance.
Blackburn lineup against Liverpool: Paul Robinson, Andre Ooijer, Christopher Samba, Ryan Nelsen, Stephen Warnock, Brett Emerton, Keith Andrews, Tugay (Johann Vogel 84), M.Pedersen (Benni McCarthy 81), Roque Santa Cruz, Matt Derbyshire (Treacy 90).
Yellow Cards : Andrews, Warnock.
Goals: Roque Santa Cruz 86.
Liverpool lineup against Blackburn: Jose Reina, Alvaro Arbeloa, Jamie Carragher, Sami Hyypia, E.Insua, Y.Benayoun (Riera 87), J.Mascherano (Leiva Lucas 83), X.Alonso, Ryan Babel (El Zhar 64), Steven Gerrard, Dirk Kuyt.
Yellow Cards: Babel, Arbeloa.
Goals: Alonso 69, Benayoun 79, Gerrard 90.
( Note : Photo of Alonso originally taken by YingTak on Flickr)