Sunday 13 April 2008 13:30 FA Barclays Premier League
"Liverpool"	3 - 1	"Blackburn Rovers"
	(0-0)
GOAL
Gerrard 60, Torres 82, Voronin 90		Santa Cruz 90
25  Jose Reina  23  Jamie Carragher  12  Fabio Aurelio  17  Alvaro Arbeloa  37  Martin Skrtel  14  Xabi Alonso  19  Ryan Babel   8  Steven Gerrard (c)  21  Lucas Leiva  10  Fernando Torres  18  Dirk Kuyt  Subs:  30  Charles Itandje   4  Sami Hyypia   6  John Arne Riise  11  Yossi Benayoun  10  Andriy Voronin		1  Brad Friedel   3  Stephen Warnock   6  Ryan Nelsen   4  Christopher Samba  14  Steven Reid  12  Morten Gamst Pedersen   8  Johann Vogel   7  Brett Emerton  11  David Bentley  30  Jason Roberts   9  Roque Santa Cruz  Subs:  32  Jason Brown  19  David Dunn  10  Benedict McCarthy   2  Andre Ooijer  15  Aaron Mokoena
SUBSTITUTIONS
Babel (Benayoun 59)  Torres (Voronin 85)  Alonso (Riise 88)		Pedersen (McCarthy 73)  Vogel (Dunn 73)
OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS
Referee: Alan Wiley
Booked: Skrtel 72		Booked:
VENUE		MANAGERS
Anfield (capacity 45,362) Attendance: 43,283		Rafael Benitez (Liverpool) Mark Hughes (Blackburn R)

  Price: J3,00

  Notes:

  - Torres scores his 30th goal of the season. The Spanish wizard also becomes the first Liverpool player to score in seven successive games at Anfield in the top flight.

  - Steven Gerrard plays his 300th League game.

  REDS FIVE CLEAR AFTER ROVERS WIN

  Liverpool have moved five points clear of Everton in the race for fourth after a 3-1 victory over Blackburn Rovers.

  Second-half goals from Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Andriy Voronin sealed the points before a late consolation from Roque Santa Cruz.

  It's now 30 goals for El Nino this season, and his strike today saw him become the first player in Liverpool history to net in seven successive top-flight games at Anfield.

  In a week of turmoil off the pitch, that, as well as another well-earned win, is at least something for the Kop to cheer about.

  Rafa Benitez this week urged his players to wrap up fourth spot as soon as possible. Then, and only then, could they fully focus on reaching a third Champions League final in four seasons.

  So, it was no surprise to see big guns Torres and Gerrard line up against Mark Hughes' men despite speculation Benitez might tinker following the Arsenal epic.

  Before the duo set about the job in hand, Anfield first remembered the 96 football fans who died at Hillsborough 19 years ago on Tuesday with banners, black armbands and an impeccably observed minute's silence. Gone but never forgotten.

  Once play did get underway, it was Blackburn who drew first blood, Jason Roberts ghosting past the Reds backline on five minutes before sidefooting beyond Pepe Reina. Unfortunately for the powerful striker, he (along with a dozen or so over-zealous Rovers fans) was the only one not to spot the linesman's flag.

  Down at the other end, Torres headed narrowly wide from a corner on nine minutes before Fabio Aurelio volleyed into the hoardings after being teed up by the excellent Dirk Kuyt.

  Referee Alan Wiley then had to decide whether to award a home penalty after Brad Friedel appeared to clip Gerrard in the box. The Anfield Road didn't like it, but his emphatic shake of the head was probably right.

  By now it was all Liverpool. Friedel was again tested when Kuyt sent a low drive goalwards on 17 minutes.

  Meanwhile, Gerrard, who claimed his performance against Arsenal five days ago was amongst his worst in a red shirt, was everywhere.

  Again he found himself through on 21 minutes only to be barged down by last man Christopher Samba inside the D. This time the anger directed at Wiley as he waved away Liverpool protests was justified.

  The skipper had no one to blame but himself midway through the half, however, when he sent a bouncing effort harmlessly wide after a cut-back from Kuyt.

  Reina had yet to be called into action, though this changed on 35 minutes when a superb reflex save was required to thwart the dangerous Santa Cruz.

  Kuyt, who was crucified in the press after a host of misses against Rovers before Christmas, then had a decent chance to make amends when Gerrard floated a free-kick towards the back post. The Dutch international will have been disappointed his header did not hit the target.

  It took the hosts a little time to find their feet after the restart, with the Kop having to wait nine minutes for a serious chance. It came when a Gerrard corner was cleared towards Lucas, whose well-executed volley would have been unstoppable had it been directed two feet to the left.

  Benitez had already seen enough to stir his pot, withdrawing Ryan Babel in the hope Yossi Benayoun could find a way through one of the Premier League's most stubborn rearguards.

  Talk about inspired. Within 60 seconds the mercurial Israeli picked up a loose ball from Santa Cruz, shuffled past a man and dinked the ball to Gerrard on the edge of the box. The England man played a sublime one-two with Lucas before tucking beyond Freidel to take his tally for the season to 21.

  The strike meant Liverpool had now scored 58 league goals this term - more than ever before under Benitez.

  Another could have followed on 74 minutes when a superb team move involving Gerrard and Lucas left Xabi Alonso with time to look up 20 yards out. The Spanish midfielder just couldn't keep his half-volley down, however, and it remained 1-0.

  Blackburn were creating relatively little down the other end, though David Bentley, a man oft linked with a move to Anfield, gave a first glimpse of his undoubted talent with a wicked free-kick which curled just inches wide.

  It could have been 1-1 but instead it was soon 2-0. Liverpool's second came on 82 minutes after Lucas pounced on a loose ball down the right before feeding Gerrard. The skipper looked up before picking out Torres in the box. El Nino's header across goal gave Friedel no chance and it was game over.

  There was another decent penalty shout with five minutes left on the clock when Samba again felled Gerrard, though by now no one inside Anfield was surprised to see Wiley keep his whistle in his fist.

  Never mind, for substitute Voronin was soon on hand to make it three with a close range tap-in after good work from John Arne Riise.

  Santa Cruz's well-taken volley in injury time did little aside from frustrate the otherwise excellent Reds back four.

  So, Rafa's plea for his players to tie up fourth place ASAP seems to have been heeded.

  Though no one at Anfield will be counting their chickens just yet, a five-point lead with four games remaining takes the pressure off next weekend's visit to Craven Cottage - a match which comes just three days before the first installment of yet another Champions League semi-final against Chelsea.

  With Everton still to face Avram Grant's side in the league, as well as a trip to the Emirates, it'd take a brave man to now bet against Liverpool taking their place in next season's competition.

  Stay logged on to .tv for highlights on Monday.

  Teams

  Liverpool: Reina, Aurelio, Carragher, Skrtel, Arbeloa, Babel, Alonso, Leiva, Kuyt, Gerrard (c), Torres. Subs - Benayoun, Hyypia, Itandje, Riise, Voronin.

  Blackburn Rovers: Friedel, Warnock, Nelsen (c), Samba, Emerton, Pedersen, Reid, Vogel, Bentley, Roberts, Santa Cruz. Subs - Brown, Dunn, McCarthy, Mokoena, Ooijer.

  Referee: Alan Wiley

  Conditions: Unavailable

  Attendance: Unavailable

  Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Steven Gerrard

  Breakdown

12:33 GMT : Match Starts
1 min : Blackburn kick off attacking the Kop end
2 mins : Congratulations to Stevie G who is making his 300th league appearance for the club today - let's hope he marks it with a goal!
3 mins : First opportunity for the Reds to test the Rovers rearguard but Kuyt's attempted cross on the stretch goes harmlessly wide for a goal kick
5 mins : A free-kick to Rovers with Bentley set to take...
6 mins : Roberts puts the ball in the net after Liverpool only partially clear their lines but the flag was quite rightly raised for offside
7 mins : The visitors try to release Roberts down their right but Skrtel is across with a superb challenge to put the ball into touch - the Slovakian is really settling into life at Anfield now
9 mins : First corner to the Reds and nearly the first goal. Gerrard fizzes one in from the left with El Nino a whisker away with a header that would have been his 30th goal of the season
10 mins : A suicidal back pass by Steven Reid nearly puts Torres in on goal but Friedel is out to smash the ball into touch. From the throw Aurelio surges into the box and drills a volley wide of the near post after a neat one-two with Kuyt
13 mins : Torres almost has Anfield on its feet with a sensational turn and run towards goal but former Red Stephen Warnock thwarts him with a magnificent flying challenge on the edge of the penalty area
15 mins : Gerrard's low cross from the left flicks off the boot of Ryan Nelsen and could have gone anywhere. Fortunately for Mark Hughes' men it loops to the side of Friedel's goal and the Rovers stopper is able to get across and prevent a corner
18 mins : Controversy raises its ugly head as Steven Gerrard surges on to Alonso's pass and into the penalty area before going down under a challenge from Friedel. Alan Wiley is not convinced and gives a goal kick
21 mins : Wiley incurs the wrath of the Anfield faithful once more after Samba appeared to drag back Babel when the Dutch winger was in full flight. But again he refuses to give Liverpool the decision
22 mins : Dirk Kuyt finds space outside the area and unleashes a low drive that Friedel gets down well to smother
24 mins : Kuyt wins the ball off Warnock deep in Rovers territory but his dangerous ball into the box is superbly gathered by a full stretch Friedel
25 mins : Kuyt has been busy for the Reds in the last few minutes and he again collects the ball and runs at the away side's defence - but AGAIN Wiley refuses to give a free-kick when it looked like he was brought down on the edge of the box
28 mins : It's all happening now. First Gerrard is left hitting the ground in frustration after he appeared to be pusehd over by Samba when he was in on goal before his deflected shot flies agonisinlgy wide of the the far post with Friedel beaten
29 mins : It's fair to say Wiley could n't be accused of favouring the home side in the first half an hour of this match
30 mins : Blackburn earn a breather when play is stopped for Torres to get treatment on a knock to his head. It gives Rafa the chance to have a few words with Babel about tactics
31 mins : No need to worry about El Nino though, he's back on and racing to the edge of his own area to help the Reds defend a Rovers free-kick
32 mins : Big cheers for Sami Hyypia as he warms up in front of the Kop. If he comes on he will match Stevie and make his 300th appearance for the Reds. A great servant to the club
33 mins : Rovers are on the attack again but it all comes to nothing and Wiley gives a goal-kick, a decision that inspires ironic cheers from the Kop
35 mins : Reina is called into action for the first itme in the match as he gets down well to beat away a Santa Cruz effort
36 mins : Another decision goes against the Reds as Warnock appears to kick the ball out for an LFC throw. Dirk Kuyt is flabbergasted that the decision has once again gone against his side
37 mins : Liverpool carve the Lancashire outfit open once again but Torres and Gerrard get in each others way and the chance is lost
39 mins : Emerton and Samba both try to outmuscle Torres but the Spaniard is having none of it and eventually earns a free-kick from the ref
40 mins : It could so easily be 1-0, but Kuyt's header bounces wide of the far post after another ferocious delivery from the left flank causes mayhem in the Rovers box
41 mins : Carra misreads a long ball for Roberts but Skrtel is on hand to clear the danger
42 mins : Xabi Alonso has certainly found his range of passing so far today and again hits a superb ball to the wing for Aurelio but the Brazilian cannot get on the end of his own attempted flick-on
43 mins : Ryan Babel finds space on the left and cuts in past two defenders before hammering a shot well over the crossbar
45 mins : There will be a minimum of one minute added time
13:19 GMT : Half Time Reached

13:35 GMT : Second Half Begins
46 mins : Liverpool restart the match attacking the Kop end
46 mins : Torres has a shot from the centre circle but it arrows well wide of goal
47 mins : It was all Liverpool in the first-half and if we keep knocking on the door like that then Rovers are going to struggle to cope
48 mins : A nice move involving Kuyt and Gerrard sees the skipper drive to the byline on the right wing and cut a dangerous ball across goal but Friedel is out well to thwart Torres and co
50 mins : Blackburn have a free-kick in a good position on the right but Reina comes and gets a clean punch on it
51 mins : Gerrard surges into the box and beats three men before seeing his cross headed clear for a corner
52 mins : The set piece comes to nothing and Rovers set off on a counter attack and earn another free-kick outside the Reds penalty area after Kuyt bundles over Reid
53 mins : Bentley's weak effort is easily saved by Reina
55 mins : Gerrard's corner is headed into the path of Lucas who stabs a half volley wide of the near post from 18 yards
57 mins : Brilliant link up play between Babel and Torres down the left scares the life out of Emerton and Samba before Riley decides to give the Reds a free-kick that ultimately comes to nothing
59 mins : Lucas has another strike from distance but this time it deflects into the arms of Friedel with Dirk Kuyt asking a question of his teammate after he failed to pick him out in acres of space on the right
59 mins : Substitution: Yossi Benayoun for Ryan Babel:
60 mins : GOAL! Steven Gerrard: The skipper races on to Torres' return pass to give the Reds the lead
64 mins : Rovers will be disappointed after some casual play at the back allowed LFC in, but it is no more than the home side deserve
65 mins : Gerrard fizzes an inviting cross into the six yard box but there is no sign of a red shirt to appy what would have been the simplest of finishes
66 mins : A rare Blackburn attack ends with Pedersen drilling over after skipping beyond Arbeloa to create space for the shot
67 mins : Another Rovers shot threatens the crowd as Bentley volleys high and wide into the Anfield Road end
71 mins : Warnock slips and air kicks the ball to give LFC a throw - much to the amusement of the Kop
72 mins : First Booking: Martin Skrtel:
73 mins : The attendance this afternoon is 43,283
74 mins : Substitution: Benny McCarthy for Morten Pedersen:
74 mins : Substitution: David Dunn for Johann Vogel:
75 mins : A double change for Rovers with Mark Hughes bringing on two dangerous attacking players
79 mins : David Bentley is lining up an effort on goal after Gerrard fouled Reid 25 yards from goal
79 mins : A stunning strike from the England man but fortunately for LFC it floats inches past the far post
82 mins : GOAL! Fernando Torres: Goal number 30 for El Nino as he heads home Gerrard's cross
85 mins : Riley endures more boos from the crowd as Gerrard again tumbles in the box but he again fails to point to the spot
86 mins : Substitution: Andriy Voronin for Fernando Torres:
88 mins : Substitution: John Arne Riise for Xabi Alonso:
90 mins : GOAL! Andriy Voronin:
90 mins : There will be a minimum of three minutes added time
90 mins : GOAL! Roque Santa Cruz:
14:24 GMT : Match Over

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