Andy Carroll snatched a late winner to give Liverpool three points against relegation threatened Blackburn Rovers. Two early goals from Maxi Rodriguez in quick succession put the visitors ahead, but Blackburn hit back after Alexander Doni was sent off, Yakubu with the two goals.
On his return to Ewood Park, Kenny Dalglish made six changes to his starting line up. Regulars Luis Suarez, Steven Gerrard, Jose Enrique, Stewart Downing were rested, while Dirk Kuyt and Jamie Carragher were also out of the first team. In came Bellamy, Maxi, Carroll, Johnson, Coates and Spearing.
Maxi Rodriguez gave the visitors the lead when Martin Skrtel released Craig Bellamy with a cross-field pass. The Welshman squared for the awaiting Maxi Rodriguez, leaving him the simple task of tapping it in.
Maxi then bagged his second of the evening. Jonjo Shelvey dispossessed David Dunn on the half way line, advancing forward, the midfielder forced Robinson into a save. However the rebound fell to Carroll, whose attempt was blocked again, but Maxi was on hand to secure his brace with a neat finish with his weaker foot.
Then, the pivotal moment of the match. A loose pass from John Flannagan released Junior Hoillet through on goal, but Doni fouled him in an attempt to deny the Canadian a clear goal scoring opportunity. The referee was left with no option but to send him off. The Brazilian was distraught as he trudged off the pitch, the second time in three games Liverpool’s ‘keeper saw red.
Third choice Brad Jones was called into action for the first time in the league for Liverpool. Former teammate Yakubu stepped up for the penalty, but the Australian guessed correctly, saving the timid penalty. The shot stopper pointed to the sky in celebration for his son, Luca, who recently passed away from Leukaemia.
But Yakubu soon made up for his missed penalty. A free kick from Dunn found the Nigerian, who glanced in a header towering above the Liverpool defence.
With a man over, Liverpool looked in shock, while Blackburn were applying the pressure in search of an equaliser.
The halftime whistle couldn’t have come quicker for the Reds.
The visitors were back on the front foot after the restart, Craig Bellamy whipped in a promising corner, but Andy Carroll’s header was just wide of the target.
Shelvey then had another chance to restore the two-goal lead, but his shot from distance was harmlessly off target. A simple pass to Bellamy on the right seemed a better option.
Blackburn were then awarded another penalty. Brad Jones bundled over Yakubu after his clearance deflected off the Nigerian and looped up in the penalty area. Jones was relieved to only see a yellow card to his name. Yakubu stepped up once again, but this time converted to level the scores at 2-2.
The ‘keeper was then called into action, again. This time from his own player. Andy Carroll misjudged his headed clearance, looping below the bar; Jones saved the number 9’s blushes with his fingertips.
Blackburn applied more pressure in the final minutes to snatch a late winner, but it was Liverpool who snatched three points in stoppage time.
Sebastian Coates knocked a cleared corner back into the box where Daniel Agger’s header picked out Andy Carroll; the Englishman thumped a header past the diving Paul Robinson. Jubilation broke out amongst the travelling Kop as Carroll went off to celebrate.
After the character and passion of the Liverpool players had been questioned in recent weeks they had put that doubt to bed with a resilient performance against a determined Blackburn side fighting for survival in the Premier League. They showed desire to snatch a late winner with a player short, and fought constantly throughout the game with a weakened line up. Kenny Dalglish will be hoping for the same mentality come Saturday.
MOTM: Jordan Henderson
Once again in an unfamiliar role, the England u21 captain looked calm and assured throughout the game. There was shades of Steven Gerrard filling it at right back in the 2005 Champions League final. He tackled, passed accurately and strode forward with every attack. Henderson portrayed bags of energy striding forward and tracking back. A mature performance from a young player.
Sikander Najib
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