Source: SKY_Sports
Liverpool v Blackburn - live!
90+3 Treacy is penalised for a foul on Arbeloa as the clock ticks on.
90+2 Samba tees up Warnock, but his 25-yard shot sails harmlessly wide.
90 There will be three minutes of injury time for Blackburn to endure.
90 GOAL - NGOG! Four for Liverpool as two subs combine to add further gloss to the scoreline. The corner is played back to Carragher, whose deep cross is headed back across goal by Lucas to give Ngog the easiest of finishes.
89 Ngog and Arbeloa combine to set up Benayoun, whose shot deflects behind off Andrews for a corner.
88 Liverpool break quickly down the right, but a sliding Ngog can't quite get on the end of a low cross from the right.
88 A snapshot from Treacy on the edge of the area is smartly gathered by Reina tumbling to his left.
87 Rafa Benitez makes his final change as Alonso is replaced by Lucas.
85 Villanueva shows some good skill on the edge of the box, but his shot fails to match what had gone before and is easily claimed by Reina.
84 Kuyt makes way for David Ngog.
83 GOAL - AGGER! An Agger special. It had to happen sooner or later given Blackburn's baffling insistence on standing off Liverpool's players. Agger is given ample time and space to line up a 25-yard strike that whistles past Robinson's despairing dive to make it three.
83 Kuyt tries to play a one-two with Benayoun, but the ball runs through to Robinson who hacks clear under pressure from the Dutchman.
81 Riera leaps high to meet Alonso's corner, but his header is cleared off the line.
80 Good chance for Liverpool as the ball breaks to El Zhar yards from goal. Surrounded by defenders he can't engineer a shooting chance for himself, but does tee it up for Mascherano, whose shot is blocked by Robinson. Corner to Liverpool.
79 Grella catches Mascherano with a stray boot. Unintentional, but a painful one for the Liverpool midfielder.
77 The clearest chance of the second half, and it falls to Blackburn. The ball somehow finds its way to an unmarked Samba eight yards from goal, but he loses his balance as he turns and shoots meaning the effort has no power and is easily saved.
76 The free-kick is clipped into the area, but it's headed up by a defender and easily gathered by Reina.
75 Doran turns smartly to get away from Alonso, who somewhat cynically chops down the youngster and picks up a bit of a silly booking.
74 There will be no hat-trick for Torres as he makes way for Nabil El Zhar.
74 Riera has another chance to cause chaos on the left, but he overruns the ball and can't get his cross in. His end product has gone missing in this second half.
73 A cross from the left causes confusion in the Blackburn box as it bounces over Kuyt's head and towards the back post. The fun and games are ended when Riley spots a foul by the Liverpool man.
72 A deep cross finds Samba at the back post, but he can't generate any power on his header and ends up neither really going for goal nor trying to head it back across to the onrushing Warnock.
71 Riera breaks into the box from the left, but this time Andrews manages to get a foot in and snuff out the threat.
70 Liverpool win a free-kick on the right, but Alonso overhits it slightly and Blackburn clear.
69 Benayoun takes the ball out of the air superbly on the right, but he can't create a chance for Liverpool. it's been outrageously comfortable for the Reds today, but they've yet to create a clear-cut chance in the second half.
68 Kuyt gets back to tackle Treacy and even wins the throw as the ball goes out off the Blackburn man.
67 Mascherano breaks from midfield but, surprisingly, finds himself surrounded by Blackburn shirts and loses possession. Torres and Kuyt both wanted a pass, but neither took up positions to make it easy for the Argentinian.
66 Grella replaces Tugay.
65 Blackburn try to break down the right, but the ball is played straight out of play for a Liverpool throw.
64 A neat Liverpool passing move breaks down as Benayoun's attempted pass for Kuyt is blocked.
63 Riera cuts in from the left and, a touch greedily, goes for goal. His shot deflects off Tugay, but referee Riley gives a goal-kick. Riera understandably annoyed about that, but he really should have crossed the ball earlier.
62 Liverpool passing the ball around in a leisurely manner in midfield. Rarely can a team have been required to expend less energy to secure a Premier League victory.
61 Doran at least shows a bit of fight with an enterprising run down the right before Insua gets a foot in and brings the ball clear.
60 Blackburn make a second change with Carlos Villanueva replacing Dunn.
58 Liverpool appear almost too embarrassed to take the chances presented by Blackburn's appalling defending. Liverpool guilty of overplaying the ball with a million options available before Insua finally releases Riera on the left. His cross is scuffed, and easily cleared by Blackburn.
57 Blackburn still persisting with this questionable tactic of not closing down Liverpool. Kuyt picks up the ball 30 yards from goal and is able to turn, advance five yards and let fly at Robinson's goal. He blazes wastefully over the bar as another presentable chance goes begging.
57 Samba tries to release Doran on the right, but the youngster had strayed a yard offside.
56 Alonso's corner is headed clear, and Arbeloa can't keep the attack going.
55 Mascherano does brilliantly to chase Ooijer into the corner and dispossess the Dutchman. The ball is played in to Riera, whose cutback from the byline is turned behind for a corner. The Kop rises to applaud Mascherano's endeavour.
53 Again Riera has yards of grass to run into unhindered. Perhaps surprised by the open space, he goes for goal from 30-odd yards when he might have gone left to Insua or simply sauntered closer to goal before shooting. He scuffs his shot wide of the target, but Blackburn surely won't keep getting away with standing off Liverpool's attacking players.
52 Alonso aims the corner at Insua 30 yards from goal, but the left-back's first-time volley is sliced horribly. So badly, in fact, that it turns into a decent pass to Torres on the left, but Nelsen gets a foot in to dispossess the Spaniard.
51 Liverpool's players are being given astonishing amounts of space in dangerous areas by Blackburn. Kuyt takes three touches in the penalty area without anyone closing him down, and his shot ricochets off a Blackburn leg, just out of Torres' reach and away for a corner.
50 Alonso's corner is headed clear.
49 Riera's cross from the left is blocked behind for a corner.
49 Samba holds the ball up well before finding Doran on the right, but Riera tackles the youngster easily.
48 They won't get that early goal here as Dunn overhits the free-kick, clearing everyone and sending the ball straight out for a goal-kick. His set-piece delivery has been shocking today.
47 Blackburn win a free-kick out on the left. They surely need an early goal to get back into this one.
46 Early chance for Liverpool in the second half as Riera is allowed to progress serenely to the edge of the Blackburn box without any defenders inconveniencing him. His eventual shot is disappointing, dragged across goal and well wide, but it's poor from the visitors.
46 Liverpool get the second half under way.
Blackburn have made a change at the break, with youngster Aaron Doran on in place of Mokoena.
Liverpool are now just 1/80 with Sky Bet to go on and win this one. If you're expecting miracles, you can have 100/1 on an astonishing Blackburn comeback win. Torres is 4/1 to score the next goal and complete his hat-trick.
Blackburn fan Kevin Corcoran is far from enamoured with the selection of Samba up front. "When you offer absolutely nothing up front against big teams, 100% of the time you will get beat and 80% of the time you will get hammered," he says.
45+2 The half-time whistle blows, and it's been all Liverpool in this first half. Two splendid Torres goals give Liverpool a well-deserved half-time lead, while Riera and Insua have thoroughly enjoyed themselves on the left for the Reds.
45+2 Carragher shepherds the ball out of play for a goal-kick as the first half comes to a close.
45+1 There will be a minimum of two added minutes at the end of a one-sided first half.
45 Liverpool break quickly and they have men over. Mascherano tries the hardest option available, looking to spread the ball the width of the field to Kuyt on the left, and overhits the pass allowing Robinson to come out and claim.
45 Dunn wastes the corner, failing to beat the first man. Pity.
44 Dunn wins a corner off Arbeloa. Late chance here for Blackburn to get a foothold in the game.
43 Insua dispossesses Treacy with almost embarrassing ease as a rare Blackburn attack breaks down almost before it starts.
42 Insua plays the ball to Benayoun in acres on the edge of the box, but the midfielder's attempted pass for Kuyt is blocked.
41 It's all far too easy for Liverpool at the moment. They're passing the ball around with great freedom, and Blackburn are chasing shadows in the Easter sunshine.
39 Liverpool break again down the left, but this time the move comes to nothing. Regardless, Blackburn need to make a change. Andrews has been given a torrid time at right-back by Riera and Insua, and at the moment looks odds-on for a second yellow card before the game is done.
38 Torres is free again, but he tries to beat one man too many and is tackled. The ball breaks to Benayoun, but he can't keep the move going.
37 Riera skins Andrews again, but his cross is just a fraction high and Kuyt can only head the ball up and over the bar.
36 A Blackburn cross starts a quick Liverpool break. Reina catches and quickly throws the ball to Mascherano, but his pass is behind Torres and the chance is gone.
34 Doesn't look like Gerrard will be needed for a rescue act from the bench, which will delight his manager.
33 GOAL - TORRES. Liverpool have their two-goal cushion. Alonso's teasing free-kick from the left is met perfectly by the run of Torres. He gets up above Samba - no mean feat - and plants his header past Robinson's despairing dive. Liverpool full value for their lead here.
33 Riera has given Andrews a chasing today, and now the Blackburn man goes into the book for another foul on the winger.
32 Insua's cross from the left is too close to the keeper, allowing Robinson to make an easy catch.
31 Blackburn clear the free-kick and the ball goes all the way through to Reina. He sprints towards the area looking to get the game going again quickly and falls over. With an embarrassed smile, he gets back to his feet and rolls the ball out to Insua.
30 Riera wins a free-kick on the left, but Riley might have played an advantage there.
29 Samba certainly has nuisance value up front. Agger commits the cardinal defensive sin of letting the ball bounce, and Samba goes in and contests the ball with Reina, who is slightly lucky to see the ball ricochet up in the air and into his arms. Blackburn showed last week that a 1-0 lead is never enough however comfortable you appear. Liverpool need a second here.
28 Nelsen is back on the field after being absent for what should have been a second Liverpool goal.
27 Another glorious chance goes begging for Liverpool. Insua plays a clever one-two with Riera and then whips in a magnificent cross. It finds Kuyt six yards from goal, but his header is straight at Robinson who makes an instinctive block. The rebound falls to Benayoun who, like Torres before him, is unable to control his shot and sends it high over the bar.
26 Nelsen is back on his feet and makes his way gingerly to the touchline for further treatment. Blackburn temporarily down to 10.
25 Robinson comes a long way to try and claim a long ball into the area, but clatters into his own defender Ryan Nelsen and drops the ball. Luckily for Blackburn, the ball drops to a blue-and-white shirt and is hacked clear. Less happily for the visitors, Nelsen seems to have picked up a knock in that collision with his keeper.
24 The free-kick is played right across the goal to the late-arriving Agger, but from an impossible angle he can only head the ball into Robinson's arms. Needed to try and get that back across goal, really.
23 Benayoun's persistence eventually earns him a free-kick as Ooijer clips his heels.
21 Reina makes a mess of an attempted punch clear, but gets a second chance as the ball is helped back into the danger area. This time he makes a better fist of it. Bad pun very much intended.
21 Alonso fizzes the ball to Riera on the penalty spot, but the winger handles as he tries to chest the ball on towards the back post.
20 Liverpool win another free-kick, this time in a promising position wide on the left, after Keith Andrews fould Riera.
19 Arbeloa breaks through the centre but his progress is halted by a trip by Dunn. Liverpool free-kick in midfield.
18 Insua misplaces a pass for Riera, sending it out of play for a throw. Careless.
17 Carragher inexplicably gets away with a bear hug on Samba as they contest a long ball. How Mike Riley missed that is something of a mystery, and Allardyce is officially narked in the technical area.
16 Two great chances for Liverpool. Blackburn make a mess of a free-kick as Aaron Mokoena gives the ball away. Liverpool break quickly and Kuyt plays in Mascherano - who stays on his feet when he might have gone down for a penalty. He tries to place the ball inside the far post after regaining his balance, but Robinson makes the block. The ball rebounds to Torres eight yards from goal, but he blazes his shot high and wide with the goal at his mercy. Guess which foot he used...
15 Some space opens up for Torres 20 yards from goal, and this time he does take on the left-footed chance. And shows why he was reluctant to do so earlier, dragging it well wide of the target.
14 Javier Mascherano's crossfield ball is nodded into Torres' path by Yossi Benayoun, but the Spaniard is less keen to go for goal with his left foot and, crucially, has to take a touch. It's heavy, and Blackburn get in to clear.
13 Insua tries to pick out Torres, but his pass is misplaced and Blackburn bring the ball clear.
12 Disappointing set-piece from Alonso, failing to beat the first man.
12 Liverpool win a corner on the left.
11 Agger ushers the ball out of play for a goal-kick under pressure from Samba.
10 Tugay, the old man of the Blackburn midfield, tries to orchestrate an attack but his ball forward is cut out.
9 A nice passing move from Liverpool breaks down on the edge of the Blackburn area.
8 Liverpool get the corner clear while Derek in Alabama queries Sam Allardyce's decision to start with Samba ahead of Benni McCarthy. It'd certainly be interesting to know McCarthy's thoughts as he sits on the bench.
7 The free-kick is deflected behind for a Blackburn corner as the visitors look for an instant response.
6 A good forward run from Keith Treacy is rudely halted by Daniel Agger's bodycheck. He quite rightly goes into the book for that, and has the cheek to complain about the decision.
5 GOAL - TORRES! Spectacular goal from Torres. Carragher plays a cute ball over the top, and Torres brings it down on his chest before swivelling and smashing the ball over Paul Robinson and into the far corner. As on Wednesday, Torres has given the Reds a dream start.
4 Bit of a crowd scene after the set-piece, but after a couple of balls played into the area Blackburn finally manage to scramble the ball clear. Reina comes charging out of his area to clear.
3 A spectacular raking crossfield ball from Xabi Alonso picks out Alvaro Arbeloa's run from right-back, but Stephen Warnock gets across to cut out the cross at the expense of a corner.
2 Albert Riera and Dirk Kuyt link up nicely on the left of midfield before David Dunn fouls Riera on the halfway line.
2 Andre Ooijer gets across to intercept a long ball down the right intended for Fernando Torres.
1 The first of many, one suspects, long balls aimed at Chris Samba is easily dealt with by the Liverpool defence.
1 Blackburn get us under way.
Stand-in skipper Jamie Carragher gathers the Liverpool players in a huddle and has one final word with them. Not seen that before.
Total silence at Anfield now as the players of both sides gather at the centre-circle for a minute's silence in memory of the victims of the Hillsborough tragedy 20 years ago.
Keith Hitchcock fears Liverpool will slip on the proverbial banana skin this lunchtime, while Marta reckons the Reds will edge "a real humdinger"
4-3. Why not. Keep your predictions and thoughts coming in to Dave.Tickner@bskyb.com
Jim is from the USA. Thanks, Jim.
Kev in Oz expects Liverpool to "pepper Blackburn this arvo by three or more goals" while Jim, location unknown, goes for 2-0 or 3-0 to the home side.
What do you reckon, then? Will Liverpool get back to the top of the table - for a couple of hours at least - or will Blackburn give their survival bid a massive boost? Email your views on the game, or whatever takes your fancy, to Dave.Tickner@bskyb.com
Sky Bet report that there's been a little bit of opposition to Liverpool after that shattering defeat to Chelsea and Gerrard's absence from the starting XI. A home win has been eased to 1/3 from 2/7 while Blackburn are into 10/1 from 11/1 and the draw is 7/2 from 4s.
The teams are in, and the big news is that Steven Gerrard is only fit enough to take his place among the substitutes.
Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Insua, Benayoun, Mascherano, Alonso, Riera, Torres, Kuyt. Subs: Cavalieri, Dossena, Gerrard, Lucas, Ngog, El Zhar, Skrtel
Blackburn: Robinson, Andrews, Ooijer, Nelsen, Givet, Mokoena, Dunn, Tugay, Warnock, Treacy, Samba. Subs: Bunn, McCarthy, Grella, Khizanishvili, Villanueva, Olsson, Doran
Welcome to our live coverage of today's lunchtime clash - and it's a game that has massive significance at both ends of the table as title-chasing Liverpool take on relegation-threatened Blackburn. We'll have the team news for you shortly.
