Source: Eurosport
Reds roll over Rovers at Anfield
Fernando Torres' brace helped Liverpool to a 4-0 home win over Blackburn on Saturday, restoring the Reds to the Premier League summit.
Rafael Benitez's troops recovered from their midweek Champions League defeat by Chelsea at Anfield to record a fifth straight league win, moving them above Manchester United at the top of the table before the champions' clash at Sunderland later in the day.
Skipper Steven Gerrard was an unused substitute due to his adductor muscle strain, but Liverpool did not need their skipper as Torres came to the fore with a superb hooked opener early on and a well-taken header on 33 minutes.Daniel Agger, recalled in place of Martin Skrtel, thundered home a third on 83 minutes before David Ngog's late strike put the seal on an emphatic victory.
Rovers, who started with defender Chris Samba on his own up front due to a host of injury problems, offered little and drop to 15th, five points above the drop zone.
A minute's silence was held before kick-off ahead of Wednesday's 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough stadium disaster.If any home fans feared their team would struggle to break down the visitors, Torres put them at ease after just five minutes.
Jamie Carragher's long ball was taken down by Torres beautifully on his chest and with a turn and shot, the Spaniard's stunning hooked volley flew past Paul Robinson into the far corner.
Agger was booked soon after for a foul on Keith Treacy but Liverpool were soon back on the attack and Robinson did well to save Javier Mascherano's shot before Torres blazed his follow-up effort over the bar.
Agger then tested the Rovers keeper with a near-post header before the latter got a hand to deny Dirk Kuyt, with Yossi Benayoun wasting the rebound.
But just after the half-hour mark, Keith Andrews fouled Albert Riera and from the resulting set-piece, Xabi Alonso delivered the ball into the penalty box for Torres to rise above Samba and head home his 14th goal in all competitions this season.
Sam Allardyce gave 17-year-old striker Aaron Doran his Rovers debut as a second-half substitute for Aaron Mokoena.But in truth, the rest of the match amounted to little more than a stroll in the Merseyside sunshine for Liverpool, who were barely troubled by the visitors.
Riera, Kuyt and Agger all threatened to increase the hosts' lead before Benitez brought on Ngog for Torres on 74 minutes.
Then seven minutes from time, Agger was given ample time and space to line up a 25-yard strike that whistled past Robinson's despairing dive to make it three.
Benayoun saw a late shot hit Andrews' thigh and deflect over the crossbar but in the last minute of normal time, Jamie Carragher's deep cross was headed back across goal by Lucas to give Ngog the easiest of headed finishes.
Liverpool therefore head south for Tuesday's tough task at Stamford Bridge in better spirits, while Rovers must regroup before next weekend's demanding encounter at Stoke.
