• Date: Sat 06 December 2008
  • Venue: Ewood Park
  • Ref: Marriner, A
  • Attendance: 26,920
Blackburn Rovers

Blackburn Rovers

Santa Cruz (86)

1 - 3
Liverpool

Liverpool

Alonso (69)

Benayoun (79)

Gerrard (90)

Blackburn Rovers vs Liverpool

Team Lineups

Blackburn Rovers

Paul Robinson
Christopher Samba
Ryan Nelsen
Stephen Warnock
Andre Ooijer
Morten Gamst Pedersen (Benni McCarthy, 81)
Brett Emerton
Kerimoglu Tugay (Johann Vogel, 84)
Keith Andrews
Matt Derbyshire (Keith Treacy, 90)
Roque Santa Cruz

Liverpool

Jose Manuel Reina
Alvaro Arbeloa
Sami Hyypia
Emiliano Insua
Jamie Carragher
Steven Gerrard
Javier Mascherano (Leiva Lucas, 83)
Xabi Alonso
Yossi Benayoun (Albert Riera, 87)
Ryan Babel (Nabil El Zhar, 64)
Dirk Kuyt


Live Text Commentary
Full time
 

FULL-TIME: BLACKBURN 1-3 LIVERPOOL. The Reds stay top of the Premier League despite being below-par for much of the game.

90
Goal
 

BLACKBURN 1-3 LIVERPOOL: GERRARD wraps up the game with a simple finish into an empty net after Paul Robinson came out of his area.

90

The Liverpool fans are already celebrating a win.

90
Substitution
 

Matt Derbyshire makes way for Keith Treacy in Blackburn's last throw of the dice.

90

Liverpool have a corner and will take their time.

89

There's four minutes of added time for Blackburn to try to save something from the game.

87
Substitution
 

Albert Riera is on for Yossi Benayoun so no Robbie Keane today.

85
Goal
 

Roque Santa Cruz pulls one back for Blackburn with a far post header from a cross from the right.

84
Substitution
 

Another change as Johann Vogel replaces Tugay.

83
Substitution
 

Javier Mascherano is off and Lucas Leiva comes on.

82

The Blackburn fans are already streaming out of Ewood Park.

81
Substitution
 

Benni McCarthy is on for Morten Gamst Pedersen.

79
Goal
 

Yossi Benayoun cut inside Stephen Warnock and drilled his shot home low and hard from an awkward angle.

78

Blackburn's confidence has ebbed away after the goal and the fans are very quiet.

77

Liverpool are stroking the ball around now.

75

Roque Santa Cruz is unmarked but puts his header wide.

73

Liverpool haven't played well but they look like they're going to stay top of the league.

70

Blackburn are trying to get forward as they look to get back into the game.

68
Goal
 

Liverpool finally make the breakthrough, Xabi Alonso passing the ball past Paul Robinson from Dirk Kuyt's pass.

65

Robbie Keane is still warming up.

63

Morten Gamst Pedersen looks in discomfort and is holding his shoulder.

62
Substitution
 

Nabil El Zhar is on for Ryan Babel.

60

Paul Robinson makes a great save from a thunderous Steven Gerrard shot and the ball falls to Yossi Benayoun who can't find the back of the net.

59

Steven Gerrard's delivery from a free-kick 40 yards out is terrible and the ball sails out of play.

59
Yellow Card
 

Stephen Warnock is booked for a foul on Ryan Babel.

58

Morten Gamst Pedersen's free-kick is easily cleared.

57
Yellow Card
 

Alvaro Arbeloa is booked for a foul on the edge of the area and Blackburn have a dangerous free-kick.

56

Liverpool are starting to step up the pressure.

55

Xabi Alonso has a right-foot shot from Ryan Babel's cross and Paul Robinson produces a good save.

54

Xabi Alonso has a free-kick which seemed to get a deflection but the referee gives a goal-kick.

53

We could see Robbie Keane being introduced soon.

51

Javier Mascherano and Xabi Alonso need to do more to support Dirk Kuyt if Liverpool are to take anything from this game.

49

Blackburn have made a confident start to the second half.

47

Liverpool comfortably clear the corner.

46

The second half is underway and Morten Gamst Pedersen has won an early corner.

Half time
 

HALF-TIME: BLACKBURN 0-0 LIVERPOOL. The referee calls an end to a disappointing first half.

45

There's one minute of added time.

44

Steven Gerrard plays a reverse pass to Dirk Kuyt but Paul Robinson sees the danger and is out quickly.

43

Liverpool have a free-kick in the centre circle but Sami Hyypia heads the ball down to no-one.

43
Yellow Card
 

Keith Andrews is booked for a foul on Steven Gerrard.

41

Dirk Kuyt plays the ball square to Steven Gerrard who doesn't connect properly and puts the ball wide.

39

The corner is cleared by Steven Gerrard and Blackburn are enjoying a spell of pressure.

38

Morten Gamst Pedersen has a long-range free-kick that Jose Reina dives to his left to clear for a corner.

36

Blackburn are working hard but the front two don't have much support.

34

Liverpool are seeing plenty of the ball but still haven't tested Paul Robinson.

32

Blackburn are flagged offside again as Roque Santa Cruz moves forward.

30

Liverpool continue to pass the ball around but again the move comes to nothing.

28

Morten Gamst Pedersen cracks in a shot from 30 yards out and Reina pulls off a fantastic save to push the ball on to the crossbar.

27

Blackburn seem very tentative going forward despite being at home.

25

Liverpool are knocking the ball from side to side but can't get it forward to Dirk Kuyt.

23

Matt Derbyshire has the ball in the net but the offside flag was up early.

21

Neither keeper has really been tested so far.

20

Xabi Alonso has a shot from Alvaro Arbeloa's cross but the ball goes wide of the left-hand post.

19
Yellow Card
 

Ryan Babel is booked for deliberate handball from the corner.

18

Yossi Benayoun finds himself through on goal after a great run from the right but Stephen Warnock tackles for a corner.

17

Tugay has had a good game so far but his ball forward is to no-one in particular.

15

Alvaro Arbeloa delivers the ball into the penalty area but Blackburn clear easily.

13

Morten Gamst Pedersen's corner is delivered towards the penalty spot but doesn't fall for Roque Santa Cruz and Liverpool clear.

12

The noise levels increase as Blackburn win a corner.

11

Brett Emerton's effort is high and wide from a long ball from Paul Robinson and doesn't trouble Jose Reina.

10

Liverpool don't really look like creating many chances with a packed midfield and only Dirk Kuyt up front.

8

Steven Gerrard's outswinger is cleared again and Blackburn are able to try and break forward.

7

Liverpool win a corner and Steven Gerrard's short ball is cleared by Stephen Warnock for another.

6

Both teams keep giving the ball away and Blackburn look edgy.

4

Liverpool are keeping the ball well as they look to dominate the early possession.

2

Can Blackburn shut out Liverpool to ease the pressure on Paul Ince - they need to keep a clean sheet today.

1
Kickoff
 

The game is underway.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

We're awaiting kick-off at Ewood Park, as a team with just one home win all season take on a team with just one away defeat.