Slick Torres sets record straight

Off the field, Liverpool are looking increasingly sorry and bedraggled as co-owner Tom Hicks continues to trade insults in an unseemly public power struggle that shows scant regard for the club's proud past.

Harmony at least exists on the pitch, though, and there was further compelling evidence over the past few days that Rafa Benitez's team could yet qualify for next season's Champions League on two fronts.

A step nearer entering it as defending champions, after an enthralling quarter-final win over Arsenal, they reinforced their hold on fourth place in the Barclays Premier League as Torres and Steven Gerrard showed there are some constants at Anfield, amid all the turbulence and uncertainty.

Gerrard's match-winning qualities have been evident for the best part of a decade and were to the fore once again as he marked his 300th League appearance for his home club with his 21st goal of another remarkably productive campaign.

It was Torres who took top billing, though, as a far-post header in the 82nd minute made him the first Liverpool player to score in seven successive home appearances in the top flight and left him just one game away from rubbing shoulders with Anfield legend Roger Hunt.

A goal against Manchester City on May 3, and the £21million club record signing will have emulated Hunt's all-time record of finding the net on eight consecutive Anfield occasions, in the old Second Division 46 years ago.

Gerrard may have infuriated Blackburn manager Mark Hughes by catching Brad Friedel's knee with an outstretched foot and sprawling in the area in a vain attempt to win a penalty, but there was no questioning his ingenuity and quick thinking as he fashioned a 60th-minute breakthrough in brilliant style.

Yossi Benayoun pounced on a misplaced Roque Santa Cruz pass, but it was all Gerrard after that as he cleverly exchanged passes with Lucas before rifling a low shot past Friedel.

Blackburn had created little, other than a low Santa Cruz snapshot that Pepe Reina saved at the near post, but they sensed a route back in the 72nd minute when Jason Roberts left Martin Skrtel standing and was hauled down by the Liverpool centre back.

Skrtel escaped with a yellow card from referee Alan Wiley, to leave Hughes livid once more, and Blackburn's sense of injustice became all the more pronounced eight minutes from time when Gerrard and Torres combined to put the outcome beyond doubt.

Gerrard looked up for an instant on the right flank before curling a deep cross towards the far post, where Torres rose to steer a header beyond Friedel for his 20th goal in 18 Anfield appearances and 30th overall since his summer arrival from Atletico Madrid.

By contrast, Andriy Voronin goals have been a collector's item in the eight months since he signed from Bayer Leverkusen.

Four from his first 10 appearances was reasonable enough, but he had failed to score since the beginning of October, until prodding home a close-range chance set up by John Arne Riise in injury time.

There was still time for Santa Cruz to beat Reina with a volley that may only have been of consolation value to Blackburn but could yet be a contender for goal of the month.

Benitez hailed his side's performance as proof they are closing in on fourth place. "We are five points ahead of Everton now, and if we can win at Fulham, we will be nearly there," he said. "We could have scored more goals, but you have to be really pleased with the response of the players, especially after such a big Champions League game last Tuesday."

Hughes was particularly incensed with Wiley's failure to punish Skrtel's foul on Roberts with a red card, saying: "I have seen Jason do that many a time, get the ball out from under his feet and leave the centre half behind, and it was always my understanding that impeding a player when he has a clear scoring opportunity was a sending-off offence.

"Mr Wiley saw it differently and thought it only merited a yellow, but that was not my interpretation. It is fair to say there was a bit of frustration in both camps over his performance today, but I wouldn't like to put that forward as the reason for our defeat."

"We created our own problems by conceding goals that could have been avoided, losing possession when we should have cleared our lines and missing key tackles.

"I must say, I was impressed with Liverpool, though. They had a few individuals who worked tirelessly for the team and that influenced the outcome."