 Goals
Yorke 34
Murphy 39
Heskey 48
Heskey 60
Kewell 78
Ferguson 80
Yorke 90
Match
Report
Emile Heskey scored twice as Liverpool extended Blackburn's miserable
run of form with a comfortable win in the Carling Cup.
The Reds striker should have completed his hat-trick but failed
to convert his team's second penalty of the game.
The first spot kick had been converted by Danny Murphy after a
foul by Lucas Neill that saw the defender sent-off against Liverpool
for the second time this season.
Blackburn had taken the lead through Dwight Yorke but Liverpool
took advantage of their numerical advantage after Neill's dismissal
and Harry Kewell scored Liverpool's fourth to take the game beyond
Rovers.
The home team kept going and Barry Ferguson and Yorke scored again
but Liverpool held firm.
In a game of many chances, the scoreline could have been much higher
but for some abysmal finishing from both teams.
David Thompson almost opened the scoring with a powerful long-range
drive that drifted narrowly wide of Chris Kirkland's goal.
Ferguson went even closer, shaving the top of the Liverpool crossbar
with a neat free-kick that wrong footed Kirkland.
But Blackburn eventually broke the deadlock after 35 minutes..
Yorke, back in the Blackburn starting line-up, superbly heading
home a Thompson cross from the right after the Rovers winger had
easily eluded Sami Hyppia.
Liverpool equalised shortly afterwards with a superb penalty from
Murphy.
The spot kick had been awarded after Lucas Neill clipped Florence
Sinama-Pongelle's back leg with the Reds striker through on goal
and poised to shoot.
Referee Mike Riley wasted no time in sending Neill from the field
for a professional foul.
The match was Neill's first after completing a three-match suspension
for his challenge that broke Jamie Carragher's leg the last time
Liverpool met Blackburn.
Heskey should have put Liverpool in the lead shortly after half-time
but, clean through on goal, lost his composure and blazed wide of
the target.
But minutes later Heskey atoned for his miss with a superb header,
guiding El Hadji Diouf's cross past Brad Friedel.
Heskey almost scored again after 54 minutes, but the striker shot
over after latching onto a low cross at the near post.
Kewell spurned an excellent chance to put the visitors further
ahead after 60 minutes but drilled the ball wide of the target when
clean through.
But the miss did not prove costly, with Heskey once again converting
a Diouf cross shortly afterwards.
Blackburn had opportunities to force their way back into the game,
with Andy Cole particularly guilty of a glaring miss.
The Reds should have then sealed their win when they were awarded
a second penalty after Vratislav Gresko was adjudged to have fouled
Kewell in the Rovers penalty area.
But Heskey spurned the chance to complete his hat-trick with a
weak penalty the Friedel easily saved.
Heskey missed another great chance before Kewell eventually scored
Liverpool's fourth, converting another Diouf cross.
Ferguson scored with 10 minutes left, his first goal for Blackburn
giving the home team a glimmer of hope.
But although Yorke scored again to give the scoreline a respectable
look, the goal came with virtually the final kick of the game.
BBC Sport
Teams
Blackburn: Friedel, Neill, Babbel, Martin Taylor,
Gresko, Reid, Ferguson, Tugay, Thompson, Cole, Yorke. Subs: Jansen,
Johansson, Gallagher, Emerton, Yelldell.
Sent off: Neill (professional
foul on Pongolle, 39)
Liverpool: Kirkland, Biscan, Henchoz, Hyypia,
Traore, Le Tallec, Gerrard, Murphy, Diouf, Heskey, Sinama Pongolle.
Subs: Finnan, Kewell, Hamann, Riise, Dudek.
Referee: M Riley (W Yorkshire).
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