Blackburn put a dent in Pool’s Euro hopes

Liverpool 0 Blackburn 0

The result means Liverpool face an almighty scrap in the Merseyside derby on Sunday if they are to get anywhere near Everton in fourth place.

Manager Rafael Benitez refused to condemn his below-par side, instead praising Blackburn's game plan.

"It was a bad game but we played against a team that worked very, very hard in defence and tried to play the counter-attack. We didn't have a lot of space so if you don't win balls, maybe second balls, it is difficult. They have done their job".

The Spaniard, who had Sami Hyypia and John Arne Riise on the bench, added: "We tried to win with the players we have at this moment, we tried to play with wingers and Milan (Baros) running but we didn't have space.

"We know that the Everton game is very important but the idea will be the same go for the win. After this game it is now seven points, and we know it will be necessary to win."

Everton manager David Moyes was in attendance and he watched as Liverpool barely created a chance in this dire match and, if they play like this on Sunday, Everton fans can start booking their European trips for next season.

Blackburn play what now seems to be the compulsory 4-5-1 system among the Premiership flock, which floods midfield and makes life difficult for teams like Liverpool who try to play with just two in the centre of the park.

And to underline that, it needed Steven Gerrard to haul back Steven Reid after Aaron Mokoena's swift run and pass from defence had sent the Rovers man charging upfield. Gerrard was booked for his troubles.

Liverpool's lightweight wide men, Smicer and Luis Garcia did not enjoy the attention they got got, and it eventually cost Garry Flitcroft a yellow card for cutting down Smicer from behind.

Then Jerzy Dudek had one of his lapses in concentration with a half-hit clearance that went only as far as Reid, who tried to lob the ball home from 25 yards and cleared the bar.

Riise replaced Smicer at half-time and the switch almost immediately threatened to take Liverpool ahead.

Gerrard's looping ball to the left sent Riise away and he got to the line before laying the ball back for Baros, who wasted his side's best opening so far by sidefooting his 12-yard shot over the bar.

Baros then wasted another chance when a clearance bounced over Nelsen, but the Czech ignored better-placed colleagues and lost possession, to the clear annoyance of Benitez on the line.

There were appeals for a penalty when Morientes went down in the box as the Liverpool frustration mounted, with one of their former players Dominic Matteo on as substitute for Nils-Eric Johansson and added to the defence.

Blackburn put on Paul Gallagher in place of Stead on 75 minutes as they searched for the one opening that would give them a priceless goal, very much like they won at Everton on the last visit to Merseyside 11 days ago.

It almost came when Reid lashed a 30-yard free-kick just wide of Dudek's left hand post with the keeper nowhere.

Blackburn are now eight points clear of third-from-bottom Southampton and boss Mark Hughes was well pleased.afterwards: "Obviously it's always difficult to come here to Anfield but we've come here and put in a decent performance. We worked hard and closed them down very well and limited them to very, very few chances - if any - it was one of Brad's easiest nights.

"We're delighted. We came here and picked up a point, which was important for us."

LIVERPOOL: Dudek, Finnan, Pellegrino, Carragher, Warnock (Biscan 82), Luis Garcia, Gerrard, Hamann, Smicer (Riise 45), Baros (Nunez 70), Morientes.

BLACKBURN: Friedel, Neill, Todd, Nelsen, Johansson (Matteo 62), Mokoena, Emerton, Reid, Flitcroft, Pedersen, Stead (Gallagher 75).

Referee: B Knight.