Fowler strikes to strengthen case for a new contract

Blackburn 0 Liverpool 1

But the latest line on the Liverpool striker's CV provoked an angry response from a Blackburn Rovers side whose Champions League hopes have now all but disappeared.

Anxious to earn a new contract and extend his second stay at Anfield, Fowler responded forcefully to Rafael Benitez's musings that he remains undecided about the striker's future.

The quality of Fowler's neat right-foot finish, his fourth goal in his last four starts, was typical of the player and his value was further underlined by the wastefulness of colleagues Fernando Morientes and Djibril Cisse who once again emphasised the poverty of Benitez's forward options.

But while Fowler's finish could not be faulted, the decision of referee Alan Wiley and assistant Barry Sygmuta to overlook Djibril Cisse loitering in an off-side position in the build-up to the goal drew a furious reaction from Mark Hughes and his players.

Cisse appeared to be at least two yards off-side as Fowler chested forward John Arne Riise's throw-in and made an attempt to connect with the ball as it made its way through to Morientes who squared for Fowler's finish. "The guy was clearly offside and has made a movement towards the ball and as soon as he has done that he is interfering with play," Hughes said. "So from that point onwards he is offside. The linesman has come out and said he didn't give it (an off side decision) because Cisse didn't touch it.

"Well how does he know that from the position he was in. He was 60 yards away from it?"

Surprisingly, Hughes found an ally in Benitez who shared his opposite number's view that changes must be made. "I think the offside rule needs to be changed because it is creating problems for the referees," the Spaniard said. "If a player is offside he should be offside and that should be it. We should keep it simple."

Benitez's sympathy, though, only went so far and he was more concerned with his side's impressive display of containment that ensured they will go into Saturday's FA Cup semi-final on the back of seven wins.

Having been deprived of the services of Steven Gerrard and Dietmar Hamann to a hamstring injury and virus respectively - both should be fit for the cup tie - Benitez adopted a policy of holding Blackburn at bay while attempting to hit Hughes' side on the break. The plan almost worked to perfection with Sami Hyypia and Jamie Carragher in superb form at the heart of the Liverpool defence. The problem lay with the counter attack.

Twice Cisse was sent clear on Brad Friedel's goal but saw a first half effort deflected onto the bar by the excellent keeper before fluffing a similar opportunity in the final minutes of the game. Benitez may remain publicly coy about Fowler's future, but the Frenchman is helping make up the manager's mind for him.

"If I say no to a new contract it will be a very difficult for him but he will understand," Benitez said. "But if I say yes it will great for me, him and the supporters. We have not made a decision on Robbie's contract yet."

For Hughes there was only frustration following a defeat that leaves his side seven points behind fourth-placed Spurs with just four games remaining.

"It's very difficult for us to get that Champions League spot now," he said. Spurs obviously will be very pleased with the result today."

Opta Fact: This was the first time Blackburn had ever failed to score at home against Liverpool in the Premiership.Opta Fact: Rovers have now gone 15 games without a Premiership win against Liverpool.

BLACKBURN: Friedel, Neill, Khizanishvili, Nelsen, Gray, Bentley, Savage, Reid, Pedersen, Dickov (Kuqi 67), Bellamy.

LIVERPOOL: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Warnock (Kewell 69), Cisse, Sissoko, Alonso, Riise, Morientes (Kromkamp 81), Fowler (Luis Garcia 63).

Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire).