Carroll rescues Reds at death

Alexander Doni plunged Liverpool into a Wembley goalkeeper crisis after getting sent off as Kenny Dalglish’s side signed off for Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final against Everton with a last-minute winner on a night of pure drama at Ewood Park.

The Brazilian, making only his second appearance for the club, was red-carded by referee Anthony Taylor after hauling downJunior Hoilett in the 25th minute, with Liverpool leading 2-0.

Doni, who will now miss the semi-final, was only playing because first-choice Pepe Reina was serving a suspension following his dismissal at Newcastle on April 1.

Substitute keeper Brad Jones then saved Yakubu’s spot-kick with his first touch in his first top-flight game for almost three years.

But that was only half the drama.

Blackburn clawed their way back to level 2-2 as Yakubu redeemed himself with two goals before Andy Carroll, the much-maligned striker, earned the 10-man visitors victory in the final minute.

This was the fixture which saw the end of Roy Hodgson’s ill-fated Anfield reign 14 months ago.

But Liverpool’s top-flight form has been so poor in 2012 that Blackburn, locked in a season-long relegation fight, have secured more wins and points than Kenny Dalglish’s strugglers.

There was no Steven Gerrard in the 17 while Luis Suarez was on the bench ahead of Wembley as Dalglish made six changes to the side that could only draw 1-1 with Aston Villa at the weekend.

A foul by Sebastian Coates on Junior Hoilett presented Martin Olsson with the home side’s scoring opportunity from a free-kick just outside the area.

Olsson scored in Blackburn’s 3-1 win over Liverpool in the corresponding fixture last season.

But the Swede was hopelessly off-target this time as his set-piece sailed high over Alexander Doni’s bar.

Then something quite extraordinary happened. Liverpool, who had scored just two goals in their previous three games, found the Rovers net twice in the space of three minutes to take a firm grip.

They broke the deadlock in the 13th minute after Martin Skrtel’s precise long ball released Craig Bellamy, who surged into the area before delivering a perfect low cross for Rodriguez to turn home from close range at the back post.

Rovers were still dusting themselves down when Rodriguez doubled the lead — his sixth of the campaign.

The South American slotted home from close range after the ball had fallen into his path following Paul Robinson’s block which denied Carroll.

With Everton boss David Moyes watching in the crowd, Liverpool were in cruise control in their last game before facing their Merseyside neighbours at Wembley.

Then came the fireworks.

Liverpool’s young full-back Jon Flanagan, who had earlier been booked for a foul on Marcus Olsson, was fortunate to escape a red card after diving in late on the Swede a second time.

But the Reds were reduced to 10 men after Doni’s Wembley dreams ended with a straight red for hauling down Hoilett after Flanagan’s woefully short back pass had left his keeper badly exposed.

But the drama was far from over.

From the resulting spot kick, third-choice stopper Jones, with his first touch, saved Yakubu’s tame effort to preserve Liverpool’s two-goal cushion.

Yet former Everton striker Yakubu atoned for his miss by heading Rovers back into the game before the interval.

Liverpool’s marking from Dunn’s chipped set-piece, after Bellamy had conceded a cheap free-kick, was non-existent as an unmarked Yakubu was allowed to nod home eight yards out.

Carroll spurned a glorious chance to restore Liverpool’s two-goal cushion when he headed woefully wide with a gaping net in front of him in the early stages of the second half.

Rovers levelled from the spot after Jones shoved Yakubu after his attempted clearance had cannoned into the Rovers striker.

But just as the game appeared to be heading for a draw, up popped Carroll after a flick-on by substitute Daniel Agger.

BLACKBURN: Robinson 6; Orr 6, Dann 6, Hanley 6, Martin Olsson 6; Formica 6 (Rochina 73, 5), Nzonzi 6, Marcus Olsson 6, Hoilett 7; Dunn 6 (Lowe 75, 5); Yakubu 7.

LIVERPOOL (4-4-2): Doni 3; Flanagan 5 (Jones 26, 6), Skrtel 7, Coates 6, Johnson 6 (Agger 53, 6); Henderson 6, Shelvey 7, Spearing 6, Maxi 8 (Enrique 77, 5); Carroll 6, Bellamy 6.

Referee: Anthony Taylor 4.

LAST NIGHT’S RESULTS

npower Championship: Brighton 0 Reading 1; Portsmouth 0 Millwall 1.

npower League One: Rochdale 2 Sheff Utd 5.

Scottish Football League Championship First Division: Dundee 1 Queen of South 1; Falkirk 3 Hamilton 0; Morton 1 Partick 0; Raith 0 Livingston 3.