The script could not have been written any better for Fernando Torres. From the second his name was read out before kick-off right down to his decisive winning goal, it appeared that fate had conspired in his favour.
Liverpool's prolific number nine made his first start since limping out of the humiliating FA Cup defeat to Reading in mid-January as Rafael Benitez's side maintained their pressure on top four rivals Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur but it was Blackburn who started the stronger.
Christopher Samba attempted to signal his side's intent as early as the first minute when he forced Pepe Reina to save from an El-Hadji Diouf corner. Junior Hoylett also went close just minutes later when he curled a looping shot just wide of Reina's goal.
Rovers continued to threaten as Morten Gamst Pederson struck a blistering half volley on target after Daniel Agger failed to clear Martin Olsson's cross as far as the Norwegian whilst Nikola Kalinic's goal-bound shot curled agonisingly wide of the Kop net.
However Steven Gerrard broke the deadlock on 20 minutes after good work by Yossi Benayoun on the left-hand side of midfield and despite miscontrolling, the Kop skipper recovered well to lift the ball high over Paul Robinson and give his side the lead.
Blackburn's response was almost immediate as Pedersen embarked on a dual attack; first with a shot on the edge of the area and then with a follow-up effort after Reina had palmed the ball away.
Ten minutes later, Dirk Kuyt should have doubled the advantage but blazed a header wide from virtually the same angle from which he scored against Bolton Wanderers here a month previous.
Liverpool were level-pegged minutes before the break after a failed clearance by Benayoun saw Agger and Jamie Carragher fumble in their efforts to avert the danger. The veteran defender went tumbling and handled in the area, prompting Keith Andrews to slot home from 12 yards.
But it was Torres, who joins Spain's squad this evening ahead of their showpiece friendly with France on Wednesday, that drew the biggest roar from the home crowd in the 44th minute. The talismanic striker fired into an empty net after Maxi Rodriguez had recovered an interception by Samba.
Sam Allardyce has bemoaned both referees and Benitez's style of play in equal measure in the run-up to this match but he may be forced to alter his view on the latter after the scrappy encounter took a vicious turn not long after the restart.
Lucas Leiva was sent sprawling to the ground with a shove to his face after being manhandled by Steven Nzonzi. Referee Alan Wiley, however, decided the foul only warranted a caution. A minute later, Pascal Chimbonda was fortunate not to be booked after bringing down Maxi outside the area.
The pair came to blows once again in the latter stages of the game and the former Wigan defender was also lucky to remain on the pitch after embedding his studs into the Argentine's chest. Tempers continued to flare when Kalinic's foul on Mascherano also went unpunished.
Normally found at the heart of the Reds' midfield, the 25-year-old deputised as a full-back on this occasion - underlining his versatility and overall commitment to the cause but found thimself on the receiving end of another rash tackle by Rovers, this time courtesy of Diouf.
The Senegal international revealed prior to this meeting that the boos he receives spur him on but the chorus of jeers emanating from the Kop may have had an effect on the attacker as he appeared more reckless in challenges agaist his former club.
During the five minutes of added time, Reina was called into action to make a crucial stop from a Samba header as Liverpool held on to record only their second league victory this month.
FINAL SCORE: LIVERPOOL 2 BLACKBURN ROVERS 1
LIVERPOOL: Reina, Agger, Aurelio (Insua 38), Mascherano, Carragher, Gerrard, Benayoun (Babel 81), Maxi, Lucas, Torres (Ngog 89), Kuyt. Subs (not used): Cavalieri, Kelly, Ayala, Aquilani.
BLACKBURN ROVERS: Robinson, Samba, Givet, Olsson (Chimbonda 50), Salgado, Pedersen, Nzonzi (Grella 60), Andrews, Hoilett (Roberts 64), Diouf, Kalinic. Subs (not used): Brown, Emerton, Dunn, Di Santo.
Referee: Alan Wiley
Attendance: 42,795
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