Matchwinner Fowler celebrates with Sissoko. (Photo: AP)
APRIL 16
Rafa
content with win
By Peter ORourke - Sky Sports
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez was happy with his side's win
at Blackburn.
The in-form Reds made it six wins on the trot thanks to
Robbie Fowler's first half goal.
"We worked very hard," said Benitez. "They put us under
pressure with long balls, but we created clear chances.
"The four defenders worked hard, and it was our idea to stay
deep and not allow Paul Dickov and Craig Bellamy to run at
us."
Benitez was also remaining coy over Fowler's future at
Anfield.
Fowler's short-term deal expires at the end of the season
and as yet no new contract offer has been put on the table.
"If he continues scoring goals it will be easy," added
Benitez.
"He's working hard because he loves Liverpool. He knows my
ideas and he will continue working.
"If I say `no' it will be difficult for me - but he would
understand. If I say `yes' if he continues scoring goals it
will be easier for me, him and the fans."
APRIL 16
Hughes
unhappy with goal
By Peter ORourke - Sky Sports
Blackburn boss Mark Hughes was left to bemoan the offside
law after seeing his side lose to Liverpool.
Robbie Fowler's controversial first half goal dented
Blackburn's hopes of winning a place in next season's UEFA
Champions League.
Djibril Cisse was in an offside position in the build-up to
Fowler's goal although referee Alan Wiley judged the
Frenchman was not interfering with play.
Hughes wants the offside issue clarified as he feels there
is too much confusion surrounding the ruling.
"The ball's thrown in, and he makes movement towards the
ball - so in my view he is interfering with play," said
Hughes.
"It is very unclear and nobody knows the circumstances of it
and until it is cleared up there are always going to be
incidents as we have seen today.
"The law is very unclear, and it's very difficult to hold a
defensive line."
Blackburn failed to trouble Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina
as The Reds recorded their sixth win on the trot and Hughes
admitted they found it hard to break down the visitors'
defence.
"It is always difficult to break down their defence," added
Hughes. "Their back four is very accomplished and we could
not draw out their full backs so it was hard to get behind
their back four.
"We lost the game, but we have a big game on Wednesday and
we will go again."
APRIL 16
Fowler strike
gives Liverpool win
BBC Sport Online
Robbie Fowler scored his fourth goal in five games to
extend Liverpool's winning run to seven matches.
Fowler slotted into an open net from Fernando Morientes'
pass after the offside Djibril Cisse was adjudged not to
have interfered with play.
Cisse could have doubled the Reds' lead on the stroke of
half time but Brad Friedel turned his strike onto the bar.
Blackburn piled on the pressure in the second half as
Liverpool retreated but failed to seriously trouble Jose
Reina.
The win means that Liverpool now only need one point from
their remaining three fixtures.
Liverpool were without their influential captain Steven
Gerrard who pulled out of the squad with a tight hamstring
before kick-off and Peter Crouch and Harry Kewell were
surprisingly left out of the line-up.
And their absence made for a toothless Liverpool attack for
much of the first half.
Blackburn looked the most threatening and Rovers' energy and
hustling in midfield forced Liverpool onto the back foot.
But for all Blackburn's industry, the home side were lacking
the killer pass that Craig Bellamy was constantly searching
for.
And it was the visitors who seized the initiative after 29
minutes.
Their opener was clouded in controversy as the referee's
assistant allowed play to continue as Fowler controlled for
Cisse who was standing in an offside position.
The France international striker let the ball run for the
overlapping Morientes who coolly and unselfishly squared for
Fowler to side-foot into an open net.
On the stroke of half time former Liverpool goalkeeper Brad
Friedel kept out Cisse's strike by turning it onto the bar
when the forward was clean through.
It would have been harsh on the home side to go into the
break two goals down and as the half-time whistle blew
Rovers' tempers began to fray with Lucas Neill booked for a
horrific challenge on Cisse.
Ryan Nelson saw a flicked header drift narrowly past the
post and Robbie Savage slashed a volley wide as the home
side probed for an equaliser.
Blackburn boss Mark Hughes introduced Shefki Kuqi to
intimidate the resolute Liverpool defence but Morientes
almost put the result beyond doubt with a close-range header
that just went wide.
Cisse had a better chance to seal it at the end but he could
only hit the post after being put clean through.
Rovers pushed for an equaliser but failed to break down the
solid Liverpool resistance as boss Rafa Benitez celebrated
his 46th birthday with a victory.
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