His choice to show Blackburn right back Lucas Neill a straight red card for a challenge on Jamie Carragher left Rovers fans fuming but placed the initiative firmly into the hands of the Reds.
By this time it was already 1-1, a super shot on the turn from Matt Jansen firing Blackburn ahead eight minutes in, and then Michael Owen equalising from the spot after El Hadji Diouf was dragged down by Vratislav Gresko.
Carragher was carried off following the Neill tackle to add to a serious injury to Reds striker Milan Baros in the second minute. The Czech was stretchered off and replaced by Emile Heskey.
Liverpool dominated the rest of the half, Blackburn's excellent goalkeeper Brad Friedel keeping his side in the game denying Owen, Steven Gerrard and Sami Hyypia.
It was a similar story after the break, Owen and Heskey spurning chances they should have buried before Owen finally did clinically beat Friedel when Markus Babbel failed to stop Vlademir Smicer.
Rovers' World Cup finalist substitute Dino Baggio came on for his debut and wasted a glorious opportunity to level matters on 76 minutes. A Brett Emerton cross bemused Jerzy Dudek who could only palm it to the feet of Baggio but the Italian blazed over wildly.
Owen was sent clear twice on Friedel's goal in the 88th minute but the American goalkeeper produced fabulous saves to deny the England striker a hat-trick.
Liverpool were destined to get a third though, Australian forward Harry Kewell blasting a low daisy-cutter into the far corner with seconds left on the clock.