Liverpool 4 Blackburn Rovers 0

Last updated : 04 April 2004 By Footymad Previewer

Steven Gerrard was determined to erase the sour memory of defeat whilst wearing the captain's armband for England against Sweden.

His trademark determination and some aggressive running shook the Blackburn defence early on in the game.

The Reds continued to attack with El Hadji Diouf putting a fine cross into the box only for Liverpool old boy Brad Friedel to pick it out of the air with ease.

But the home side's pressure paid off in the seventh minute when Michael Owen caught the American goalkeeper napping.

A clever run by Harry Kewell opened a gap in Blackburn's armour and the Australian international slid the ball to Emile Heskey who in turn gave a sweet lay-off to Owen just inside the box.

And with a quick twist the 24-year-old striker placed the ball just past Friedel's outstretched arms and into the right hand corner.

Blackburn were clearly demoralised after conceding the early goal and resorted to long balls and made some rash challenges.

Rovers luck took a turn for the worse when defender Andy Todd ended up on the scoresheet with an own goal. Diouf had sneaked in on the right hand side of the area and tried to lift another cross over Todd but it took a deflection off his shoulder to give Liverpool a two-goal buffer in the 22nd minute.

However, the home side refused to take their foot off the gas and were rewarded again just two minutes later. Diouf was again involved in the build up play and served a streaking Owen with a text book pass and, choosing to shoot rather than pass to a wide open Kewell, he found the back of the net for a second time.

Gerard Houllier must have been lost for words during his half-time team talk for it has been a rare occasion this season for Liverpool to go into the break with so comfortable a lead and firing on all cylinders.

They entered the second half much more relaxed and allowing Blackburn more possession, but the visitors failed to take advantage and Jerzy Dudek was not tested all afternoon.

A sudden downpour above Anfield brought the home side from their slumber and moments after coming on for Owen, Milan Baros set Heskey up for goal number four in the 79th minute.

The substitute made a run past two defenders before laying the ball off for Heskey to tuck away and give Liverpool one of their most memorable wins of this campaign.