After two successive 0-0 stalemates against Fulham and West Ham United and with Chelsea running out 2-0 winners over Bolton Wanderers, the Reds really had to make sure of the three points against a relegation-threatened Blackburn Rovers side to stay at the summit of the Barclays Premier League.

Fernando Torres might have been missing from the starting line-up, but it was the Reds midfielders who made the difference. Alonso and Benayoun coolly slotted home on 70 and 79 minutes respectively, while Steven Gerrard rounded off the win when he shot into an empty net in the dying seconds.

It was a typically frustrating first half for the Reds, however. Carrying on from the frustrations of the last two league games, there was simply no outlet up front and a string of reckless passes allowed Paul Ince's side to go on the attack.

Where Liverpool put in a number of searching balls out to the wings, it was Blackburn who had the most clear-cut chances within the opening 10 minutes.

Tugay dinked one ball over the top in seach of Roque Santa Cruz, while Pepe Reina took one inswinging cross from the left flank to clear the danger.

The Spanish stopper also kept the Reds in the match when he denied Morten Gamst Pedersen on 20 minutes.

Steven Gerrard gave away possession in the middle of the park, which the Norwegian forward picked up and proceeded to charge down the wing. Pedersen then let fly with a fizzing shot from 20 yards, which Reina stretched to tip onto the bar to keep the scores at 0-0.

It was a fantastic shot from the Norwegian, and a surprising loss of concentration from the Reds skipper.

There might not have been any clear-cut opportunities for the Reds during the first 45 minutes, but a few hopeful chips forward created the odd half chance.

A glorious ball from Xabi Alonso found Ryan Babel on 10 minutes. The Dutch winger jinked his way past one defender before laying off to Steven Gerrard, but the Liverpool captain's pass was misplaced and Blackburn regained possession.

And it looked like Alvaro Arbeloa was going through on goal on 13 minues, when Jamie Carragher floated a pass up-field. The Spaniard's first touch was top class, but he coudln't bring it down in his second movement to forge any real attack.

Liverpool's best chance of the half came on 19 minutes, when Dirk Kuyt played an excellent through ball to Yossi Benayoun. The Israeli international was bearing down on Rovers keeper Paul Robinson, and the former Tottenham stopper got just enough on it to put out for a corner.

Gerrard charged across the centre of the park on 24 minutes and weaved a hopeful ball through the Blackburn rearguard looking for the forward-running Emiliano Insua, but the Reds' skipper put too much on his pass and the ball went out for a goal kick.

Liverpool's Argentine pair linked up well on 28 minutes. Javier Mascherano picked the ball up in the centre circle and found Insua with an excellently placed pass. The left-back really gave Andre Ooijer a torrid time and nearly found a way into the Rovers' penalty area.

With a host of players giving away possession during the first period, Liverpool found themselves under pressure far too often and could have gone a goal down on a number of occasions. But Pepe Reina put in a stand-out performance to keep the Reds in the game.

Blackburn went on the attack straight from the start of the second half, with Pederen storming through the penalty area to fire a speculative shot goalwards.But Pepe Reina was again on hand to keep Blackburn at bay.

Xabi Alonso had a great chance to score on 57 minutes. A great ball into the centre from Insua found Alonso, who trapped the ball before cleanly shooting with his right foot. But the Spaniard's shot was straight at Paul Robinson and the keeper parried clear.

Liverpool's midfield maestro would go on to learn from that chance, however, and struck a much sweeter shot to break the deadlock 13 minutes later.

Steven Gerrard, who had switched to the right wing a few minutes earlier, got a ball into the box for Kuyt to shepherd towards the Spaniard. Then Alonso ran onto Kuyt's ball and placed a neat shot past Paul Robinson with his right foot to put Liverpool in the lead and give the travelling Kop something to sing about.

It was a fantastic ball in from the Reds skipper. He picked up the ball on the right and didn't waste time in getting a low cross over to the danger zone.

Having already forged a few incisive attacks, Liverpool were worthy of their lead and did well to make the pressure count.

But Blackburn kept plugging away and Roque Santa Cruz had an excellent opportunity to level the scores five minutes later, but he placed his header wide of Reina's goal.

Liverpool scored a second on 79 minutes when Yossi Benayoun darted into the Rovers' box and struck a low shot past Paul Robinson.

The Israeli utility man turned Stephen Warnock inside out before firing into the far-bottom corner to get his first of the season. A great solo effort from Benayoun.

But Santa Cruz proved how dangerous he can be when he popped up at the far post to head home with five minutes remaining. The striker steamed in from a well-worked cross to get a clear header - the Liverpool defence had gone to sleep and Reina had now chance.

Despite a string of hopeful attacks from the home side, Liverpool always looked the more likely winners here, and Steven Gerrard made sure of the three points in the dying seconds when he slotted into an open goal to round off the win.