Second-half goals from Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Andriy Voronin sealed the points before a late consolation from Roque Santa Cruz.

It's now 30 goals for El Nino this season, and his strike today saw him become the first player in Liverpool history to net in seven successive top-flight games at Anfield.

In a week of turmoil off the pitch, that, as well as another well-earned win, is at least something for the Kop to cheer about.

Rafa Benitez this week urged his players to wrap up fourth spot as soon as possible. Then, and only then, could they fully focus on reaching a third Champions League final in four seasons.

So, it was no surprise to see big guns Torres and Gerrard line up against Mark Hughes' men despite speculation Benitez might tinker following the Arsenal epic.

Before the duo set about the job in hand, Anfield first remembered the 96 football fans who died at Hillsborough 19 years ago on Tuesday with banners, black armbands and an impeccably observed minute's silence. Gone but never forgotten.

Once play did get underway, it was Blackburn who drew first blood, Jason Roberts ghosting past the Reds backline on five minutes before sidefooting beyond Pepe Reina. Unfortunately for the powerful striker, he (along with a dozen or so over-zealous Rovers fans) was the only one not to spot the linesman's flag.

Down at the other end, Torres headed narrowly wide from a corner on nine minutes before Fabio Aurelio volleyed into the hoardings after being teed up by the excellent Dirk Kuyt.

Referee Alan Wiley then had to decide whether to award a home penalty after Brad Friedel appeared to clip Gerrard in the box. The Anfield Road didn't like it, but his emphatic shake of the head was probably right.

By now it was all Liverpool. Friedel was again tested when Kuyt sent a low drive goalwards on 17 minutes.

Meanwhile, Gerrard, who claimed his performance against Arsenal five days ago was amongst his worst in a red shirt, was everywhere.

Again he found himself through on 21 minutes only to be barged down by last man Christopher Samba inside the D. This time the anger directed at Wiley as he waved away Liverpool protests was justified.

The skipper had no one to blame but himself midway through the half, however, when he sent a bouncing effort harmlessly wide after a cut-back from Kuyt.

Reina had yet to be called into action, though this changed on 35 minutes when a superb reflex save was required to thwart the dangerous Santa Cruz.

Kuyt, who was crucified in the press after a host of misses against Rovers before Christmas, then had a decent chance to make amends when Gerrard floated a free-kick towards the back post. The Dutch international will have been disappointed his header did not hit the target.

It took the hosts a little time to find their feet after the restart, with the Kop having to wait nine minutes for a serious chance. It came when a Gerrard corner was cleared towards Lucas, whose well-executed volley would have been unstoppable had it been directed two feet to the left.

Benitez had already seen enough to stir his pot, withdrawing Ryan Babel in the hope Yossi Benayoun could find a way through one of the Premier League's most stubborn rearguards.

Talk about inspired. Within 60 seconds the mercurial Israeli picked up a loose ball from Santa Cruz, shuffled past a man and dinked the ball to Gerrard on the edge of the box. The England man played a sublime one-two with Lucas before tucking beyond Freidel to take his tally for the season to 21.

The strike meant Liverpool had now scored 58 league goals this term - more than ever before under Benitez.

Another could have followed on 74 minutes when a superb team move involving Gerrard and Lucas left Xabi Alonso with time to look up 20 yards out. The Spanish midfielder just couldn't keep his half-volley down, however, and it remained 1-0.

Blackburn were creating relatively little down the other end, though David Bentley, a man oft linked with a move to Anfield, gave a first glimpse of his undoubted talent with a wicked free-kick which curled just inches wide.

It could have been 1-1 but instead it was soon 2-0. Liverpool's second came on 82 minutes after Lucas pounced on a loose ball down the right before feeding Gerrard. The skipper looked up before picking out Torres in the box. El Nino's header across goal gave Friedel no chance and it was game over.

There was another decent penalty shout with five minutes left on the clock when Samba again felled Gerrard, though by now no one inside Anfield was surprised to see Wiley keep his whistle in his fist.

Never mind, for substitute Voronin was soon on hand to make it three with a close range tap-in after good work from John Arne Riise.

Santa Cruz's well-taken volley in injury time did little aside from frustrate the otherwise excellent Reds back four.

So, Rafa's plea for his players to tie up fourth place ASAP seems to have been heeded.

Though no one at Anfield will be counting their chickens just yet, a five-point lead with four games remaining takes the pressure off next weekend's visit to Craven Cottage - a match which comes just three days before the first installment of yet another Champions League semi-final against Chelsea.

With Everton still to face Avram Grant's side in the league, as well as a trip to the Emirates, it'd take a brave man to now bet against Liverpool taking their place in next season's competition.

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