Rafa on duo and Allardyce

Rafa Benitez believes Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard could be the difference between Liverpool and the rest of the top four contenders after the pair fired the Reds to a 2-1 victory over Blackburn.

The skipper opened the scoring with a beautifully worked dink over the keeper on 20 minutes. 

Rovers then equalised from the penalty spot before Torres marked his first start in six weeks with a poacher's goal.

The result leaves Liverpool one point behind Man City and Tottenham in the race for fourth.

And Benitez told reporters: "I think it was deserved. We tried to play football even though it was difficult sometimes. We scored two goals and won.

"It wasn't a difficult decision to play Torres. We knew we needed some pace and threat in attack, and David Ngog played 90 minutes on a heavy pitch the other day.

"Torres was okay today. He was really tired at the end but he was trying, especially in the first half. In the second half it was more difficult because he does not have the match fitness levels.

"If Gerrard and Fernando play well they can score goals like today and maybe they can be the difference."

Repeatedly pressed on negative comments by Sam Allardyce before the game, Benitez replied: "We prefer to talk on the pitch.

"We can win on the pitch and enjoy. Some people have to talk before or after the press conference because it's more difficult for them to do a football job.

"I think he's a model for managers all around the world. I am sure his style of football, his behaviour - everything. It's the perfect model for all the kids.

"The style of football - I am sure Barcelona are thinking about copying the style."

Blackburn received five bookings on the day and were lucky not to have Steven Nzonzi dismissed for a shove on Lucas.

Benitez added: "Nzonzi was very, very clear in touching the face of Lucas Leiva. The rules are the rules. Chimbonda from behind on Maxi has to be a yellow card too - that's very clear."

The boss will now assess his players at Melwood tomorrow, including Fabio Aurelio and Daniel Agger who picked up injuries.

"Aurelio has a strain in his quadriceps," added the boss.

"Pepe Reina had a problem with his shoulder so we waited to make the last substitution just in case. But he's okay - he's fine now. We have four or five players bleeding and Maxi with stud marks."