Rafa gets bragging rights

STEVEN GERRARD and Fernando Torres on the scoresheet, Rafa Benitez and Sam Allardyce at each others' throats. Normal service was resumed at Anfield yesterday.

Long before the disintegration of relations between John Terry and Wayne Bridge, Benitez and Allardyce were at daggers drawn, and the sense of mutual loathing that persists shows no sign of easing.

There might have been a handshake at the final whistle but it carried all the warmth of two boxers touching gloves before a title bout.

That Liverpool emerged victorious from a typically niggly affair brought Benitez the bragging rights he so dearly craves over a sworn enemy.

That they did so with Gerrard and Torres scoring in the same match for the first time since September widened the smile on his face.

Blackburn will receive an FA fine for five bookings and Pascal Chimbonda could be subject to a probe after thrusting a boot in Maxi Rodriguez's chest that somehow went unpunished. Steven Nzonzi shoved Lucas in the face in a separate incident and El-Hadji Diouf had to be lectured by Merseyside Police as he walked off at half-time as a feud with Gerrard threatened to boil over.

Having seen Liverpool dismissed as over-physical and Bolton-like in the pre-match preamble by Allardyce, Benitez was in no mood to hold back.

"It doesn't matter what he said. We won. We prefer to do our talking out on the pitch," said Benitez, his words about to be laced with heavy sarcasm. "He is a model for all the managers around the world. I am sure parents everywhere will enjoy this model and tell their kids, 'This is how it should be done'. In fact, I believe that Barcelona see this as the way ahead and are thinking of copying their style."

Allardyce ended the match in deep conversation with the same police officer who had spoken to Diouf. But when asked about former Liverpool striker Diouf's behaviour, he took exception. "Did he behave badly? So Steven Gerrard didn't say anything? I won't answer that because it is a diabolical question," he said.

Had Blackburn a clinical goalscorer in their ranks, they may have killed off Liverpool's hopes of fourth place.

As it was, Pepe Reina had to produce a flying save from Christopher Samba's header in injury-time to preserve the hosts' advantage. Gerrard had moved to joint 10th place alongside Sam Raybould in the club's list of all-time leading scorers with the opener in the 20th minute.

Yet, a poor clearance from Yossi Benayoun resulted in Blackburn forcing a penalty when the ball struck the arm of the Jamie Carragher. Keith Andrews stepped forward to become the first visiting player to score at Anfield in the league since Charles N'Zogbia back on December 16.

Crucially, however, Blackburn were level for just four minutes.

Maxi crossed for Torres to touch into a gaping net. It was his first start since mid-January, but his 13th goal in just 17 league appearances and enough to whet Benitez's appetite - if victory over Allardyce had not already done so.

Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Reina 7; Mascherano 8, Carragher 7, Agger 7, Aurelio 6 (Insua 38, 6); Lucas 7, Gerrard 8; Maxi 7, Kuyt 6, Benayoun 7 (Babel 81); Torres 7 (Ngog 89). Booked: Lucas. Goals: Gerrard 20, Torres 44.

Blackburn (4-1-4-1): Robinson 6; Salgado 6, Samba 6, Givet 6, Olsson 6 (Chimbonda 51, 5); Nzonzi 6 (Grella 60, 5); Diouf 5, Andrews 6, Pedersen 6, Hoilett 6 (Roberts 64, 6); Kalinic 6. Booked: Salgado, Olsson, Nzonzi, Kalinic, Diouf. Goal: Andrews 40 pen.

Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire)

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