Leaders Liverpool pile pressure on Ince

Goals from Xabi Alonso, Yossi Benayoun and Steven Gerrard helped Liverpool record a hard-earned 3-1 win away to Blackburn Rovers and keep the Reds top of the Premier League on Saturday.

Liverpool had to scrap all the way at Ewood Park against a Blackburn side who’ve now failed to win in the Premier League for 10 matches.

Rafael Benitez left Robbie Keane on the bench and Liverpool looked likely to be held to a third straight stalemate in the league before Alonso opened the scoring in the 69th minute and Benayoun added a second 10 minutes later.

Roque Santa Cruz pulled one back for Rovers four minutes from the finish but there was still time for Liverpool captain Gerrard to add a third and leave Rovers, managed by Anfield old-boy Paul Ince, in the relegation zone.

Rovers’s only early threat came when Stephen Warnock slipped Morten Gamst Pedersen in behind the Liverpool defence but the winger’s cross was blocked.

Liverpool were struggling to create decent openings but Benayoun should have done better with the first real opportunity in the 19th minute.

Quick passing from Alonso and Dirk Kuyt set the Israeli midfielder through on Paul Robinson but Warnock’s sliding challenge did enough to divert the ball wide of goal.

Blackburn had been happy to contain the visitors but Gerrard handed Rovers an opening just before the half hour.

The England midfielder’s slack pass to Alvaro Arbeloa was easily cut out by Pedersen and the Norwegian winger’s dipping drive from more than 30 yards was pushed on to the bar by Pepe Reina.

And seven minutes before the break, Reina was forced to push Pedersen’s fizzing free-kick past the post.

Liverpool finally went close before the interval when Ryan Babel won a header in midfield and Kuyt nicked the ball away from Christopher Samba only for Gerrard to fire wide from just outside the area.

Then Jamie Carragher had to be alert to block Pedersen from 15 yards out after Santa Cruz’s flick from the restart.

Still struggling to create clear chances, Liverpool were piling on more and more pressure and Robinson was called on to make a decent save from Alonso after Emiliano Insua’s cross was headed to the Spanish midfielder by Samba.

Benitez’s side were finally getting into their stride and after Babel’s strong run, Gerrard’s powerful strike was stopped but not held by Robinson.

The ball squirted clear but New Zealand international Ryan Nelsen blocked Benayoun’s attempt to pull the ball back across goal.

There was a further snub for Keane when Benitez decided to take Babel off, only to replace the Dutchman with youngster Nabil El Zhar.

Midway through the second period, Liverpool broke the deadlock when Alonso clipped in from the edge of the area.

Gerrard’s cross from the right was sliced by Kuyt but Alonso steered the ball into the corner with a composed finish.

Blackburn attempted an immediate response but Santa Cruz headed wide after beating Sami Hyypia to Australia star Brett Emerton’s cross from the right.

And with 10 minutes left, Benayoun, after controlling Kuyt’s cross-field pass, skipped past Warnock and slotted the ball past Robinson.

With five minutes remaining, Keith Andrews’s cross was flicked on by Andre Ooijer and Santa Cruz scored to give Blackburn hope.

But deep into added time, Robinson was out quickly to block from el Zhar only for Albert Riera to find Gerrard, who knocked the ball into the empty net.