Premier League: Blackburn 3 Liverpool 1

Liverpool’s miserable season continued after they were comprehensively beaten 3-1 by Blackburn at Ewood Park.

A Martin Olsson strike and two goals from Benjani saw Rovers pick up three points and leapfrog their opponents in the Premier League table.

Steven Gerrard scored and missed a penalty as Liverpool finally kicked into gear in the dying minutes but it was too little too late for the misfiring Reds.It was a first home win for Rovers boss Steve Kean but the future now looks uncertain for his opposite number and former Blackburn manager Roy Hodgson, who was barracked with chants of ‘sacked in the morning’ by the home fans.

Blackburn began well with David Dunn hitting a looping volley over the bar before Mame Biram Diouf squandered a good chance.

The Senegalese forward miscued from close range after a curling cross from Olsson was deflected into his path, but his controlled effort rose high above Pepe Reina’s bar.

At the other end, Joe Cole looked lively after his last-minute heroics against Bolton and he poked Liverpool’s best first-half effort just wide from a tight angle after good work from Glen Johnson.

Diouf made up for his miss in the 31st minute with a perfect pass to release Olsson who strode clear and fired in through Reina’s legs.

Blackburn were 2-0 ahead six minutes later when Benjani brilliantly held off Sotirios Kyrgiakos and smashed the ball high past Reina although the Spanish goalkeeper may have felt he could have done better.

Rovers looked like they had wrapped up the win shortly after the restart when Justin Hoilett beat Glen Johnson and delivered a perfect cross to Benjani for the simplest of tap-ins from three yards.

Gerrard gave Liverpool a lifeline in the 81st minute with a smart strike after Fernando Torres’s snapshot was blocked.

And he could have made it a tense finish when Michel Salgado clipped the Liverpool captain in the box with four minutes to go but he blasted his spot-kick over the bar.