It’s a real Philippe for Rodgers’ men
BLACKBURN 0 LIVERPOOL 1
AFTER a nightmarish fortnight, Liverpool can dare to dream again.
The pursuit of a Champions League place remains optimistic at best, but Brendan Rodgers’ hunt for FA Cup success is fuelled by more realistic expectation.
In reaching their 24th semi- final in the competition, Liverpool had to first ride their luck before overcoming vibrant Blackburn’s relentless challenge, as Ewood Park rocked to a raucous beat.
The visitors were initially indebted to a Belgian in Simon Mignolet, who brilliantly denied Ben Marshall, before a Brazilian in Philippe Coutinho conjured a moment of composure and quality to finally eke out an advantage after 70 minutes of an absorbing replay.
It was Liverpool’s 34th shot of the tie, ensuring perseverance paid off. In scoring, Coutinho kept intact Steven Gerrard’s hopes of ending his Liverpool career by lifting a trophy at Wembley, although Aston Villa will be no pushovers in the semi- final on April 19.
More importantly, this was a result that kept alive his teammates’ campaign.
Rodgers saw his side scratch around for the breakthrough that would bring confidence and with it momentum, though only halfchances came their way as the final pass too often found a Blackburn defender rather than a red shirt.
A lack of conviction from Joe Allen meant an early volleyed chance from Alex Baptiste’s clearing header rolled apologetically wide, before Daniel Sturridge curled a shot from 20 yards that landed on the roof of Simon Eastwood’s net. The return of the striker was supposed to pep Liverpool in the final stages of the season, yet after all those months out, the fluency has still to return to his game.
For all the intent Liverpool mustered, it did not translate into the sort of opportunities that would have calmed the nerves.
As at Anfield a month ago when the teams played out a low- key, goalless stalemate, Blackburn accepted the role of party poopers with relish in front of the largest crowd at Ewood Park since 2011.
A switch from a three- man rearguard to a back four did not banish Liverpool’s jitters, reopening the debate that it is the personnel who are the underlying problem.
In particular, Mamadou Sakho’s form has lapsed. A Jordan Rhodes flick- on spread panic and Sakho’s haphazard attempts to shepherd the ball back to Mignolet allowed Craig Conway to threaten until the Frenchman’s last- ditch tackle atoned for the aberration.
Sakho did not make it to the interval, having damaged a hamstring in the moments that preceded Rhodes heading wastefully high and wide from Marshall’s leftwing cross. The introduction of Kolo Toure as his replacement will have done little to dissuade Blackburn from believing another top- flight scalp to go with those of Swansea and Stoke was within reach.
The opening skirmishes after the interval will have cemented that belief. If Mignolet would have been expected to turn Tom Cairney’s swerving 25- yard strike away, then the save he produced from the resulting corner was nothing short of outstanding.
The unmarked Marshall bulleted a header from Conway’s set- piece, which Mignolet expertly pushed on to the post to preserve parity. The introduction of Rudy Gestede – who had tormented Liverpool in the original tie – after 65 minutes reflected the hosts’ superiority and the sight of him winning his first battle with Dejan Lovren and feeding Rhodes, whose shot was blocked, spoke volumes.
At the back of Blackburn manager Gary Bowyer’s mind will have been the fear that their chance had been and gone and so it proved.
A corner was cleared back to Coutinho and he played a neat one- two with Jordan Henderson before driving a low shot from the angle of the six- yard box through Matt Kilgallon and into the far corner off the post.
Rovers keeper Eastwood nearly extended the game in the dying seconds but his shot in a crowded penalty area was saved desperately by Mignolet at the second attempt to send Liverpool through.