REDS STAY TOP AFTER WIN

LIVERPOOL remain top of the Barclays Premier League after a 3-1 win away to Blackburn to pile the pressure on Paul Ince.

Goals from Xabi Alonso, Yossi Benayoun and Steven Gerrard was enough to seal a 3-1 victory with Roque Santa Cruz grabbing Blackburn's goal. It was a huge relief for The Reds after another goalless draw was getting closer.

It was nearly a completely different story however, when midway through the first half Pepe Reina made a fantastic save from Morten Gamst Pedersen's 30 yard effort to push it on the bar.

It took until the 69th minute for Liverpool to break through the Blackburn defence, when Dirk Kuyt's cut back was steered home by Alonso from the edge of the area much to the clear relief of the rest of the team and fans.

Once the deadlock had been broken Rovers had to come out to try and find an equaliser, which left gaps at the back. Yossi Benayoun saw his chance to double the lead on 79 minutes, when he took on former Red Stephen Warnock and drove the ball past Paul Robinson from a tight angle.

Blackburn got a goal back on 86 minutes when a short corner wasn't picked up on quick enough and Keith Andrews' cross was flicked on and met at the far post by Santa Cruz to head home from close range.

Any nerves Liverpool had about letting a two goal lead slip where soon diminished when Robinson cleared just ahead of Nabil El Zhar, but with the former England number one on the floor, the ball fell to Albert Riera who unselficially squared to Gerrard who steadied himself and steered the ball in from 20 yards to seal the win.

This win means Blackburn haven't won in their last 1o games, piling yet more pressure on Paul Ince. He came out in the press on Friday saying new managers need more time to bed into the job, and he'll be hoping his words are taken notice of after another failure to win.

It was a nervy game but to see three goals go in away from home will be a massive relief to all Kopites. Attentions turn to the Champions League now, with Liverpool travelling to PSV in the hope of securing top spot in Group D after already qualifying for the knock out stages.

TRAWK Man Of The Match: Pepe Reina; made a fantastic save to keep it at 0-0 in the first half and was his usual reliable self.

YNWA...