Andy Carroll's ninth goal since joining Liverpool over a year ago gave 10-man Liverpool a 3-2 win at relegation-threatened Blackburn Rovers in a game including a sending-off, two penalties and some comical goalkeeping.
Carroll, under fire for his lack of goals since his $55 million move from Newcastle United in January last year, headed home from six metres out with only three minutes on the clock to worsen their opponents' plight.
Blackburn remained in the bottom three on 28 points from 33 games, level on points with 17th-placed Queens Park Rangers and Wigan Athletic while Liverpool stayed eighth on 46 points.
The visitors started brightly and were two goals clear after Argentine Maxi Rodriguez clinically dispatched chances in the 13th and 16th minutes.
The game, and Liverpool's week with an FA Cup semi-final against neighbours Everton to come on Saturday, was disrupted nine minutes later when goalkeeper Doni conceded a penalty and was shown a red-card for a foul on Yakubu Aiyegbeni. First choice keeper Pepe Reina will miss the weekend Wembley outing after he was given a three-match ban for a red card at Newcastle on April 2, leaving Liverpool with only one goalie in Brad Jones.
Yakubu pulled one back for Blackburn with a header on 36 minutes while in the second half Jones conceded Liverpool's second penalty when he palmed a clearance straight to the striker and pulled Yakubu down. He failed to stop the penalty just after the hour.
{{/usCountry}}Yakubu pulled one back for Blackburn with a header on 36 minutes while in the second half Jones conceded Liverpool's second penalty when he palmed a clearance straight to the striker and pulled Yakubu down. He failed to stop the penalty just after the hour.
{{/usCountry}}With the game meandering towards a draw, Liverpool's Daniel Agger's header into the path of Carroll to score, earning a valuable three points.
Jones dedicates win to late son
Liverpool's third-choice keeper Jones dedicated the win to his son Luca, who died of leukaemia five months ago, after the Australian keeper endured a bitter-sweet Premier League debut for Kenny Dalglish's side on Tuesday.
The keeper, whose partner Dani gave birth to a baby boy Nico Luca Jones last week, said: "It has been a difficult 18 months with my son passing away.
"That was for him and for the Liverpool fans, who have been brilliant."