Liverpool 3 Blackburn 1:Fernando Torres became the first Liverpool player to score in seven consecutive home league games as Rafael Benitez's side easily overcame Blackburn.

Torres scored his 30th goal of the campaign in his debut season at Anfield and was joined on the scoresheet by Steven Gerrard — with his 21st of the season — and Andriy Voronin.

Roque Santa Cruz scored a late consolation for Rovers, but it was a case of too little, too late for Mark Hughes side.

After the minute's silence for the 19th anniversary — on Tuesday — of the Hillsborough tragedy, the game started very low key.

The first chance came after nine minutes when Gerrard, playing his 300th league game for the club, saw a whipped in cross flicked narrowly wide by Torres.

A fine challenge by ex-Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock then stopped Torres in full flow.

Soon after Gerrard managed to upset referee Alan Wiley when he went down far too easily as Rovers goalkeeper Brad Friedel came out to meet him on the left of the box.

The Staffordshire official was rightly quick to warn the Liverpool skipper, who escaped a yellow card.

Wiley ignored far more obvious claims for a free-kick when Christopher Samba bundled Gerrard over on the edge of the box.

And when Torres and Dirk Kuyt combined to set-up Gerrard for a 20-yard shot that looked to be deflected wide the official gave a goal-kick, much to the growing anger of the home crowd.

Kuyt then saw a 25-yard shot held by Friedel before the Dutch forward headed just wide from a Gerrard free-kick.

Warnock received a tremendous reception from the Kop at the start of the second-half, the young full-back having played 67 games for Liverpool before moving to Ewood Park 15 months ago.

Morten Gamst Pedersen saw two free-kicks saved by Jose Reina before Lucas, at the other end, fired wide.

After 59 minutes, Benitez introduced Yossi Benayoun in place of Babel and his energy was instrumental in the early build-up to a fine Gerrard goal on the hour.

Benayoun won possession and fed Lucas, the Brazilian exchanging passes with Gerrard before the Liverpool skipper cut into the box and side-footed the ball past Friedel.

Roberts appealed for a penalty in the 71st minute after a clash with Martin Skrtel, replays suggesting he was more sinner than sinned against.

But when the same pair clashed again a minute later, Skrtel was booked.

Rovers, who sent on Benni McCarthy for Pedersen a minute later, were far from out of it and David Bentley sent a 25-yard free-kick just wide.

But Liverpool went further ahead after 82 minutes.

Lucas won possession and fed Gerrard on the right. When his cross curled into the box, Torres was there to head past Friedel.

Gerrard was denied another penalty by the official as he fell under a Samba challenge, before Torres was spared any further involvement, allowing Voronin a late run-out.

And in the final minute Voronin slid home the third from substitute John Arne Riise's low cross.

In injury-time Santa Cruz fired home after a poor header from Skrtel, but by then the points had been well won by Liverpool.