Liverpool 2 Blackburn Rovers 1:OLD TRAFFORD is not the only place where errant strikers can suddenly return to their manager's embrace. Unlike Wayne Rooney and Alex Ferguson, however, one cannot put a price on Fernando Torres's rapprochement with Roy Hodgson.

Before this critical game, Hodgson had been compelled to deny rumours of a falling out with the Spaniard. He had also conceded that Liverpool could be vulnerable should United come calling for his leading striker in January.

Torres was also, in his manager’s assessment of the derby defeat at Goodison Park last weekend, the only individual on show struggling for confidence.

The striker’s response against Blackburn Rovers was to enhance his manager’s sense of self-preservation on Merseyside.

The value of Torres’ winner against Sam Allardyce’s team, only his second goal in 11 appearances this season, far exceeded points where Hodgson was concerned. It capped another step forward in terms of performance level, quickly released Anfield from renewed self-doubt caused by Jamie Carragher’s ridiculous own goal, and released the pressure valve above the manager on the day that Tom Werner, chairman of the new owner, New England Sports Ventures, took in his first home game.

Werner’s report to John W Henry, his fellow managing partner who was absent through illness, will note seeds of recovery.

“There is no question Fernando was very down after the World Cup,” said Hodgson, who was speaking for two when he added: “Maybe people do get down when they are criticised left, right and centre. It does depress you somewhat, but maybe he’s beginning to come out of that and finding the joy of playing again.”

Kick-off was delayed while Anfield waited for Gerry Marsden to finish a rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone. Whether the singer was brought in to welcome Liverpool’s new owners or to rouse an apprehensive crowd is unknown, but the team accepted that the ultimate responsibility belonged to them.

Hodgson overlooked those fringe players who impressed in Naples on Thursday in favour of the same starting XI that was easily beaten at Everton. As in the Europa League tie, there was a marked improvement in Liverpool as they dominated a Blackburn side missing its first-choice central defence, Christopher Samba and Ryan Nelsen, to suspension and injury respectively, and without Steven Nzonzi once the central midfielder pulled up with a hamstring strain on the half hour.

Goalkeeper Paul Robinson produced a resolute display that started with an early reaction save from Joe Cole at close range. Raul Meireles prodded a glorious chance wide from the rebound.

The former England number one then thwarted Sotirios Kyrgiakos, a constant threat at set pieces, and Steven Gerrard at the end of a flowing Liverpool counterattack, while Lucas Leiva and Maxi Rodriguez squandered fine openings.

Passing more crisply and pressing far higher up the pitch than of late, the home side’s application soothed their manager’s worries, but they needed a breakthrough to address their insecurity. Five open, error-strewn minutes after the restart proved defining.

Kyrgiakos lost Phil Jones at a Gerrard corner to head beyond the exposed Robinson, although Michel Salgado got the final touch.

A calamitous own goal brought Blackburn level three minutes later when Paul Konchesky cleared off the line from El-Hadji Diouf, only for the clearance to cannon in off Carragher’s chest.

“When that went in with our first shot on target you could sense the crowd going, ‘Oh no, here we go again’,” Sam Allardyce said.

Hodgson said: “What really pleased me was how we started again. Pepe (Reina) raced out with the ball and we got on with it. No heads dropped.”

Rovers switched off at another Gerrard corner. Kyrgiakos flicked on a cross from Cole and Torres was left to side-foot the ball into the corner of the goal.

Allardyce said: “There is no way we would have left Fernando Torres free to score a side-footer from six yards had we had our usual central defence available.”

The small but invaluable breaks went Hodgson’s way, on a day he needed them most.