Reds on the up

Some things never change. Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres can always be relied upon to rescue Liverpool from the jaws of defeat and El-Hadji Diouf never fails to rile opposition fans, players and the public at large.

Even by their standards, yesterday represented a low - or high - point. The fuse was lit the moment Allardyce chose to suggest before kick-off that Liverpool's current incarnation had eschewed the aesthetic in pursuit of victory. The fireworks soon followed.

On the pitch, there was a bad-tempered, fractious win for Liverpool, goals from Gerrard and Torres, separated by a Keith Andrews penalty, keeping Benitez's side in touch with Tottenham and Manchester City, and marked by Blackburn's descent from bright start into bruising brutality .

Even that, though, was not a patch on the naked hostility between the managers. Allardyce went first, defending his right to criticise Benítez on the grounds that the Liverpool manager had lashed out at him "personally many, many times before," even if none of them had been this week.

"I only have a go at Liverpool because Liverpool have a go at me," he said. "I am entitled to respond when he criticises me. If you do not understand that, then you are deluded."

Benitez, too, spurned the chance to play the diplomat. "Some people have to talk before or after a game because the football job is more difficult for them," he said. "If Blackburn are happy to play football the way they do under this manager then that is fine.

"I think this style is the perfect model for all the managers all over the world. Parents will enjoy it and encourage their kids to play like this. I think Barcelona are thinking of copying this style. This manager is an example for the way you want to be on and off the pitch."

It was no surprise that Benítez was in such scathing mood. Blackburn had five players booked and could easily have seen two, Steven Nzonzi and Pascal Chimbonda, dismissed, the former grappling Lucas to the floor and the latter kicking out at Maxi Rodriguez. Diouf, predictably, spent his afternoon baiting the crowd and clashing with Gerrard.

Allardyce insisted the five bookings were "not a reflection on the way we played. But if you want to write that, that's your responsibility."

It is, and it was, for all that Blackburn began the game in impressive fashion, going close through Christopher Samba and Nikola Kalinic. Then Gerrard, bursting on to a Yossi Benayoun pass, handed Liverpool a scarcely-warranted lead. Benítez could have had no complaints when Andrews levelled from the spot after Jamie Carragher's handball.

Under threat, Liverpool clicked into gear, Torres scoring his 13th of the season in his first game since January, tapping home Maxi's cross after Samba's sliding tackle had denied the Spaniard a shot as he burst into the box.

Blackburn responded with a bombardment, Liverpool's nerves driving them ever deeper into their own box, but Allardyce's side could not land a killer blow. Neither, for now, could either manager. It is unlikely to stop them trying again when they next meet.

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the views or position of Liverpool Football Club.