The Spanish striker netted his 13^th goal of the season on 44 minutes after Steven Gerrard's opener was cancelled out by Keith Andrews' penalty.

It means Rafael Benitez's men remain sixth in the table, one point behind Manchester City and fourth-placed Tottenham, who both won over the course of the weekend.

The midweek success in Romania saw the Reds head into the encounter with Rovers in buoyant mood and there was further room for optimism as news filtered through of Torres' first start since the FA Cup defeat to Reading back in January.

The number 9 was one of four changes to the side that booked a place in the last 16 of the Europa League, with the ineligible Maxi Rodriguez returning alongside Dirk Kuyt and Fabio Aurelio.

The knowledge that two of their top four rivals had already secured three valuable points meant the home side were keen to make their mark on proceedings from the off, but it was Rovers who made the more assured start.

As is the hallmark of a Sam Allardyce side, the visitors' threat was most evident from set piece deliveries and Chris Samba will have felt he should have done better when he headed straight into the grateful hands of Pepe Reina on five minutes.

Martin Olsson then fizzed over from 30 yards before Morten Gamst Pedersen smashed a long range volley that, fortunately for the hosts, flew straight at Reina.

It was certainly a little subdued from Liverpool in the opening exchanges and they should have fallen behind on 16 minutes.

Lucas Leiva was dispossessed by Pedersen deep inside his own half, allowing the Norwegian to drive purposefully towards goal and slip a pass into the feet of Nikola Kalinic. The striker cut inside on the left side of the area and curved a right foot shot that arced just wide of the far post.

If Liverpool needed a wake-up call, then that was it, and they responded in the best way possible by taking the lead with their first attack of note on 20 minutes.

Gerrard exchanged passes with Dirk Kuyt just inside the Blackburn half before laying the ball out wide to Yossi Benayoun on the left. The Israeli jinked inside before picking out the run of his skipper, who raced into the area and clipped the ball over the advancing Paul Robinson from the left edge of the six yard box.

It was the midfielder's eighth of the season and instantly inspired a change in the home side's mentality.

This was perhaps epitomised by Maxi's robust surge to the byline, but just when a goal looked odds-on, the Argentine pulled his cut back behind everyone in the centre. Aurelio latched onto it and sent a goalbound effort crashing back off the body of a Rovers defender.

The away side were struggling to come to terms with falling behind and it should have been two on the half hour mark, but Torres headed Gerrard's ferocious left-wing corner wide of the near post.

It seemed like normal service was being resumed at Anfield until a double blow five minutes before the interval suddenly put a spanner in the works.

First Aurelio had to be replaced by Emiliano Insua after pulling up with an injury, before Rovers stunned the home faithful with an equaliser.

A scramble in the Reds' area saw the ball break to Jamie Carragher on the floor. The defender appeared to handle it as he looked to clear, leaving Alan Wiley with no choice but to point to the spot. Andrews stepped up and confidently drilled the kick beyond Reina's dive.

Maybe it was no more than Rovers deserved, but there was little time for the hosts to lament any defensive aberrations, as they broke forward and restored their lead on the stroke of half-time.

Torres was sent charging in on goal, and although Samba managed to divert the ball away from immediate danger, Maxi picked it up and sent in a low cross that El Nino despatched from close range.

A more composed performance was the order of the day as the second 45 got underway and the Reds began to take control.

First Daniel Agger nodded Gerrard's free-kick over the top on the stretch before Robinson's fingertips denied Maxi a first goal for Liverpool after the winger's miss-hit cross threatened to cap a flowing move involving Benayoun, Kuyt and Gerrard.

The hosts had the bit between their teeth and almost snared a two-goal cushion when another whipped free-kick into the area glanced off Kuyt's head and into the arms of Robinson.

The Dutchman has enjoyed a prolific run in front of goal over the past few months and almost added to his tally on 58 minutes with a spectacular bicycle kick that arrowed just wide of the near post.

Rovers had barely had a kick as the hour mark came and went, but Reina was finally called into action again when he gathered Junior Hoilett's tame shot.

A third would have made the final 20 minutes a formality, but it didn't arrive and the Reds were forced to see out a nervy finale to secure three precious points.