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Liverpool finally see off Blackburn Rovers thanks to Philippe Coutinho Liverpool finally see off Blackburn Rovers thanks to Philippe Coutinho
(about 1 hour later)
Liverpool have worn the look of the condemned since their Champions League dream faltered at Arsenal but the last rites for their season were unnecessary at Ewood Park. Liverpool have worn the look of the condemned since their Champions League pursuit faltered at Arsenal on Saturday but the last rites on their season were not administered at Blackburn Rovers.
Philippe Coutinho’s 70th-minute strike in the FA Cup quarter-final replay with Blackburn Rovers finally cast off their shadow and gave Brendan Rodgers a timely respite. Aston Villa and a semi‑final at Wembley beckons. Aston Villa at Wembley, not another bout of soul-searching, are next for Brendan Rodgers after Philippe Coutinho’s 70th-minute goal won this FA Cup contest. Coutinho proved the match-winner in the quarter-final replay just as he had at Bolton Wanderers in round four and Liverpool’s belief in FA Cup destiny was only enhanced by the final act of a close-fought match.
Coutinho proved the match-winner in Lancashire replay just as he did at Bolton Wanderers in round four and Liverpool’s belief in FA Cup destiny was only enhanced by the final act at a sold-out Ewood. Simon Eastwood, the Blackburn goalkeeper, had the last kick of a close-fought tie having raced forward for a 94th minute corner but his powerful shot was stopped on the line by opposite number Simon Mignolet. Rovers’ hope of marking the 20th anniversary of their Premier League title win with a Wembley date was over. Liverpool, for all the inquests and misery of the past few days, marched on. Ewood Park’s biggest crowd in four years held its breath as Simon Eastwood, the Blackburn goalkeeper, had one last chance to secure extra-time having raced forward to the Liverpool box for a 94th-minute throw-in. His powerful drive flew through a crowded area but was stopped on the line at the second attempt by his opposite number, Simon Mignolet.
Gary Bowyer selected the same side that stifled Liverpool comfortably at Anfield minus towering centre forward Rudy Gestede, so effective in the goalless draw one month ago but restricted to the bench due to a hamstring injury suffered in the 3-0 win at Leeds United on Saturday. Jordan Rhodes offered a decent alternative but lacked support in his attempts to harry Liverpool’s defence into the errors that contributed to their dreadful display at Arsenal on Saturday. Rovers’ dream of a third top-flight scalp and of marking the 20th anniversary of their Premier League title success at Wembley was over. Liverpool, plunged from soaring optimism into misery by two consecutive league defeats, remained on course for the first piece of silverware of the Rodgers’ era.
Liverpool made a composed start and controlled possession without seriously troubling Eastwood until taking a firm grip on the game 10 minutes before the interval. Joe Allen should have extended Eastwood at the very least from Liverpool’s opening attack but dragged a good chance wide when the ball dropped invitingly into his path 12 yards from goal. “We have been heavily criticised and disappointed in the last two games because of the standards we had set,” the Liverpool manager said. “We knew this was vital for us and for the supporters. This was to give them the hope that we are still progressing, but you have to win matches and trophies to do that. As a team we wanted it. It wasn’t about saving our season. We want to compete at the top end of the league and win trophies.”
Jordan Henderson instigated the opportunity with a floated cross into Daniel Sturridge and Liverpool’s captain in the absence of the suspended Steven Gerrard was a dynamic influence throughout. Rodgers described Liverpool’s performance as “outstanding” and Raheem Sterling as “absolutely incredible” despite the lack of quality on display until Coutinho swapped passes with the impressive Jordan Henderson and found Eastwood’s far corner. The exaggeration spoke of a manager seeking to restore confidence after the blows of Arsenal and Manchester United.
Rodgers’ problems concerned the options at his disposal rather than any clear evidence of confidence or form draining after damaging league defeats to Manchester United and Arsenal. Having denied Liverpool’s 3-4-2-1 formation had been found out or was a factor in recent below-par displays, the manager reverted to a four-man defence for the first time since December as he sought to address the weaknesses of the Emirates. “Dejan Lovren and Glen Johnson haven’t played much recently but were outstanding, Joe Allen was magnificent,” added the manager. “Jordan Henderson was too, despite not having much sleep and having to go back from the hotel because his partner had their second child – a daughter – last night. Some players would have missed the game but Jordan said to me: ‘Boss, as soon as the baby is out I will be coming back.’”
The suspensions of Emre Can and Martin Skrtel may have influenced that decision but Rodgers lost the third member of his first-choice back three, Mamadou Sakho, after only 26 minutes with an apparent hamstring injury. Not that it appeared a cataclysmic setback given the France international’s early contribution at Ewood Park. Henderson was a dynamic influence on the Liverpool performance throughout, the team’s captain in the absence of the suspended Steven Gerrard providing much-needed bite and creativity.
Sakho gifted Blackburn their first chance of the night when he allowed Marcus Olsson’s deep free-kick to run into the Liverpool area despite the presence of Craig Conway on the defender’s shoulder. Conway intercepted but Sakho made amends with a covering challenge to block the winger’s low shot. The onus may have been on Gary Bowyer to commit more men forward on home soil yet with Rudy Gestede restricted to a substitute’s role by a hamstring problem, solidity and patience were again Blackburn’s priorities. Liverpool made a composed start as a consequence and controlled possession without seriously troubling Eastwood until taking a firm grip on the game 10 minutes before the interval.
The home side’s only other chance of the first half fell to Rhodes, who was picked out by an excellent left-wing delivery from Ben Marshall yet sent a free header over Mignolet’s crossbar. Rhodes’s furious reaction at failing to hit the target said it all. At the other end Sturridge shot just over from the edge of the area and Coutinho forced Eastwood into his first save of note after Lee Williamson made a mess of trying to clear a Henderson corner. Rodgers’ problems concerned the options at his disposal rather than any clear evidence of confidence or form draining. Having denied Liverpool’s 3-4-2-1 formation had contributed to recent below-par displays, the manager reverted to a four-man defence for the first time since December. The suspensions of Emre Can and Martin Skrtel may have influenced that decision but Rodgers lost the third member of his first-choice back three, Mamadou Sakho, after only 28 minutes to a hamstring injury. Not that it appeared a cataclysmic setback given the France international gifted Craig Conway an early chance, one Sakho thwarted with a covering challenge in fairness. Jordan Rhodes had Rovers’ only other opening of a dull first half but sent a free header wastefully over.
In contrast to a cautious first half both teams enlivened the second with greater urgency and attacking intent. Liverpool were indebted to Mignolet for keeping the scores level with two fine saves before they had a chance to settle. The first was an acrobatic stop to prevent Tom Cairney finding his top corner. The second was even better from the resulting corner, a superb reaction save that steered Marshall’s header on to the post. Liverpool were indebted to Mignolet for keeping the scores level with two fine saves in the second half. The first was an acrobatic, finger-tip stop to prevent Tom Cairney. The second was even better from the resulting corner, a superb reaction save that steered Marshall’s header on to a post. Bowyer claimed Blackburn should have had a penalty as the header brushed Allen’s arm before Mignolet intervened, but it needed forensic analysis to spot the offence.
Rodgers’s team responded immediately and it needed a desperate clearance from Alex Baptiste to foil Henderson in the six-yard box. The Ewood atmosphere ignited when Gestede came off the bench to replace Conway and sent Rhodes scurrying clear with his first touch, only for Kolo Touré – Sakho’s replacement – to intervene. The Ewood atmosphere ignited when Gestede came off the bench to replace Conway and sent Rhodes scurrying clear with his first touch, only for Kolo Toure – Sakho’s replacement – to intervene with a vital challenge. Yet just as the momentum appeared with Blackburn, Liverpool produced the only goal in 180 minutes of the quarter-final.
Yet just as the momentum appeared with Blackburn, Liverpool produced the first goal of the extended quarter-final. The home side failed to clear a corner taken by Coutinho and, when the ball was returned to the Brazilian, he exchanged passes with Henderson before drilling an angled shot through the legs of Matt Kilgallon and in off the far post. Rovers failed to clear a corner taken by Coutinho and when the ball was returned to the Brazilian he exchanged passes with Henderson before drilling an angled shot through the legs of Matt Kilgallon and in off the far post.