Liverpool dented Blackburn's UEFA Champions League hopes with a 1-0 win at Ewood Park.
Robbie Fowler's controversial first half goal proved enough to give Liverpool their sixth win on the trot.
The win was also the perfect birthday present for Rafa Benitez as Liverpool closed the gap on Manchester United in the race to finish second.
The game began at a frantic pace with both sides refusing to give the opposition any time on the ball.
The midfield area was eagerly contested and Robbie Savage was booked on 14 minutes for a late lunge on Djibril Cisse.
Blackburn looked to the pace of Craig Bellamy to cause Liverpool problems but chances were at a premium in the opening 20 minutes with both defences well on top.
Liverpool had claims for a penalty waved away on 24 minutes when Fernando Morientes went down in the box after a challenge with Ryan Nelsen.
The visitors broke the deadlock five minutes later with a controversial goal from Fowler.
John Arne Riise took a quickly taken throw-in which Fowler flicked towards Cisse and, with the Blackburn defence claiming the Frenchman was offside, Cisse left the ball to Morientes and the Spaniard intelligently cut the ball back for Fowler to sweep home from six yards.
The goal sparked angry protests from the Rovers players, but they only fell on deaf ears to referee Alan Wiley.
The goal lifted Liverpool and Riise blasted a right-footed volley over the crossbar from the edge of the area after Blackburn failed to clear their lines.
Liverpool came close to grabbing a second right on the stroke of half time when Fowler sent Cisse clear on goal with a superb pass and the French striker saw his shot smothered by Brad Friedel before bouncing off the top of the crossbar.
Blackburn came out for the second half in determined fashion and Nelsen went close to scoring when flicking Morten Gamst Pedersen's in-swinging corner just wide of the target.
Jose Reina had to be alert on 57 minutes when he tipped Paul Dickov's dangerous cross over the crossbar.
A minute later David Bentley tried his luck with a long-range strike which Reina comfortably collected.
Savage had a sight of goal on 72 minutes when Bellamy teed him up inside the box with a clever pass, but the midfielder could only hit his left-footed volley wide.
Liverpool went close to doubling their lead on 73 minutes when substitute Harry Kewell fizzed over a cross which Morientes flicked just wide of the target. Blackburn piled forward in search of an equaliser, but they struggled to make any inroads into the Liverpool defence.
Steven Reid drilled a shot over the crossbar on 86 minutes after the ball dropped invitingly to him inside the box.
Cisse should have wrapped up the game in the final minute when he raced clear on goal and although Friedel saved his initial effort the ball dropped loose to the striker again, but with the goal at his mercy he somehow managed to hit his shot against the post.
Robbie Fowler's controversial first half goal proved enough to give Liverpool their sixth win on the trot.
The win was also the perfect birthday present for Rafa Benitez as Liverpool closed the gap on Manchester United in the race to finish second.
The game began at a frantic pace with both sides refusing to give the opposition any time on the ball.
The midfield area was eagerly contested and Robbie Savage was booked on 14 minutes for a late lunge on Djibril Cisse.
Blackburn looked to the pace of Craig Bellamy to cause Liverpool problems but chances were at a premium in the opening 20 minutes with both defences well on top.
Liverpool had claims for a penalty waved away on 24 minutes when Fernando Morientes went down in the box after a challenge with Ryan Nelsen.
The visitors broke the deadlock five minutes later with a controversial goal from Fowler.
John Arne Riise took a quickly taken throw-in which Fowler flicked towards Cisse and, with the Blackburn defence claiming the Frenchman was offside, Cisse left the ball to Morientes and the Spaniard intelligently cut the ball back for Fowler to sweep home from six yards.
The goal sparked angry protests from the Rovers players, but they only fell on deaf ears to referee Alan Wiley.
The goal lifted Liverpool and Riise blasted a right-footed volley over the crossbar from the edge of the area after Blackburn failed to clear their lines.
Liverpool came close to grabbing a second right on the stroke of half time when Fowler sent Cisse clear on goal with a superb pass and the French striker saw his shot smothered by Brad Friedel before bouncing off the top of the crossbar.
Blackburn came out for the second half in determined fashion and Nelsen went close to scoring when flicking Morten Gamst Pedersen's in-swinging corner just wide of the target.
Jose Reina had to be alert on 57 minutes when he tipped Paul Dickov's dangerous cross over the crossbar.
A minute later David Bentley tried his luck with a long-range strike which Reina comfortably collected.
Savage had a sight of goal on 72 minutes when Bellamy teed him up inside the box with a clever pass, but the midfielder could only hit his left-footed volley wide.
Liverpool went close to doubling their lead on 73 minutes when substitute Harry Kewell fizzed over a cross which Morientes flicked just wide of the target. Blackburn piled forward in search of an equaliser, but they struggled to make any inroads into the Liverpool defence.
Steven Reid drilled a shot over the crossbar on 86 minutes after the ball dropped invitingly to him inside the box.
Cisse should have wrapped up the game in the final minute when he raced clear on goal and although Friedel saved his initial effort the ball dropped loose to the striker again, but with the goal at his mercy he somehow managed to hit his shot against the post.
