Fernando Torres announced his Liverpool return in characteristic fashion this afternoon as his 13th goal in only 17 league appearances spared Rafael Benítez’s team from a damaging draw against Blackburn Rovers. Under pressure to respond to Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur victories in the race for fourth place, Liverpool were indebted to the Spain striker – and a 90th-minute save by José Reina from Christopher Samba – in a feisty contest at Anfield.

The roles had been reversed during the first half as Blackburn surprised with an adventurous opening and pegged Liverpool inside their own half only to be caught out on the counterattack by the home side. Morten Gamst Pedersen was prominent playing off the Rovers’ target man, Nikola Kalinic, and both he plus Samba tested Reina before the Croatian spurned a fine chance when released inside the Liverpool area by the Norwegian.

Just as the visitors appeared to have gained control, however, a break that announced Steven Gerrard’s improving form in emphatic fashion gave Liverpool the lead with their first attack. Gerrard made an exquisite exchange with Lucas Leiva to open central midfield, played a second one-two with Yossi Benayoun and benefited from a fortunate miscontrol inside the area to clip a nonchalant finish over the advancing Paul Robinson.

Blackburn almost levelled immediately as Pedersen collected Samba’s cross but was twice denied by Reina. Twenty minutes later they did equalise when Liverpool imploded inside their own box. First Benayoun sliced a poor clearance straight to Pedersen and then Jamie Carragher, having fallen to the floor attempting to deal with the returning pressure from the Norwegian and Kalinic, needlessly pushed the ball clear with his hand to concede an undisputed penalty. Keith Andrews drove the spot-kick hard and low under the Liverpool goalkeeper.

The outbreak of defensive folly proved contagious, and just five minutes later Liverpool were back in front when Blackburn switched off in the mistaken belief that the threat from Torres was over. It never is.

The Spaniard was foiled by Samba’s tackle inside the area after collecting an outstanding pass from Lucas yet, for reasons only known to himself, Robinson pursued a loose ball that was always destined for Maxi Rodriguez. The Argentinian simply squared the ball past the stranded Rovers goalkeeper and Torres, on his first start since 13 January, converted from close range.

Premier LeagueLiverpoolBlackburn RoversAndy Hunterguardian.co.uk

Master overcame apprentice once more as Sam Allardyce continued his unbeaten Premier League record against former sidekick Phil Brown. But, it was the loss of one of Brown’s on-field generals, the Dutch midfielder George Boateng, to a contentious first-half red card, that had more to do with the outcome than a tactical triumph by the Blackburn boss.

Blackburn, whose form at Ewood Park could not be more of a contrast to their woeful away displays, reacted well to the shake-up in personnel and formation imposed by manager Allardyce following their tepid defeat at Stoke.

There were changes aplenty; former Hull player Keith Andrews, and the more illustrious pair of Míchel Salgado and El Hadji Diouf were all drafted in, the defence redesigned due to Christopher Samba’s suspension and the policy of two frontmen ditched for a more conservative 4-1-4-1 system.

Hull goalkeeper Boaz Myhill acrobatically flipped a glancing header from Ryan Nelsen over the bar following a Morten Gamst Pedersen free-kick and then flapped at another nod across his six-yard box by Diouf before the home team took the lead on the quarter-hour.

Moment of fortune, or moment of magic, it came from a surge from left-back Martin Olsson who, taking Pedersen’s chipped pass in his stride, repelled a bustling challenge from Craig Fagan and, keeping his feet, he forced a left foot shot in off Myhill from an acute angle.

Seconds earlier, Hull might have been ahead themselves as an intricate exchange of passes led to Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink’s measured effort being turned around a post by Paul Robinson’s outstretched left hand.

But Hull’s chances of clawing their way back into the contest received a significant blow when Boateng was dismissed for a robust aerial challenge on Pedersen six minutes before the break. It was the kind of decision from referee Lee Probert that would make one advocate the use of technology in breaks of play.

Although Boateng was late, it appeared a genuine clash of heads and as both men lay prostrate, Probert’s reach for the red sparked mass remonstrations from those in amber shirts. They were to no avail, and after the Dutchman received lengthy treatment, he was dismissed.

Hull’s sense of injustice would have intensified had Nelsen managed to get a telling touch, two yards out, on the stroke of half-time. By that time, Vennegoor of Hesselink had been sacrificed as Brown stiffened his midfield.

While there was debate as to whether Boateng’s trailing arm had struck Pedersen, there was no doubt about the contact made by Paul McShane’s lash at Probert, which greeted a booking for a challenge on Diouf. It was a moment of petulance for which he should have walked.

McShane did exit as part of double substitution designed to give the 10 men more offensive capacity. However, it was Myhill who kept the deficit to only, fisting out a Brett Emerton drive and diverting a point-blank Gael Givet header onto the bar.

Blackburn RoversHull CityPremier LeagueSam AllardycePhil Brownguardian.co.uk