Everton’s longest unbeaten run for 24 years was unpicked by a goalkeeping blunder from Tim Howard as Blackburn avenged defeat in this fixture four months ago.

The Croatian Nikola Kalinic will not score an easier goal all season than the 14th-minute effort gift-wrapped to him when Howard dropped the ball under no pressure. It terminated Everton’s 11-game sequence without defeat, their best since 1986.

Lacking the slickness of their 3-2 win on the same turf, David Moyes’s visitors – back in rude health following an injury-blighted 2009-10 campaign – could not muster an equaliser to preserve their dominance over Rovers.

Blackburn even had to overcome the early loss of their pivotal midfielder David Dunn, who lasted nine minutes before succumbing to what appeared to be discomfort in his left groin.

Martin Olsson, operating in an advanced role down the left, had already gone close by that stage. Wandering off the flank within seconds of kick-off to beat the offside trap, he nicked the ball over the advancing Howard, but his chip from the edge of the penalty area lacked the dip to creep under the crossbar.

Despite the loss of Dunn, their most obvious source of creativity, Blackburn secured victory with the first goal of the Premier League season. There was no apparent danger when El-Hadji Diouf’s innocuous header forward was collected chest-high on the edge of the area by Howard. But the ball somehow squirmed from the American’s grasp as he planted his feet and the alert Kalinic swivelled to guide the ball inside the far post.

Everton struggled to replicate their sublime April performance when they consigned Blackburn to their only home league defeat of 2010. Only twice did they force Paul Robinson into action in the first half but shots from Tim Cahill and Stephen Pienaar lacked venom.

There was no lack of it in Morten Gamst Pedersen’s late challenge on Mikel Arteta, however, which merited the first caution of the afternoon. Significant previous between the pair – Arteta poked the Norwegian in the eye in April’s victory – spiced things up whenever their paths crossed and the referee, Phil Dowd, took exception to a tread on the standing boot.

Blackburn’s first clean sheet on the opening day for eight years was confirmed when Robinson fisted out Phil Jagielka’s late drive.

Premier LeagueBlackburn RoversEvertonRichard Gibsonguardian.co.uk

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