Blackburn 1, Liverpool 3: Another late show tests fans' patience

And those supporters could be forgiven for fearing the same old story on Saturday at Ewood Park when, for almost 70 minutes, Liverpool looked anything but league leaders.

Lethargic, laboured and lacking inspiration and conviction against a Blackburn Rovers side that were there for the taking, another damaging stalemate beckoned.

Not for the first time this season, a late flurry avoided the inevitable flak that would have been directed towards the Anfield outfit.

But while nobody expects sealing the Holy Grail of a first title since 1990 to be easy, Liverpool have seemingly acquired a sadistic urge to drag their fans through the emotional wringer.

Even after Xabi Alonso and Yossi Benayoun had ensured a two-goal advantage, there was still time for Roque Santa Cruz's header to leave a packed away end chewing on their fingernails before Steven Gerrard put the outcome beyond doubt with practically the last kick of the match.

Picking up victories without playing particularly well is a pre-requisite of any title-winning side.

But, having rarely hit the heights this season, what if this is actually the best Liverpool can produce? Only time will tell.

Benitez, of course, chooses to dwell only on the positive aspects of his team's current form and the fact is this continues to be the Anfield outfit's best start to a Premier League campaign.

The concern from a demanding support desperate for Liverpool now to capitalise on their strongest championship challenge in recent years is that it should be better.

So too the fledgling Anfield career of Robbie Keane.

Benitez has shown great faith in the Republic of Ireland international but, after another under-whelming display against West Ham, saw fit to withdraw him from the firing line at the weekend, even though a hamstrung Fernando Torres was absent.

It will be interesting to see how Keane, who stayed on the bench throughout, now responds.

His frustration at continually being substituted had become painfully apparent in recent weeks, and perhaps this may represent a much-needed opportunity for the front-runner to clear his head.

Albert Riera was another to be rested after a series of indifferent displays, giving Ryan Babel the first-team chance he had craved.

However, the Dutch forward wasted only a second Premier League start of the campaign with a fitful performance that posed more question than answers.

Nabil El Zhar, who replaced Babel just past the hour, may not have the same level of talent or technique as his Dutch colleague.

But the tricky Moroccan forward has an undisputed desire that Babel will need to replicate if he is ever to become a success at Anfield.

The jury also remains out on Yossi Benayoun. Another to have become publicly restless at a lack of regular outings, the Israeli kept his right-wing berth and subsequently demonstrated why he is such an infuriating figure to many Liverpool fans.

Few backed Benayoun to convert the visitors' only real first-half chance and, after he was played through by Dirk Kuyt, the midfielder duly took too many touches before being tackled by former Liverpool left-back Stephen Warnock.

But it was some decisive play from Benayoun that put Liverpool 2-0 ahead 11 minutes from time when, after accepting a glorious crossfield ball from Kuyt, he advanced into the area, jinked past Warnock and thrashed a shot across Paul Robinson into the bottom corner.

With Keane benched, the selfless Kuyt ploughed a lone furrow in attack but it was only during the second half when Alonso and Gerrard were ushered further forward that the Dutchman received any real support and Liverpool began to consistently threaten.

All three combined for a merited opener in the 69th minute, Gerrard crossing low from the right and, after Kuyt's effort was blocked, the ball dropped invitingly for Alonso to sidefoot home beyond Robinson from 18 yards.

The Spaniard had earlier warmed the Blackburn goalkeeper's palms from a similar position and, with Gerrard and Javier Mascherano largely subdued, he provided the greater threat from central midfield.

Argentina youngster Emiliano Insua, a surprise starter at left-back, was similarly neat and tidy as part of a visiting defence in which Sami Hyypia, deservedly retaining his place ahead of Daniel Agger, was again the standout performer.

In truth, it would have been a serious setback had Benitez's side not gleaned full reward from their trip to Lancashire. On this evidence, former Liverpool midfielder Paul Ince faces a major task to keep Blackburn in the top flight, assuming the club's board stick by their beleaguered manager.

The only time Liverpool were in any serious danger of going behind came midway through an otherwise forgetful first half when Morten Gamst Pedersen capitalised on a slack pass from Gerrard and thrashed a dipping 25-yard shot that Pepe Reina brilliantly turned on to the crossbar.

Reina, though, could do little when dozy defending allowed Blackburn to pull a goal back with four minutes remaining, an unmarked Keith Andrews picking up the ball at a short corner before his cross from the right was flicked on by Andre Ooijer for Santa Cruz to head home at the far post.

But with Blackburn pressing forward in injury time, Riera sent fellow substitute El Zhar clear and although Robinson reached the ball first, his clearance went straight back to Riera who swiftly fed Gerrard to slot home into an unguarded net.

Although it took them a while to find their full stride, Liverpool got the job done on Saturday.

Their supporters will hope the same applies to their season.