Let's start with the positives: this was the third clean sheet in a row hinting that the defensive problems of earlier in the season might now be solved. Other than that, there was nothing to take back from this game. Liverpool were, quite simply, pathetic as they were intimidated by Blackburn's physicality in the first half and then failed to capitalise on their obvious fatigue in the second half. As has happened so often this season, Liverpool have failed to build on a good result which, coupled with the wins that all those in the surrounding spots managed to register, makes it all the more frustrating. The time has come for the players to realise that this isn't acceptable any longer.

Good Game
Pepe Reina wasn't tested too much but he did well to get down quickly to stop Franco Di Santo's snap shot in the second half. The return of Daniel Agger seems to be what Liverpool needed as he, together with Jamie Carragher, did enough to fend off Blackburn's attacks. Emiliano Insua was solid if unspectacular although he had very few opportunities to advance and exploit that side of his game. The same applied in the first half for Glen Johnson who missed the presence of Dirk Kuyt just ahead of him. That changed in the second half where he was Liverpool's best attacking influence and set up that glorious opportunity for David N'Gog.

Javier Mascherano was as consistent and as effective as he has been these past two months, regularly stemming Blackburn's attacking flow. The only midfielder who was good enough on this occasion.

This was Steven Gerrard's five hundredth game for Liverpool and, perhaps, it was fitting that the team was so lethargic seeing that this is how it has been for a good part of those games. He is still not back to his best but during the second half he worked as much as anyone to try and get Liverpool the lead. My man of the match.

Bad Game
This might seem slight harsh as he didn't do much wrong yet, at the same time, Lucas should have put Blackburn under muchmore pressure than he did. It is a dimension to his game that he needs to add if his career is to develop further. That Benitez opted to substitute Albert Riera after fifty minutes - he usually reserves that first substitution for the sixty fifth minute - says a lot on how bad he was.

Yossi Benayoun still hasn't hit the heights of last season and, in a game where Liverpool greatly needed his creative skills he didn't do as much as was expected. Dirk Kuyt was asked to spearhead the attack but he didn't manage to do a great deal.

Substitutes
It might be easy to focus on the crossbar that he hit when, in all fairness, he should have scored but David N'Gog showed much more endavour in the second half than Kuyt had in the first half and was one of the main reasons why Liverpool were much closer to scoring. It is understandable that Benitez feels that Alberto Aquilani isn't match fit as yet but, if that is the case, how is it that Nabil El Zhar can be considered match fit seeing that he hasn't played a single second this season? Be it as it may, after a bright start, he disappeared and what attacking initiative there was seemed to disappear with him.

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