Nathan Blake's late goal destroyed Liverpool's Wembley dreams and sent Blackburn soaring into the last 16 of the FA Cup.

The Welshman's dagger to the heart of Gerard Houllier's side came with just six minutes left of a captivating Anfield battle.

It left Liverpool in a state of shock, so much had they been depending on a cup run this term to launch themselves into Europe.

But Tony Parkes' Rovers return found another page of fantasy. His galvanised team are rapidly climbing the First Division and have now brought the club a remarkable cup truimph.

And they achieved it on the ground where they had clinched the Premiership crown just five years ago.

Since then it has been decline and misery up in the Lancashire hills, but their fans were gifted a night of sheer ecstasy to remind them of the glory days of their not too distant past.

For Liverpool this is a shattering blow. Their form and confidence has been soaring of late, but they now face a desperate fight for either a Champions League or UEFA Cup spot.

They must finish in the top four to achieve at least a UEFA Cup place - or they will be in the European wilderness for another season.

Blackburn were keen to rekindle memories of the Premiership, and were more than prepared to trade blow for blow with a Liverpool side being heavily tipped to go all the way to Wembley.

Liverpool were without both Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler in attack, and Danny Murphy was pressed into action alongside Titi Camara up front. Without an obvious front man it meant their attacks were frequently made by players running from deep.

It meant that Anfield was treated to an exciting, high speed game with Czech wide men Vladimir Smicer and Patrik Berger providing plenty of thrills.

But the more orthodox, bullish front play of Blake was frequently more dangerous.

The Welsh striker got himself booked for a late tackle on Jamie Carragher, but also sent a clever chip agonisingly wide of the far post, and then forced Sander Westerveld into a spectacular one-handed save to deflect a ferocious 20-yard drive.

Liverpool retorted with Sami Hyypia sending a towering header into John Filan's chest, and then the Rovers keeper blocked a Murphy shot with his legs after a tremendous run from Smicer.

Camara appeared intent on trying to produce a copy of Edmundo's wonderful flick and turn that destroyed Manchester United in Rio, and Darren Peacock got himself booked after 32 minutes for pulling back the Guinean striker.

Certainly in the first half, the element of risk was predominant in Liverpool's play rather than any carefully constructed moves to pull apart Rovers' determined back-line.

Liverpool upped the pace after the break and continued with their barrage of solo runs, tremendously exciting to watch but still relying so much on individual rather than collective brilliance.

Ten minutes into the second period Murphy turned sharply in the box to fire in a low drive that crashed into the side-netting with many in the stadium believing it had nestled in the back of the net.

That was Murphy's last involvement, as injury forced him off allowing David Thompson into the fray.

Gerard Houllier was losing patience with his side's cavalier approach and strode to the line to yell some angry instructions in French at Camara, apparently wanting the forward to hold the ball rather than keep flicking it hopefully into space.

Instantly the big African took the advice, controlled a pass and turned it cleverly into Smicer's path, Filan needing to be alert to save at his feet.

After 68 minutes Smicer returned the compliment with a fine ball for Camara to twist into the box before finding space to power in a drive that Filan beat away for a corner.

Blackburn were forced back deeper and deeper into defence, but internationals like Christian Dailly, Callum Davidson and Lee Carsley dug deep to mount a defiant stand that had Anfield fans almost weeping in frustration.

Liverpool just could not construct a genuine clear-cut opening despite so much pressure and possession, and they were suckered into throwing too many men forward.

That gave Rovers midfielder Per Frandsen the chance to spring from defence and find Blake with a pass into the box that he lashed first time past Westerveld to spark delirious celebrations among the visiting fans.

It was sheer panic after that, but Rovers hung on to inflict a deep wound to Liverpool's recent recovery.

For Houllier's men, there is only that place in Europe to play for now - and it remains to be seen if they have the appetite to bounce back from tonight's hammer blow from First Division opponents.

Teams

Liverpool: Westerveld, Gerrard, Henchoz, Hyypia, Matteo, Smicer, Hamann, Carragher (Newby 88), Berger, Murphy (Thompson 57), Camara.

Subs Not Used: Staunton, Heggem, Nielsen.

Booked: Hamann.

Blackburn: Filan, Kenna (Grayson 10), Dailly, Peacock, Davidson, Johnson, Frandsen, Carsley, Duff, Blake (Gillespie 89), Ostenstad (Dunn 76).

Subs Not Used: Kelly, Jansen.

Booked: Blake, Peacock.

Goals: Blake 84.

Att: 32,839

Ref: G Poll (Tring).