Liverpool's Champions League ambitions took another knock following a frustrating night at Anfield when they struggled to create a goalscoring opportunity of note against Blackburn.

The result means Liverpool face an almighty scrap in the Merseyside derby on Sunday if they are to get anywhere near Everton in fourth place.

Everton manager David Moyes was in attendance and he watched Rafael Benitez's side driven to distraction by an organised, effective Blackburn who have now gone six games unbeaten and conceded just one goal.

It is a run which has taken them into the FA Cup semi-finals and slowly away from the relegation dogfight.

Liverpool barely created a chance in this dire match and, if they play like this on Sunday, Everton fans can start booking their European trips for next season.

How a side can look so good in reaching the Champions League quarter-finals last week and play so disappointingly in this match, is a question which will give boss Rafael Benitez sleepless nights.

Liverpool rested Sami Hyypia and John Arne Riise to the bench with Sunday's match in mind.

Benitez included Mauricio Pellegrino at centre half and Vladimir Smicer in midfield, with Fernando Morientes returning up front after a groin strain.

Blackburn were without the injured Paul Dickov and David Thompson, which allowed Mark Hughes to bring Jonathan Stead and Brett Emerton into the side.

Not unexpectedly, knowing the system Blackburn have operated since Mark Hughes took over, Liverpool soon found themselves stifled by Rovers.

Blackburn play what now seems to be the compulsory 4-5-1 system among the Premiership flock, which floods midfield and makes life difficult for teams like Liverpool who try to play with just two in the centre of the park.

And to underline that, it needed Steven Gerrard to haul back Steven Reid after Aaron Mokoena's swift run and pass from defence had sent the Rovers man charging upfield. Gerrard was booked for his troubles by referee Barry Knight.

Liverpool's lightweight wide men, Smicer and Luis Garcia did not enjoy the attention they got got, and it eventually cost Garry Flitcroft a yellow card for cutting down Smicer from behind.

Then Jerzy Dudek had one of his lapses in concentration with a half-hit clearance that went only as far as Reid, who tried to lob the ball home from 25 yards and cleared the bar, with the Polish keeper apologising to anyone who would look at him.

The game was crying out for brave players prepared to play one-touch flicks and passes knowing that the tackle was still going to come clattering through them.

Riise replaced Smicer at half-time and the switch almost immediately threatened to take Liverpool ahead.

Gerrard's looping ball to the left sent Riise away and he got to the line before laying the ball back for Baros, who wasted his side's best opening so far by sidefooting his 12-yard shot over the bar.

Baros then wasted another chance when a clearance bounced over Nelsen, but the Czech ignored better-placed colleagues and lost possession, to the clear annoyance of Benitez on the line.

There were appeals for a penalty when Morientes went down in the box as the Liverpool frustration mounted, with one of their former players Dominic Matteo on as substitute for Nils-Eric Johansson and added to the defence.

And Benitez lost patience with Baros, replacing him with Antonio Nunez, who played on the right with Luis Garcia moving up to support Morientes.

Blackburn put on Paul Gallagher in place of Stead on 75 minutes as they searched for the one opening that would give them a priceless goal, very much like they won at Everton on the last visit to Merseyside 11 days ago.

It almost came when Reid lashed a 30-yard free-kick just wide of Dudek's left hand post with the keeper nowhere.

Igor Biscan replaced Stephen Warnock after 82 minutes, the youngster having struggled with cramp for some while. Riise went to fullback with Biscan moving into the centre of midfield, Gerrard up front and Luis Garcia out wide in another desperate reshuffle to find a way through Rovers' massed ranks.

Liverpool were frantic by that stage and, when Biscan's run from half-way ended with a low shot bouncing hopelessly wide, their efforts were summed up.

Teams

Liverpool: Dudek, Finnan, Pellegrino, Carragher, Warnock (Biscan 82), Luis Garcia, Gerrard, Hamann, Smicer (Riise 45), Baros (Nunez 70), Morientes.

Subs Not Used: Hyypia, Carson.

Booked: Gerrard.

Blackburn: Friedel, Neill, Todd, Nelsen, Johansson (Matteo 62), Mokoena, Emerton, Reid, Flitcroft, Pedersen, Stead (Gallagher 75).

Subs Not Used: Enckelman, Tugay, Johnson.

Booked: Flitcroft.

Att: 37,763

Ref: B Knight (Kent).