Blackburn Rovers 1 Liverpool 3 - Peter White's big match verdict

EVEN if there had been an opportunity to ask him, and there wasn't, the watching Kenny Dalglish would probably not have revealed his thoughts about the parlous state of two of his old clubs on a bizarre afternoon at Ewood.

But it is easy to imagine what his verdict would have been as Blackburn Rovers blundered their way to a defeat which leaves them on the brink of the abyss.

Kenny would, I am sure, have been appalled at how far two relatively-recent former champions have fallen.

But he would not have pointed the finger of blame at Brian Kidd and Gerard Houllier - two men in charge for mere months when the malaise goes back much further.

It wasn't just the loss of three more home points.

The most worrying aspect, as Rovers contrived to gift-wrap victory, was that they were beaten by what must rank as the worst Liverpool team for decades.

That is not meant as sour grapes.

For, if the men in red shirts failed to live up to their heritage, it was Rovers who had the red faces after a catastrophic opening half. The game was a cameo of their season.

Under Roy Hodgson's fast-waning leadership powers Rovers found themselves, by the end of November, in a seemingly hopeless position.

They have staged a recovery to give themselves a chance of survival but it could prove too little too late.

That's how it was on Saturday when Liverpool, who came to defend with a stifling 4-5-1 formation, were handed a three-goal lead on a plate by a hesitant Rovers side clearly haunted by their perilous situation.

The fightback came, and with enough scoring opportunities to have embarrassed the visitors. But the damage had already been done.

Understandably there were jeers at half time but not at the end, reflecting the starkly contrasting performances.

No-one can legislate for the kind of individual errors that gifted Liverpool two goals, nor the individual brilliance which brought Jamie Redknapp a stunning strike.

Having seen the two faces of Rovers' patched-up team at work on Saturday, however, perhaps it is time to take a bold gamble.

Kidd must feel he is in a straitjacket as he has to consult the casualty list rather than his lieutenants before naming a team.

But he has often spoken about the need to take risks and, on this evidence, maybe Rovers should revert to 4-4-2, as they did when David Dunn went on in the second half and they assumed virtually complete control.

The manager prefers that formation but has been trying to make do and mend in extenuating circumstances. On Saturday, their first-half 4-3-3 failed to create anything worthwhile.

There was no width, no creativity, no bite and, on the rare occasions Liverpool attacked, no defence.

In the last half-hour or so, Rovers looked a different team, winning the battles and not leaving players isolated.

With victories needed, we are coming to the last throw of the dice.

Yet, ironically, this game was all about the first throw as Houllier admitted.

"In the Premier League, the first goal is always important," he explained. "If you get it I think that in more than 60 or 70 per cent of games you will either draw or win. Particularly as Blackburn are in a position where they do not have the confidence of two or three months ago.

"That first goal probably affected them, stunned them."

How right he was as the yawning mediocrity of the opening 23 minutes gave way to a blaze of goalscoring and, sickeningly, Rovers handed Liverpool just the kind of invitation they could not refuse.

Darren Peacock inexplicably swept a bizarre backpass to John Filan which the keeper struggled to keep out of goal when he shouldn't even have handled.

Steve McManaman ended all arguments by scrambling the ball home.

Eight minutes later, a deep cross from McManaman saw David Thompson came in from the right, square it for an unmarked Redknapp and he produced a magnificent finish high into the top corner from 25 yards. Within 60 seconds, Rovers were in complete disarray. Jason McAteer and Peacock produced a kamikaze episode of the Keystone Kops, running into each other, while Oyvind Leonhardsen ran away with the ball and fired home via John Filan.

Humiliation beckoned but, after the break, Rovers finally came to their senses and took the game to Liverpool.

Kevin Gallacher miscued with a good chance, before McAteer's cross was headed out to the edge of the penalty area where Damien Duff produced a superb left-foot volley to put them back in the game.

Duff shot inches wide from Jason Wilcox's pass, Lee Carsley had a header saved, Dunn's volley was blocked on the line by Steve Staunton and another Duff shot was deflected wide.

It was a remarkable transformation and, even as the clock ran down, Rovers kept up the pressure with Wilcox and Ashley Ward close.

They showed great strength of character to fight back but the game had already been won and lost.

That same attitude is needed from the start of the remaining games.

For those who are forever chasing lost causes usually finish up empty handed.

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