IT WAS an Anfield visit to forget to Rovers as they were comprehensively beaten by Liverpool this afternoon.

A first half double from Michael Owen, and an own goal by Andy Todd were followed up by a second half strike by Emile Heskey as the home side put Rovers to the sword in their bid for a Champions League place.

It was Liverpool's biggest win of the season, and it could have been much, much worse.

Graeme Souness made two changes to the side that started against Portsmouth the week before, Markus Babbel replaced Lucas Neill at right back, and Paul Gallagher started up front at the expense of Andy Cole who dropped to the bench.

But those changes had no effect, as Liverpool ripped Rovers apart in a scintillating first half.

Liverpool could have scored three times before they eventually found the net on six minutes.

Emile Heskey ran at the Rovers back four, Craig Short struggled to contain the big man, and when Andy Todd came across to assist his team-mate, he only served to leave Michael Owen unmarked, Heskey duly picked him out, and the England striker marked his return from injury with a curling shot into the corner of the net. Friedel got something on the ball, but he couldn't stop it going in off the far post.

Michael Owen skied a chance three minutes later as Liverpool's passing game left Rovers chasing shadows.

Gerrard wasted a chance when inside the penalty area, and then Craig Short had to make a series of vital blocks to stop Liverpool increasing their lead.

But Liverpool doubled their lead on 22 minutes, El-Hadji Diouf crossed from the right, and Andy Todd was helpless to divert the ball into the back of his own net.

A couple of minutes later it was 3-0 to the home side, Liverpool played the ball through the heart of the Rovers midfield and onto Michael Owen who finished in style, blasting the ball high into the back of the net.

Gerrard, Heskey and Kewell all had chances to increase the scoreline, in a very one-sided first half. The only shot at goal Rovers mustered was a wayward Brett Emerton free kick.

At the start of the second half Graeme Souness made a double substitution. Garry Flitcroft looked to have picked up an injury at the end of the first half, he was replaced by Steven Reid, and Craig Short who was run ragged in the first half, was replaced by Nils-Eric Johansson.

The changes did make Rovers look more solid in the second half, but they still couldn't muster any passing quality. All too often when a man in a blue and white shirt was in possession, they couldn't hold on the ball for any length of time.

Graeme Souness threw on Andy Cole just past the hour mark, but the Rovers striker - who has scored more Premiership goals against Liverpool than anyone else - rarely saw the ball come his way.

Liverpool made it four with just over ten minutes remaining. Substitute Milan Baros teased the Rovers defenders before playing Emile Heskey, who, in space put the ball through the legs of Friedel and into the net.

Danny Murphy, another Liverpool substitute, should have increased the lead further, first he fired just wide of Friedel's right hand post, and followed that up with an amazing miss from six yards out when he blazed his shot over the bar.

Jerzy Dudek was finally tested from Rovers, when he saved a Stead shot after good work by Reid, that was in the 90th minute.

There was even time for Milan Baros to be wasteful in front of goal as the Rovers backline went AWOL once again, the Czech international firing over with just Friedel to beat.


The scoreboard said Liverpool 9 Rovers 0, had the home side taken the chances presented to them, it could easily have been.

LIVERPOOL: Dudek, Hyypia, Kewell, Heskey (sub Sinama-Pongolle 86 mins), Diouf (sub Murphy 70mins), Owen (sub Baros 75 mins), Hamann, Gerrard, Riise, Carragher, Biscan.

Subs: Henchoz, Luzi.

ROVERS: Friedel, Babbel, Todd, Short (sub Johansson 46 mins), Gray, Emerton, Flitcroft (sub Reid 46 mins), Tugay, Andresen, Gallagher, Stead.

Subs not used: Yorke, Enckelman.

Rovers World will bring you all the post match reaction on Monday's edition.