The Reds took an early 2-0 lead only to see Blackburn fight back to tie the game with a half-hour left. Blackburn was pressing for the winning goal toward the end of the contest but needlesly conceded a corner kick. The sequence led to Carroll's winner.
Ten men and a third-string goalkeeper showed a good deal of character in securing the road victory. For nearly 60 minutes, a shorthanded LFC battled Blackburn. It did not have Gerrard and chose not to call on Suarez, but it still earned the desired result.
The win keeps Liverpool in eighth place, just one point behind Saturday's opponent, Everton. Blackburn remains mired in the relegation zone.
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91st minute, 3-2 Liverpool: Carroll heads home what should be the winner.
Coates played a ball out from the defense which found Agger.
Agger's flick-on header was met by Carroll, who redirected it past Robinson.
90th minute, 2-2: Hanley is shown a yellow card, making it nine (and one red) on the game.
88th minute, 2-2: It's been all Blackburn in the last five minutes or so.
The hosts are throwing men forward, and the Reds — Carroll included — have pulled 10 men behind the ball.
86th minute, 2-2: Henderson is shown a yellow card for a foul on one of the Olsson twins.
LFC deals with the free kick, but that's not a position in which he should be giving away free kicks at this stage of the game.
80th minute, 2-2: Yakubu and Hoilett combine in the LFC box and nearly find an opening.
It was only Coates' desperate defending that blocked the Blackburn winger's shot.
78th minute, 2-2: Maxi is coming off, with Enrique taking his place.
76th minute, 2-2: Jones is forced to make a one-handed save on a header from … Carroll.
The LFC striker tried to clear a free kick, but it glanced off his head and went toward the LFC goal.
76th minute, 2-2: Lowe comes on to replace Dunn. Who will take Blackburn's free kicks now?
74th minute, 2-2: Bellamy's corner found the head of Carroll, who directed his header to the far post.
It beat Robinson, but Dunn cleared it off the goal line.
72nd minute, 2-2: Rochina replaces Formica for Blackburn.
71st minute, 2-2: Bellamy is cautioned for diving. It looked like Hanley had brough him down, but that was not the case.
64th minute, 2-2: Formica is cautioned for a challenge on Agger.
That makes six yellows and one red card in this strangest of games.
It hasn't been an ill-tempered affair. Rather, the amount of cards resembles both the lack of sharpness both teams have displayed, and the referee's willingness to punish tackles with yellows. But for what ends? The players are not out of control. It probably started with Flanagan's first yellow.
61st minute, 2-2: Yakubu hits the penalty hard down the middle, and it beats Jones to tie the game.
60th minute, 2-1 Liverpool: Yakubu has won a penalty for Blackburn.
Jones tried to clear a back-pass upfield and Yakubu arrived in time to block the clearance straight up into the air.
When it came down to Jones, the Australian bobbled it and it fell toward Yakubu. The Blackburn striker took one touch away from goal and the goalkeeper brought him down. He could have been dismissed for that challenge.
58th minute, 2-1 Liverpool: Jones saves Hanley's header.
Dunn delivered another fine free kick into the LFC box, and the Blackburn defender rose and powered his header low. Jones dove and handled it well.
53rd minute, 2-1 Liverpool: Agger is coming on for Johnson. Dalglish could be going to three at the back here.
Or Agger could be playing left back, as he did against Aston Villa.
48th minute, 2-1 Liverpool: Carroll misses a header from close range.
Bellamy expertly delivered it to the far post. Carroll did well to free himself of his marker, but his diving header went well wide of the Blackburn goal.
Halftime, 2-1 Liverpool: An eventful, heaving and chaotic first half comes to a close with LFC leading by one goal.
Maxi's double strike set the game off right for LFC, but Flanagan's troubles on the right cost the Reds in numbers.
Doni's dismissal will be felt not only in the second half but also on Saturday. But Jones looks like turning this cameo into a starring act.
His penalty save was a triumphant moment, but Yakubu's goal brought the Reds back to earth.
Dalglish must stitch together a back line in the second half. Henderson finished the half at right back, but he may not stay there for the rest of the game.
45th minute +1, 2-1 Liverpool: Maxi is booked for a late challenge on Dunn.
41st minute, 2-1 Liverpool: Blackburn has grown in confidence since the goal.
The hosts have managed to pin LFC back and test Jones from distance.
The Reds will hope to stay compact and focused. They can then regroup at halftime.
35th minute, 2-1 Liverpool: Yakubu makes amends and cuts LFC's lead in half.
He headed home Dunn's free kick from close range. The lone Blackburn frontman was unmarked as he thumped home the header.
31st minute, 2-0 Liverpool: With Doni sent off, it looks like Jones will start Saturday's FA Cup semifinal.
It's a stunning turn of events for the third-string goalkeeper. Jones lost his young son Luca due to cancer back in November. He has watched the entire season from the stands, but he is now thrust into the limelight.
27th minute, 2-0 Liverpool: Stand-in goalkeeper Brad Jones (who replaced Flanagan) saved Yakubu's penalty. It was poorly taken, and Jones made an easy save.
Yakubu was 4-for-4 in penalties this season. If he takes 996 more like the last one, he will be 4-for-1,000.
25th minute, 2-0 Liverpool: Doni has been sent off.
Flanagan sent a loose back pass in Doni's direction. It was intercepted by Hoilett, who burst into the box.
Doni rushed off his line and brought the Blackburn winger down.
He was the last man and was sent off for denying a goal-scoring opportunity.
17th minute, 2-0 Liverpool: Flanagan commits another foul, and it was close to a bookable offense.
The referee gives him a talking to rather then sending him off.
15th minute, 2-0 Liverpool: The Argentine Maxi has done it again. He taps home a rebound from close range and doubles the LFC lead.
Shelvey was the one who made it happen. He dispossessed Dunn in the midfield (in his own end) before carrying the play forward into the Blackburn area.
His shot was saved by Robinson. Carroll pounced on the rebound, but his shot was saved onto the path of Maxi, who finished it off.
12th minute, 1-0 Liverpool: The Reds take the lead thanks to Maxi's goal. He finished off a pass across the face of goal from Bellamy, but it all came down to an amazing pass from Skrtel.
Blackburn had a set piece in the LFC third that the Reds defended.
Skrtel took a pass deep in the penalty area and hit a missle that found Bellamy.
11th minute, 0-0: With team that are unfamiliar with each other, a slow start is expected. The Reds have struggled to link together and find openings.
Flanagan has been cautioned for a foul on Marcus Olsson. The LFC youngster took too many touches on the ball, and the Swede stripped him of possession.
Seventh minute, 0-0: Martin Olsson skied a free kick over the bar.
Coates' foul on Hoilett presented Blackburn with an opportunity to test Doni, but the host spurned it.
Fifth minute, 0-0: This game is off to an uneventful start, as both teams have struggled to string passes together.
First minute, 0-0: Johnson takes up position on the left side of the defense, while Flanagan stays on the right.
Pregame: Holy rotation, Batman. Dalglish makes a number of changes with one eye on Saturday's FA Cup semifinal.
Johnson returns from injury to take up his spot at right back. Spearing will play the holding role in the midfield.
Maxi and Bellamy will partner with Carroll in the LFC front line.
Blackburn will field the Olsson twins on its left side, giving a Johnson a unique headache. Nzonzi and Dunn will attempt to control the game from the center of the midfield.
2:00 p.m.: Here are the lineups:
Liverpool FC
Doni (32), goalkeeper
Glen Johnson (2), right back
Martin Skrtel (37), center back
Sebastian Coates (16), defender
Jon Flanagan (38), left back
Jay Spearing (20), midfielder
Jordan Henderson (14), midfielder
Jonjo Shelvey (33), midfielder
Maxi (11), forward
Craig Bellamy (39), forward
Andy Carroll (9), striker
Substitutes
Brad Jones (1), goalkeeper
Jose Enrique (3), defender
Jamie Carragher (23), defender
Daniel Agger (5), defender
Fabio Aurelio (6), defender
Dirk Kuyt (18), forward
Luis Suarez (7), forward
Blackburn Rovers FC
Paul Robinson (1), goalkeeper
Bradley Orr (18), right back
Grant Hanley (31), center back
Scott Dann (16), center back
Martin Olsson (3), left back
David Dunn (8), midfielder
Steven N'Zonzi (15), midfielder
Marcus Olsson (21), midfielder
Mauro Formica (10), midfielder
David "Junior" Hoilett (23), forward
Yakubu Aiyegbeni (24), striker
Substitutes
Jake Kean (34), goalkeeper
Jason Lowe (35), defender
Gael Givet (5), defender
Radosav Petrovic (14), midfielder
Mortin Gamst Pedersen (12), midfielder
David Goodwillie (25), striker
Ruben Rochina (20), striker
12:00 a.m. ET: Liverpool makes a quick return to action Tuesday when it travels to Edwood Park to face Blackburn Rovers. Each side has pressing needs that can be met with a victory in the Premier League contest.
LFC and Blackburn played to a 1-1 stalemate in their last meeting, on Boxing Day. Both have struggled in league play since then.
Blackburn comes into the game in the thick of a relegation fight. It is in 18th place — level on points with fellow strugglers Wigan and Queens Park Rangers. The season has been tough on Steve Keane and his group, but each point won will bring the club closer to safety.
Blackburn meets Liverpool looking to end a three-game losing streak. Anthony Modeste will miss out on the contest. He was sent off during Saturday's loss to West Brom. Keane will look to rumored LFC target David "Junior" Hoilett and Yakubu to provide the firepower.
The Reds ended a three-game slide of their own with a draw against Aston Villa on Saturday. They are looking to build momentum ahead of the FA Cup semfinal against Everton. The Reds trail the Toffees by four points in the standings, and a win will see them keep within striking distance of their neighbors.
Daniel Agger made a successful comeback from a broken rib in LFC's last game. He could return to the starting 11 on Tuesday. Andy Carroll, Steve Gerrard and Luis Suarez will likely spearhead the attack.
Join us right here at 3 p.m. for all the action. We'll bring you Blackburn-Liverpool as it happens.
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