Victory was Liverpool's sixth in a row and saw them consolidate third position on 73 points.

That left them three behind second-placed Manchester United, who have a game in hand, while Rovers remained sixth and in the hunt for a UEFA Cup spot.

Liverpool hero Fowler, who returned for a second spell at Anfield after a January transfer window move from Manchester City, has been trying to persuade manager Rafael Benitez to extend his contract at the end of the season.

He did his cause no harm Sunday albeit his fourth goal in five matches was controversial. John Arne Riise's long throw was chested on by Fowler and fellow striker Djibril Cisse, clearly standing in an offside position, pulled out from touching the ball at the last second.

That allowed the onrushing Fernando Morientes to square the ball to Fowler and the former England forward sidefooted home past Brad Friedel on the half-hour mark.

Blackburn players complained furiously, saying the goal should not have stood, but Sky Sports later reported the linesman saying he'd kept his flag down because he did not think Cisse was "active" and interfering with play.

Cisse could have sealed the match in stoppage time when he burst through and was left one-on-one with Friedel only for the keeper to block the Frenchman's shot before the forward hit the post with his follow-up effort.