The fallout from our two previous league games (both defeats) was a lost in momentum and confidence going into this vital FA cup quarter-final replay at Ewood Park.
It was always going to be difficult to overcome a Blackburn side buoyed by their performance at Anfield and coming into the game on the back of tremendous three-nil victory away at Leeds.
Glen Johnson and Dejan Lovren came into the starting line up as Brendan Rodgers chose to play with a back four given the suspensions for Martin Skrtel and Emre Can.
We started the game trying to gain a foothold of possession and a long build up resulted in an off-target volley attempt for Joe Allen from the middle of the box.
A Blackburn long ball bounced into the box and Sakho almost allowed the ball to be taken off of his feet through a possible lack of communication between him and Simon Mignolet.
Sturridge did not looked off the pace early on despite receiving the ball in dangerous areas on more than one occasion. It resulted in him changing his boots early in the game to try and get a better grip on a bumpy pitch which was also hindering our slick passing game which had been missing since Rodgers side dismissal of Burnley.
Sakho left with a hamstring injury which Jordan Rhodes almost used to his advantage heading wide with the Frenchman struggling to stay with him. Kolo Toure coming on as replacement meant that the team's three best central defenders would not be on the pitch for the remainder of the match.
A failed Blackburn clearance gave the focussed Coutinho a free shot from the centre of the area, but Simon Eastwood did well to make a diving save.
Liverpool dominated possession after the Coutinho chance, but could not manufacture a goal as they struggled to create a clear cut chance with the valiant and resilient Blackburn steadfastly refused to give an inch.
Half-time thoughts: Overall, it was a dull first half for us. We dominated possession, but our pressure was meaningless as we couldn't create enough chances.
Blackburn looked to push further in the second-half and Tom Cairney forced a superb diving from the excellent Mignolet from a long range effort. Mignolet was also on alert having to make a second important save to defend the ensuing corner.
We took back control of the match and continued to pressure the hosts. However, chance creation was still an issue for the Reds.
If we were going to get to Wembley then Coutinho was always going to be that man to take us there. The magical Brazilian was slipped in by Henderson on the right and he arrowed his angled shot past Eastwood from a narrow angle to give us the lead.
Sterling played in Sturridge, but the striker's attempted chip sailed over the bar. It was to be his last action of the game with the forgotten Rickie Lambert replacing him in the 85th minute and almost heading in with his first touch of the ball.
The final throw at the dice for Blackburn was when their keeper Eastwood went up for a throw-in but our keeper Mignolet denying Eastwood and to keep Gerrard's dream alive.
Full-time thoughts: This was a tough deserved win for us and it was ugly at times. But after the losses to Manchester United and Arsenal it was exactly what the team needed.
Man of the match: Simon Mignolet - again made some vital saves to keep us in the game.
It was good to see our manager finally replace the back three formation that had served us well over the last three or four months as it was a formation teams now had a solution for.
Still concerned about the lack of goals now in the side with our main striker Sturridge continuing to struggle with his rustiness in his game.
Very good win so we now move onto Wembley to play Aston Villa in the semis.
Special mention to Jordan Henderson who led the side soon after the birth of his second child.
Blackburn: Eastwood, Henley, Baptiste, Kilgallon, Olsson, Evans, Williamson, Conway (Gestede 65), Cairney, Marshall, Rhodes.
Subs not used: Nyambe, Spurr, Songo'o, Lenihan, Steele, Mahoney.
Booked: Evans.
Liverpool: Mignolet, Johnson, Lovren, Sakho (Toure 28), Moreno, Henderson, Lucas, Allen, Sterling, Sturridge (Lambert 85), Coutinho.
Subs not used: Jones, Manquillo, Borini, Brannagan, Markovic.
Goals: Coutinho 70
Referee: Kevin Friend
Attendance: 28,415
Now we need to shine at Wembley. Look at their keeper trying to make a name for himself, nearly came off too.
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