WHAT a Christmas of contrasting emotions it's been for Brad Friedel!

After the shock of being knocked for six at the Emirates on Saturday, the big American bounced back with a vengeance here, producing a man-of-the-match performance to inspire Blackburn Rovers to their first Premiership victory over Liverpool in more than a decade.

Friedel was simply awesome, repelling everything his old club could throw at him in a display of stubborn resistance.

No one felt the pain of that defeat to Arsenal at the weekend greater than Friedel, who had never previously suffered the indignity of conceding six goals during his career at Blackburn.

You could see the anguish etched on his face as the Gunners scored three times in the last five minutes to condemn Rovers to their heaviest defeat during Mark Hughes' two and a half year tenure.

However, the sign of a great player is how he bounces back from such adversity, and Friedel's act of defiance here, just three days after one of the lowest points of his career, said much about the fighting spirit that still courses through the veins of this entire Rovers side.

Hughes had called for a response from his players, and they reacted magnificently, scrapping as if their lives depended on it at times, to restore some much needed pride.

From Friedel to Andy Todd, Tugay to Benni McCarthy, everyone in blue and white played their hearts out for the cause in a backs-to-the-wall performance.

McCarthy grabbed the all-important goal in the 49th minute, expertly finishing off a slick move that was instigated by the irrepressible Tugay, who was once again outstanding.

Then, as Liverpool pressed for an equaliser, they met a keeper playing at the very top of his game.

One save from Xabi Alonso in the last five minutes brought even the visiting fans to their feet.

Paying tribute to Friedel, who epitomised Rovers' battling qualities throughout, a delighted Hughes said: "After what happened at Arsenal, it was all about pride today and Brad Friedel responded as well as anyone.

"I don't think he'd ever conceded six in his career before Saturday so he was determined to restore some professional pride, and he certainly did that with this performance.

"I've worked with some top keepers in my career - Neville Southall and Peter Schmeichel - and Brad's very much in that same quality.

"He was magnificent, but I think he'll agree there was some great performances in front of him as well."

Desperate to erase the memories of that visit to the Emirates, Hughes made just one change from the side that lost to Arsenal, McCarthy returning up front following a one-match ban in place of Michael Gray, who had suffered a roasting at the weekend.

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez, meanwhile, paired Craig Bellamy with Peter Crouch in attack, and the former Ewood favourite was booed throughout, which was hardly surprising given the manner of his exit in the summer.

It took Bellamy just 30 seconds, however, to remind Blackburn fans what they have been missing this season.

A quick dab on the accelerator took him effortlessly past Lucas Neill on the right, and his pinpoint centre fell perfectly for Crouch, but the England striker's header lacked the power to beat Friedel. That was to be the start of a recurring theme.

Jon Arne Riise then tested Friedel with a trademark strike from 25 yards out, and the Rovers keeper had to be alert once again moments later to smother another Bellamy shot at his near post, following a cleverly worked Liverpool corner.

It was by no means one-way traffic, though, in a lively opening 20 minutes.

David Bentley carved out a golden chance for Robbie Savage with a raking cross from the right, but somehow the Welshman got his bearings all wrong and planted his header wide when completely unmarked.

Morten Gamst Pedersen almost surprised Pepe Reina with a dipping drive from distance, and a firecracker from McCarthy singed the fingertips of the Liverpool stopper.

The Reds always looked menacing on the break, however, and their little and large combination of Bellamy and Crouch proved a real handful for the Blackburn defence.

Crouch should have done better than head straight at Friedel following more silver service from the right.

Then Bellamy embarrassed Todd with an electric burst on the left, but he couldn't pick out a team-mate with his clever cut-back from the bye-line.

The longer the half went on, the more Liverpool began to turn the screw.

Bellamy was a coat of paint away from an opener after another slick moving involving Alonso and Riise, then Crouch failed to score with yet another header from a right-wing centre. How those misses were to prove costly.

Reinvigorated by a Hughes pep-talk, Rovers, who were roared on by a crowd of 29,342, the biggest at Ewood in three years, emerged for the second half with far greater purpose and within four minutes they were ahead.

That master of alchemy, Tugay, threaded a sublime pass through to Pedersen, who had crept up undetected on the left hand side of the penalty area.

The Norwegian then showed great vision to pick out McCarthy with a low centre, and Rovers' leading scorer greedily devoured his 10th goal of a productive season from six yards out. Who needs Bellamy, eh?

That knocked the stuffing out of Liverpool, and it wasn't long before Benitez replaced the misfiring Crouch with Dirk Kuyt in attack.

Still the Reds kept making chances, and still they kept missing them.

Bellamy struck the bar, Kuyt had another effort saved by Friedel, and an Alonso drive shaved the outside of the keeper's left-hand post, but, no matter what the visitors tried, the ball simply wouldn't go in the net.

In the dying minutes, Alonso tried his luck with another dipping volley from distance, but Friedel saved his best to last, brilliantly tipping it around the post at full-stretch.

He and Rovers were in no mood to be denied.