SECOND half goals from Xabi Alonso, Yossi Benayoun and Steven Gerrard kept Liverpool's title challenge on track and heaped further pressure on Rovers boss Paul Ince.

Rovers did at least put up a spirited display with Roque Santa Cruz giving the hosts hope with an 86th minute diving header but it proved too little too late.

The opening goal came from Steven Gerrard's low cross from the right and, when Dirk Kuyt mis kicked under pressure from Andre Ooijer, Alonso was on hand to steet home from the edge of the penalty area.

Benayoun doubled the visitors lead on 79 minutes when, after being sent clear down the right by Kuyt, he skipped past Steven Warnock before firing home from a tight angle.

Roque Santa Cruz could have equalised on 76 minutes but headed Ooijer's right wing cross well wide when unmarked just 12 yards from goal.

Santa Cruz did pull a goal back with four minutes left, diving in at the far post after Keith Andrews' cross from the right had been flicked on by Ooijer.

Gerrard sealed victory though in the dying seconds, slotting into an empty net after Robinson had raced out of goal to beat Nabil El Zhar to the ball.

Paul Robinson came to Rovers' rescue twice in the opening 20 minutes of the second half.

First he blocked Xabi Alonso's shot from 18 yards before smothering Steven Gerrard's effort from a similar distance.

Gerrard's strike did squirm out of his grasp but, with Andre Ooijer and Yossi Benayoun both attacking the rebound, the ball tricked out of play for a corner.

In the first half, Liverpool rarely threatened while Morten Gamst Pedersen went close for Rovers with two long-range strikes, one that was tipped on to the bar by Pepe Reina.

ROVERS: Paul Robinson, Andre Ooijer, Stephen Warnock, Chris Samba, Tugay, Ryan Nelsen, Brett Emerton, Roque Santa Cruz, Morten Gamst Pedersen, Keith Andrews, Matt Derbyshire

SUBS: Jason Brown, Benni McCarthy, Johann Vogel, Carlos Villanueva, Danny Simpson, Robbie Fowler, Keith Treacy

LIVERPOOL: Pepe Reina, Sami Hyypia, Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso, Yossi Benayoun, Alvaro Arbeloa, Dirk Kuyt, Ryan Babel, Javier Mascherano, Emiliano Insua, Jamie Carragher

SUBS: Diego Cavalieri, Andrea Dossena, Daniel Agger, Robbie Keane, Albert Riera, Lucas Leiva, Nabil El Zhar