Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce insists they would be every bit as good as Liverpool - if not for Reds striker Fernando Torres.

A series of bitter clashes overshadowed a goalscoring return for Torres, who marked his first start since January 13 by scoring the winner.

Torres scored his 13th goal in 17 Barclays Premier League appearances a minute before half-time, having seen Keith Andrews equalise from the penalty spot after Steven Gerrard's 20th-minute opener.

Allardyce, however, felt his side should have had more from the game.

"If we had had a goalscorer we would have won the game on chances created," he said.

"It is not very often you come to Liverpool and create more chances than they did.

"We failed because we didn't have a goalscorer and they have Torres and Gerrard who are top quality players and they get half a chance and score."