---
title: "On this day: Liverpool ‘bash up’ Blackburn Rovers"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/articles/on-this-day-liverpool-bash-up-blackburn-rovers/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "Articles"
published: "2021-04-04T07:00:00Z"
modified: "2021-04-04T07:00:00Z"
---

# On this day: Liverpool ‘bash up’ Blackburn Rovers

On this day (April 4) 2004, [Liverpool](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2021/04/03/on-this-day-famous-victory-and-a-famous-celebration/) thumped Blackburn Rovers[4-0](https://www.premierleague.com/match/4638)at Anfield, in what was Gerard Houllier’s 300th match in charge of the Reds.

[Ballon d’Or winner Michael Owen](https://talksport.com/football/219622/how-michael-owen-won-ballon-dor-without-being-crowned-worlds-best-footballer-141202127287/)grabbed a brace on either side of an Andy Todd own goal, before[Emile Heskey put the icing on the cake](https://www.premierleague.com/match/4638) late on to round off the scoring.

In the[home lineup](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2021/04/02/jamie-carragher-names-top-10-premier-league-strikers/) on the day, a young Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard, as well as the likes of Igor Biscan and Florent Sinama-Pongolle.

Up against a [Rovers side](https://www.premierleague.com/match/4638) containing a Liverpool loanee in the shape of Markus Babbel and a former Red in Brad Friedel, Houllier was pitting his wits in the dugout against an Anfield legend in Graeme Souness.

The former midfielder[represented the club with distinction](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/graeme-souness/erfolge/spieler/116155) and helped in what was one of the greatest periods in the sides rich history – but on this day his Anfield experience wasn’t a pleasant one, as [Souness admitted](https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/5849438.souness-truly-bashed/) his side were ‘truly bashed up’ by his former employers.

In what was a historic Premier League season for Arsenal’s ‘invincibles’ as they achieved a never before seen feat by going unbeaten, Liverpool[rallied to finish 4th](https://www.premierleague.com/tables?co=1&se=12&ha=-1)and qualify for the 2004/05 UEFA Champions League – we all know how that turned out.