After admitting he endured a 'nightmare' playing for France against Cyprus in midweek, Cisse appeared to be duplicating that performance until he struck the 75th- minute winner.
Robbie Savage conceded a free-kick for a foul on Bolo Zenden and Xabi Alonso passed the ball a short distance to his right where Cisse connected with a sweet and unstoppable 22-yard shot that flew past former Liverpool goalkeeper Brad Friedel.
Yet the euphoria of Istanbul in May has quickly dispersed from around Anfield. You may fool Merseyside football fans some of the time, especially when you offer them the European Cup to mask domestic shortcomings, but the realisation that Rafael Benitez has assembled a wholly ordinary Premiership squad has long since dawned.A couple of early Savage free-kicks caused mild consternation in the home defence, as did a towering header from Blackburn's big centre-forward Shefki Kuqi, which flew over the crossbar.
The conceding of such set-pieces demonstrated Liverpool's edginess, as did errant passes which constantly handed a confident Blackburn side possession.
In contrast, Liverpool created little to trouble Friedel at the other end. Momo Sissoko showed neat footwork on the edge of the area but fell over as he aimed to shoot, Cisse connected with thin air as he attempted a ridiculous bicycle kick from Alonso's corner and another Alonso flag kick was headed down, and over, by Jamie Carragher.
Still, the 32nd minute brought the home side a lucky break which promised to prove decisive as Cisse chased Zenden's through ball and was brought down on the edge of the penalty area by Zurab Khizanishvili. It looked highly debatable as to whether the defender was 'last man' and Liverpool appealed vehemently to referee Mark Halsey that the infringement was inside the area.