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| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
LIVERPOOL  Reina Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Enrique Bellamy, Adam, Henderson, Downing Suarez, Carroll | BLACKBURN  Robinson Lowe, Samba, Hanley, Olsson Hoilett, N’Zonzi, Dunn, Formica, Pedersen Yakubu |
Forward Craig Bellamy did not start in the stalemate at the DW - being unable to feature from the beginning of consecutive games due to knee problems - but is a key man in the Reds attack when able to do so.
Andy Carroll has endured a spell on the sidelines spanning three league games and could well return to provide physicality against a side who have recently been woeful in defence. Despite being handed an eight-game ban, Luis Suarez will be able to play as he still has time to contest the charge.
Rovers boss Steve Kean bemoaned his side’s luck with injuries at the back after defeat to relegation rivals Bolton but could well be boosted by the return of Martin Olsson at left-back.
This would mean a more familiar role for Morten Gamst-Pedersen on the left side of midfield, possibly at the expense of Simon Vukcevic and with Mauro Formica moving inside. Scott Dann is out with a ruptured testicle while Michel Salgado is not expected to start after revealing the club have given him several days off as they cannot afford to pay him if he plays more games and thus triggers a clause in his contract entitling him to a new deal.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- Liverpool’s home goals tally is superior to just three other sides in the league – West Brom, QPR and Merseyside rivals Everton.
- The Reds have notched the highest number of home Premier League draws so far this season with five.
- Blackburn are one of two sides yet to register a single win away from home this season, the other is Swansea.
- Kenny Dalglish spent four years managing Blackburn Rovers, leading them to the Premier League title in 1994/95, only the club’s third English championship win.
- A win in this fixture would take Dalglish’s win ratio in his second spell at Liverpool to 53.3 per cent, higher than the 52.6% he enjoyed during his reign at Blackburn.
- Both managers are Glasgow-born and began their playing careers at Celtic.
- This fixtures marks the 45th game of both managers' spells at their respective clubs.
- Blackburn have not won a Premier League fixture at Anfield since the 1993/94 season when Liverpudlian Mike Newell scored the only goal in a 1-0 win.
Given Liverpool’s problems netting at home and penchant for drawing at Anfield it is perhaps tempting to plump for that result here.
However, they face a side with the league’s joint-worst defensive record away from home and might just fancy their chances of seriously improving their ‘goals for’ tally.
The possible return of just one defender to the Blackburn back four will do little to alleviate worries over the potentially costly inexperience of Jason Lowe and Grant Hanley.
Thus the intelligence and experience of the Liverpool frontline is likely to prove too much for a frail defence and could heap more misery on beleaguered Rovers manager Kean.
However, they face a side with the league’s joint-worst defensive record away from home and might just fancy their chances of seriously improving their ‘goals for’ tally.
The possible return of just one defender to the Blackburn back four will do little to alleviate worries over the potentially costly inexperience of Jason Lowe and Grant Hanley.
Thus the intelligence and experience of the Liverpool frontline is likely to prove too much for a frail defence and could heap more misery on beleaguered Rovers manager Kean.
Editor's Prediction
Liverpool 3-0 Blackburn Rovers 
