Liverpool were high on confidence heading into their Champions League clash with Chelsea on Tuesday. A last-gasp win over Fulham the weekend prior had extended their winning run to seven games and put them atop the Premier League table, if only briefly.
Then Guus Hiddink's Blues breached Pepe Reina's goal thrice to leave the Reds' European hopes hanging by a thread. That defeat has underlined the great anomaly of Liverpool's season to date; for while they are enjoying their finest league campaign in yonks, they have been less than fearsome on their own patch.
They are unbeaten at home in the Prem but, despite claiming crucial wins over Manchester United and Chelsea, they have drawn with the likes of Stoke City, Hull City, Fulham, West Ham United and Manchester City.
So this weekend's clash with Blackburn Rovers could prove a particularly tricky one for Rafa Benitez and his charges as they look to plaster over the cracks that were exposed by Branislav Ivanovic and Didier Drogba. They sit just one point behind United, but any slip-up at this stage of proceedings could prove costly.
This will be as big a test for 'Pool as they have had all season. They showed at Craven Cottage that they are now capable of snatching results even when things don't go their way, and they must build upon that performance this weekend - and put Wednesday's disappointment behind them - if they hope to continue their push for a maiden Premier League crown.
Blackburn have spent much of this season mired in the bottom three, following a disastrous six-month stint under rookie manager Paul Ince. At the turn of the year, it seemed they were destined for another spell in the second tier of English football.
However, things have improved since Sam Allardyce took the reins, and last weekend's win over Tottenham Hotspur shot them up to 14th place, five points clear of the relegation zone. But Allardyce, the man who transformed Bolton Wanderers into Premier League stalwarts, knows that his Rovers have plenty to do before they can even begin to contemplate another season in the top flight.
Speaking after the win over Spurs, 'Big Sam' said, "I don’t think that ends our relegation worries. Thirty-four points is nowhere near enough for this season."
Thus, Blackburn head to Merseyside this weekend still seeking sanctuary from the relegation dog-fight, but they are unlikely to be granted such a boon at Anfield. They haven't won a league game at Liverpool since Benitez's arrival back in 2004, and the hosts will be desperate to keep pressure on Manchester United.
FORM GUIDE
Liverpool
Apr 08 Liverpool 1-3 Chelsea (Champions League)
Apr 04 Fulham 0-1 Liverpool (Premier League)
Mar 22 Liverpool 5-0 Aston Villa (Premier League)
Mar 14 Manchester United 1-4 Liverpool (Premier League)
Mar 10 Liverpool 4-0 Real Madrid (Champions League)
Blackburn Rovers
Apr 04 Blackburn Rovers 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League)
Mar 21 Blackburn Rovers 1-1 West Ham United (Premier League)
Mar 14 Arsenal 4-0 Blackburn Rovers (Premier League)
Mar 11 Fulham 1-2 Blackburn Rovers (Premier League)
Mar 04 Blackburn Rovers 0-0 Everton (Premier League)
TEAM NEWS
Liverpool
Javier Mascherano is available once more after missing the Reds' last two fixtures through a combination of fatigue and suspension. The Argentine should replace Lucas Leiva in the starting line-up.
Competition on the left flank is hotting up, as Fabio Aurelio and Albert Riera are being pushed by Emiliano Insua and Andrea Dossena, respectively. Neither of the former two were at their best against Chelsea, so a Rafa reshuffle could be on the cards.
Martin Skrtel's once-imperious form in central defence has tapered somewhat, meaning the fit-again Daniel Agger could be up for a rare start.
Probable XI: Reina - Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Insua - Alonso, Mascherano - Kuyt, Gerrard, Riera - Torres
Blackburn Rovers
Allardyce will be missing a whole host of first-team regulars for the short trip through Lancashire. Morten Gamst Pedersen has a calf problem, and Jason Roberts is out for at least three weeks with a stress fracture of the foot. Brett Emerton is a long-term absentee, Vince Grella is still not 100 per cent, and Roque Santa Cruz is battling through tendonitis.
Furthermore, Johann Vogel has left the club after having his contract terminated, leaving options in midfield rather scarce.
Keith Andrews deputised at right-back last week but could lose his place to the departing Dutchman, Andre Ooijer. Carlos Villanueva should be the default choice to fill out the team-sheet in attack.
Probable XI: Robinson - Ooijer, Samba, Nelsen, Givet - Diouf, Mokoena, Andrews, Warnock - Villanueva - McCarthy
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Liverpool
The only Red who managed to foil Petr Cech in midweek was Fernando Torres, and he will be hoping to exploit a fairly heavy-legged Rovers rearguard with his considerable pace and guile - not to mention finishing ability. The Spaniard has only started 14 league games this term, due to persistent injuries, but has notched up nine goals nonetheless.
Blackburn Rovers
Some thought Allardyce was having a bubble when he suggested Christopher Samba could be used as an auxiliary forward, but the former Bolton boss was as good as his word and stationed the Congolese giant up front in the second half against Tottenham last weekend. He surely won't start in attack, especially at Anfield, but he should get forward whenever possible and will be a huge threat from set-pieces.
Then Guus Hiddink's Blues breached Pepe Reina's goal thrice to leave the Reds' European hopes hanging by a thread. That defeat has underlined the great anomaly of Liverpool's season to date; for while they are enjoying their finest league campaign in yonks, they have been less than fearsome on their own patch.
They are unbeaten at home in the Prem but, despite claiming crucial wins over Manchester United and Chelsea, they have drawn with the likes of Stoke City, Hull City, Fulham, West Ham United and Manchester City.
So this weekend's clash with Blackburn Rovers could prove a particularly tricky one for Rafa Benitez and his charges as they look to plaster over the cracks that were exposed by Branislav Ivanovic and Didier Drogba. They sit just one point behind United, but any slip-up at this stage of proceedings could prove costly.
This will be as big a test for 'Pool as they have had all season. They showed at Craven Cottage that they are now capable of snatching results even when things don't go their way, and they must build upon that performance this weekend - and put Wednesday's disappointment behind them - if they hope to continue their push for a maiden Premier League crown.
Blackburn have spent much of this season mired in the bottom three, following a disastrous six-month stint under rookie manager Paul Ince. At the turn of the year, it seemed they were destined for another spell in the second tier of English football.
However, things have improved since Sam Allardyce took the reins, and last weekend's win over Tottenham Hotspur shot them up to 14th place, five points clear of the relegation zone. But Allardyce, the man who transformed Bolton Wanderers into Premier League stalwarts, knows that his Rovers have plenty to do before they can even begin to contemplate another season in the top flight.
Speaking after the win over Spurs, 'Big Sam' said, "I don’t think that ends our relegation worries. Thirty-four points is nowhere near enough for this season."
Thus, Blackburn head to Merseyside this weekend still seeking sanctuary from the relegation dog-fight, but they are unlikely to be granted such a boon at Anfield. They haven't won a league game at Liverpool since Benitez's arrival back in 2004, and the hosts will be desperate to keep pressure on Manchester United.
FORM GUIDE
Liverpool
Apr 08 Liverpool 1-3 Chelsea (Champions League)
Apr 04 Fulham 0-1 Liverpool (Premier League)
Mar 22 Liverpool 5-0 Aston Villa (Premier League)
Mar 14 Manchester United 1-4 Liverpool (Premier League)
Mar 10 Liverpool 4-0 Real Madrid (Champions League)
Blackburn Rovers
Apr 04 Blackburn Rovers 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League)
Mar 21 Blackburn Rovers 1-1 West Ham United (Premier League)
Mar 14 Arsenal 4-0 Blackburn Rovers (Premier League)
Mar 11 Fulham 1-2 Blackburn Rovers (Premier League)
Mar 04 Blackburn Rovers 0-0 Everton (Premier League)
TEAM NEWS
Liverpool
Javier Mascherano is available once more after missing the Reds' last two fixtures through a combination of fatigue and suspension. The Argentine should replace Lucas Leiva in the starting line-up.
Competition on the left flank is hotting up, as Fabio Aurelio and Albert Riera are being pushed by Emiliano Insua and Andrea Dossena, respectively. Neither of the former two were at their best against Chelsea, so a Rafa reshuffle could be on the cards.
Martin Skrtel's once-imperious form in central defence has tapered somewhat, meaning the fit-again Daniel Agger could be up for a rare start.
Probable XI: Reina - Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Insua - Alonso, Mascherano - Kuyt, Gerrard, Riera - Torres
Blackburn Rovers
Allardyce will be missing a whole host of first-team regulars for the short trip through Lancashire. Morten Gamst Pedersen has a calf problem, and Jason Roberts is out for at least three weeks with a stress fracture of the foot. Brett Emerton is a long-term absentee, Vince Grella is still not 100 per cent, and Roque Santa Cruz is battling through tendonitis.
Furthermore, Johann Vogel has left the club after having his contract terminated, leaving options in midfield rather scarce.
Keith Andrews deputised at right-back last week but could lose his place to the departing Dutchman, Andre Ooijer. Carlos Villanueva should be the default choice to fill out the team-sheet in attack.
Probable XI: Robinson - Ooijer, Samba, Nelsen, Givet - Diouf, Mokoena, Andrews, Warnock - Villanueva - McCarthy
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Liverpool
The only Red who managed to foil Petr Cech in midweek was Fernando Torres, and he will be hoping to exploit a fairly heavy-legged Rovers rearguard with his considerable pace and guile - not to mention finishing ability. The Spaniard has only started 14 league games this term, due to persistent injuries, but has notched up nine goals nonetheless.
Blackburn Rovers
Some thought Allardyce was having a bubble when he suggested Christopher Samba could be used as an auxiliary forward, but the former Bolton boss was as good as his word and stationed the Congolese giant up front in the second half against Tottenham last weekend. He surely won't start in attack, especially at Anfield, but he should get forward whenever possible and will be a huge threat from set-pieces.
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