Jon Mcleod
Andrew MacdougallPremiership's big one - Blackburn v Liverpool
Blackburn v Liverpool (3pm, Saturday December 6)
Liverpool are standing tall at the summit of the English Premier League table but without striker Fernando Torres, who will be absent for a further month with a hamstring injury, doubts persist ovre their goalscoring ability. Paul Ince’s Blackburn are desperate for any points they can grab as they face up to the prospect of a ruelling battle to avoid relegation
The bosses:
Blackburn manger Paul Ince is on the brink of the sack. Blackburn are languishing at the bottom of the table and the board cannot contemplate the havoc relegation would create.
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is sitting contently at the top of the table despite some critics still questioning whether he has enough quality forward options after their 0-0 with West Ham on Monday.
Team News:
Blackburn - Brett Emerton and Roque Santa Cruz hope to be fit after knocks during the midweek defeat to Manchester United. Zurab Khizanishvili is sidelined out with a groin injury, but defender Chris Samba is fit.
Liverpool - Fernando Torres and Fabio Aurelio are both out for the Premiership leaders.
Key players:
Blackburn - The returning Christopher Samba will have to keep a keen eye on Robbie Keane and hope the livewire Irishman does not expose his lack of mobility.
Liverpool - Rafa Benitez has admitted that striker Robbie Keane has yet to show his best form since arriving from Tottenham in the summer for more than £20 million. With the continued absence of Torres, the pressure will be on the Irish international to provide a ruthless edge to Liverpool’s attack.
Tactics - Won and Lost
The addition of Albert Riera over the summer has given Liverpool greater width to their play but they are still over reliant on Steven Gerrard’s runs and goals from central midfield and just behind the main striker. With neither Keane nor Dirk Kuyt possessing blistering pace, Benitez will demand his striker or strikers operate high up the pitch to create space for the rampaging Gerrard in the centre ground. Also watch out for Albert Riera’s cut backs from the left for Gerrard on the edge of the penalty area.
Blackburn will be desperate for a point, and despite some doubting the dressing room spirit, Paul Ince will ensure his players scrap for everything. The hosts’ attack will as always revolve around Roque Santa Cruz - if fit - but the question will be whether they can provide himn and the in-form Matt Derbyshire with the opportunities to score. With the Blackburn midfield looking bereft of creativity, they could adopt a direct style against Liverpool and hope that enough chances drop to Santa Cruz and Derbyshire, who can in turn react quicker than the sometimes imobile Liverpool central defenders. However the Liverpool midfield tend to offer a highly effective shield for their defensive team-mates.
Prediction:
Blackburn to scrape a 1-1 draw at home and prolong the debate over Liverpool’s title credentials.
Liverpool are standing tall at the summit of the English Premier League table but without striker Fernando Torres, who will be absent for a further month with a hamstring injury, doubts persist ovre their goalscoring ability. Paul Ince’s Blackburn are desperate for any points they can grab as they face up to the prospect of a ruelling battle to avoid relegation
The bosses:
Blackburn manger Paul Ince is on the brink of the sack. Blackburn are languishing at the bottom of the table and the board cannot contemplate the havoc relegation would create.
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is sitting contently at the top of the table despite some critics still questioning whether he has enough quality forward options after their 0-0 with West Ham on Monday.
Team News:
Blackburn - Brett Emerton and Roque Santa Cruz hope to be fit after knocks during the midweek defeat to Manchester United. Zurab Khizanishvili is sidelined out with a groin injury, but defender Chris Samba is fit.
Liverpool - Fernando Torres and Fabio Aurelio are both out for the Premiership leaders.
Key players:
Blackburn - The returning Christopher Samba will have to keep a keen eye on Robbie Keane and hope the livewire Irishman does not expose his lack of mobility.
Liverpool - Rafa Benitez has admitted that striker Robbie Keane has yet to show his best form since arriving from Tottenham in the summer for more than £20 million. With the continued absence of Torres, the pressure will be on the Irish international to provide a ruthless edge to Liverpool’s attack.
Tactics - Won and Lost
The addition of Albert Riera over the summer has given Liverpool greater width to their play but they are still over reliant on Steven Gerrard’s runs and goals from central midfield and just behind the main striker. With neither Keane nor Dirk Kuyt possessing blistering pace, Benitez will demand his striker or strikers operate high up the pitch to create space for the rampaging Gerrard in the centre ground. Also watch out for Albert Riera’s cut backs from the left for Gerrard on the edge of the penalty area.
Blackburn will be desperate for a point, and despite some doubting the dressing room spirit, Paul Ince will ensure his players scrap for everything. The hosts’ attack will as always revolve around Roque Santa Cruz - if fit - but the question will be whether they can provide himn and the in-form Matt Derbyshire with the opportunities to score. With the Blackburn midfield looking bereft of creativity, they could adopt a direct style against Liverpool and hope that enough chances drop to Santa Cruz and Derbyshire, who can in turn react quicker than the sometimes imobile Liverpool central defenders. However the Liverpool midfield tend to offer a highly effective shield for their defensive team-mates.
Prediction:
Blackburn to scrape a 1-1 draw at home and prolong the debate over Liverpool’s title credentials.
