Liverpool FC vs Blackburn Rovers (Pre-match Thread)

[adammac]

Kick off 12:45
Live on Sky Sports 1

Liverpool FC vs Blackburn Rover

Liverpool entertain Blackburn Rovers at Anfield on Saturday with the Reds looking to secure their fifth straight Barclays Premier League victory.

Rafa Benitez's side have defeated Sunderland, Manchester United, Aston Villa and Fulham, scoring twelve goals in the process to force their way back into the championship reckoning.

Liverpool have already beaten Blackburn this season when goals from Xabi Alonso, Yossi Benayoun and Steven Gerrard secured a 3-1 victory at Ewood Park in December.

The Reds beat Sam Allardyce's side by the same scoreline in the corresponding fixture at Anfield last season and will hope to complete a league double over the Lancashire club to maintain their title tilt.

Well time to forget what happen last night, whats done is done now on to the serious business of the Premiership. Win tomorrow and we can go top of the table for a couple of hours but it is important to see how the guys come back after a blow of getting thumped at Anfield by Chelsea and to keep the pressure of Manure who seem to be very unpredictable with their play of late and who knows might draw Sunderland. Just have to win and hope for the best.

[flafson]

I wanna see more goals from Benayoun!

[adammac]

Would be too surprised to see Yossi and Sami (consider most Big Sam sides play long ball) get the nod for this game.

[el batez]

Got to go for the throat and get a good result and let the manc's know we are not done yet.

[Dmasta]

I think we'll bounce back and have a really good result in this one and I can see us having better individual performances from the likes of Riera and Aurelio knowing that players like Babel and Insua are there to take there places in the starting lineup if they dont perform.

[Billy1]

 I am pleased that this thread has started,it is time to walk on and look forward to the Blackburn game with confidence.With luck Blackburn will be made to pay for last night.

[redsonfire]

Billy1, its time to walk on yes, but the chelsea's game aint over just yet!

BELIEVE.

[Billy1]

Billy1, its time to walk on yes, but the chelsea's game aint over just yet!

BELIEVE.

I know the Chelsea game is not over yet,in the Chelsea post match thread I said it is only half time.The point I was trying to make was lets concentrate on the Blackburn game and think about Chelsea when  we have finished with Blackburn.Cheers.

[JD]

I want to see the right response by the reds players.

5-0 will do me.

[Ross]

I'm guessing Torres and Gerrard will be played but we will want to get this game won as soon as possible I guess to take off the key players for Chelsea. We usually respond well to defeats and I think we'll win this one.

[ayrton77]

The Chelsea re-match is neither over nor forgotten, but put on the back burner as we look forward to a match in what I consider our most important competition: the Premier League.

Despite yesterday's result, no huge changes for me, it would unsettle the side too much. Masch back in for Lucas, Agger for Skrtel would do, though maybe left-wing and left-back could be considered as well.

Not fussy about the score, I just want a commanding and confidence restoring victory from the lads.

[JD]

Just a reminder to those fans heading to the game that there will be a march in support of Liverpool supporter Michael Shields from around 10.30 from the city centre to Anfield.

http://www.lfcreds.com/reds/index.php?topic=16042.msg296576#msg296576

[Adryan]

Come Reds. Let's bounce back and show that last night's game was just a one-off thing and isn't gonna affect our confidence.

[aw1]

I think Insua and Babel will start this game ahead of Aurelio and Reira. Mascherano will also come back in for Lucas. Yossi might also start if Gerrard isn't fit.

I expect a dominant performance and a comfortable 3-0 victory.

Let's continue to mount the pressure on the mancs.

YNWA

[dunlop liddell shankly]

A must win game and after yesterday's dross a stunning performance wouldn't go a miss.

[solodee]

Sam Allardyce Hoping Blackburn Rovers Can Exploit Liverpool's Set-Piece Weakness

After Rafa Benitez's much discussed 'zonal system' was once again exposed last night by Chelsea, 'Big Sam' is eyeing what he perceives to be the Reds' soft underbelly...

9 Apr 2009 16:28:31

Blackburn Rovers manager Sam Allardyce was clearly taking notice of last night's 3-1 victory for Chelsea over Liverpool in the Champions League, and he is hoping to use some of the lessons learned from the game when his side travel to Anfield on Saturday.

Rafa Benitez's men came unstuck twice at corners, with Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic appearing in the penalty area both times to power headers into the net, relatively unmolested by Liverpool defenders on both occasions.

The famously analytical Allardyce, whose sides are physical and tend to attack and defend well from set-pieces, certainly saw plenty to interest him.

"Obviously we've seen them a couple of times before last night's game. From my point of view, I went to have a look and watch what was probably the most in-form team in this country at the moment come a little unstuck on the night," he told Blackburn's official website.

"It can happen to us all on occasions, but it was the wonderful ability of Chelsea Football Club on the night that got the tactics right, but also used their outstanding ability to punish them very heavily in the end.

"We can only hope that that knocks their confidence a little bit. From my point of view, I'm trying to get as many of our players as fit as I can.

"It will be a difficult game and one where we'll obviously go and try to do the best we can."

Allardyce is using the example of a previous preformance against a 'big four' side during his brief tenure at Ewood Park as a means of firing his troops up for the encounter, which could play a big part in shaping Rovers' survival bid.

He added, "I'd like to see a repeat of the performance of what we did at Manchester United, where we were very unlucky to lose that. Basically we'll do that by trying to get as many players as fit as we can and pick a side who can combat a very good, attacking Liverpool team at Anfield and then try to expose one or two weaknesses that were shown up last night.

"Their pride will have been hurt, but they are still just one point off Manchester United, so it will be a very big game for them. I think they'll be all guns blazing, but one [test] we've come across before and have had to cope with.

"I just want to get as many of my experienced players as fit as possible to go and compete against the very best in this league."

http://www.talkaloadofbull.com/en/teams/england/108/blackburn

Even Big Sam is allowed to dream too.

[goldton]

I think Yossi will be the hero again.

[chats]

I'd play Sami without a shadow of a doubt and drop Skrtel to the bench mainly due to the long ball tactics of Big Sam.

I think Insua and Babel will come in. If Gerrard is out then I think either Kuyt will move up top or Yossi will play in behind Torres.

Got to get the Chelsea game out of our system.

3-0. Goals from Torres (2) and Sami.

[Scouse pie]

We must not let yesterday defeat derail our chances of wining the title. If we slip up here, Chelsea will be delighted as they beleive they still have a chance of winning the title as well. We must not give them the satisfaction or any physcholgical boost.

Also the crowd has to keep postive - we do not want to be sucking any confidence from the players if things don't go our way immediately.

I agree with many here that Benayoun will be a key player on Sat. It will be intersting to see the situation with Gerrad and his fitness and whether that will afect his position in the team.

[Emlyn Hughes]

"I don't think he needs to send his best side down to Stamford Bridge next week. Benitez should play his best team against Blackburn and then save them for the game with Arsenal on Tuesday week. They've got a great opportunity to win the Premier League."

I read that on Sky, 100 % sign! 

[red trooper]

C'mon you reds !!!!! I'd settle for a 1-0 win with no injuries ....

[kingkennyb]

 

2-0 will be the score. I have fifty on it.

I got 16/1 today against a a comeback against Chelski. I put a 20 down. I have a funny feeling about the game. I think that we will win 4-2 on the night and go through on away goals.     

[Darkone]

we want win everything that we are still in.that means CL AND EPL!against blackburn:             carragher-sami-agger- insua             -xabi-masher-                 kuyt-benny-riera                     -torres-            we can win it all!                 

[Singh_YNWA]

1 nil will do. we need to win to keep on the pressure

[leosc]

1-0 in the 95 minute will do, we need to win the 3 points no matter how.     
But if we score 4 or more will be perfect, the goals will be very important at the end of the championship, and to gain confidence for the game against chelski.

[Singh_YNWA]

lets get a goal or 2, killed the game on then think about the chelsea game.

[Billo]

Ahead of their clash with Liverpool, Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce has laid into Reds boss Rafa Benitez by saying he loves "whingeing and moaning". (Various)

from the BBC gossip coloumn

WTF

[Billy1]

from the BBC gossip coloumn

WTF

What is that saying about the kettle calling the pot black.Mind  you I suppose Allardyce is entitled to criticise RAFA after all you must compare all the trophies he has won.Oh that's right he has won F,All and with a bit of luck could get the drop this season.

[redsonfire]

This has got to be a must win game, no question about it. Its time to forget about the Chelsea game and get out ass fired up. Without a shadow of a doubt this is gonna be a crucial point of our season and if we fall, we must stand up immediately. Against Rovers we need to show them our intend, we need to get the ball moving as quickly as possible. Brought back down to earth by the rent boys but by no means out, down and beaten.

Dont care how, I'll just take a win. It puts big pressure on the lads to score 5-0 IMO, and with the midweek loss its gonna be a shattered morale. But we've got to set the record straight, show the others that we're no pushovers, score goal and win it. Simple.

[james08kop]

Jamie Carragher claims this weekend's clash with Blackburn Rovers is the biggest Premier League game of his career.
Liverpool could go two points clear on Saturday lunchtime ahead of Manchester United's visit to the Stadium of Light at 3pm.
 
It is the first time since 2002 that Carragher has still been involved in the title race at this stage.
 
Back then, Liverpool stayed on the tail of Arsenal until defeat against Tottenham on April 27.
 
Carragher knows victory over Sam Allardyce's men is vital if the charge is to last even longer this time around.
 
"I'm not just saying this because of what happened against Chelsea the other night but the league has always been the priority for everyone at the club," said the 31-year-old.
 
"In the 13 years I have been involved in the first team this will be the biggest league game I've played in – it really is that important.
 
"If we win we can go top of the league with just six games to go and if someone would have told us that we would be in this position when the season started we would have all been delighted.
 
"This is a massive chance for everyone at the club and I'm sure the fans will create a great atmosphere because they know what is at stake."
 
Chelsea's victory in the Champions League on Wednesday was the first time the Reds have been beaten by a fellow member of the big four this season.
 
Carragher added: "Sometimes you just have to hold your hands up and say that the other team played well on the night, and this is one of those occasions.
 
"But it's important to remember that we've now played them and Man United five times this season and we've won four of those games.
 
"That's a record we can be proud of even though we are obviously disappointed about what happened the other night.
 
"We've played more than 40 games in the Premier League and the Champions League – the two biggest competitions – and we've only lost three times. One of the most important things is that when we have lost we've tended to respond in the right way by going on good runs.
 
"That's what we'll be looking to do again and no-one should be too downhearted about what happened against Chelsea because they are a good side who did well on the night. We've still got a hell of a lot to play for.
 
"The incentive is there for us to go back on top of the league. It may only be for a few hours until United play but you never know, it could even be for longer than that.
 
"That's how big this game is and that's why I honestly believe it's the biggest we've had in the league since I've been at the club - and maybe for even longer than that."