Blackburn Rovers vs Liverpool
Blackburn Rovers vs Liverpool

Just when it seemed that Steve Kean and Blackburn had turned the tide and could maybe survive relegation, the club's momentum came to a very unpleasant halt. With yet another league defeat last week - their third on the trot - this time against West Brom, the Rovers are struggling and need to make their home advantage count for this fixture.

Making issues worse, forward Anthony Modeste was sent off in the final minutes of the last match and will be suspended for this tie, whilst midfielder Vincenzo Grella is still out with a hip injury. This, however, is a big chance for Rovers to get three points as they are playing a club who are having their worst run in six decades.

Liverpool could manage only a draw at home in their last match against an unimpressive Aston Villa as the Reds' league campaign continues to go downwards. One win in nine matches is poor by any standards and surely Kenny Dalglish must be feeling the pressure despite his legendary status at Anfield.

With the FA Cup match against Everton coming up at the weekend, there might yet be more trouble to follow in the league for Liverpool if Dalglish decides to rest a few big players.

Dalglish has midfielders Lucas and Charlie Adam unavailable as both are long-term injuries. Goalkeeper Jose Reina will serve the second of his three-match ban, while this game seems to have come a little too soon for full backs Martin Kelly and Glen Johnson, both of whom are out with ankle injuries.

Liverpool lost their last match at Ewood Park 3-1, when a Benjani brace and a Martin Olsson goal sunk the Reds. That loss ended Roy Hodgson's time at Anfield. Dalglish will be hoping to avoid something similar happening to him in the near future as he leads his men to visit Blackburn again.

Kean, meanwhile, will be worried that his leading scorer Yakubu has scored only twice this year. He was in sublime form until December, netting an impressive 12 times.

The reverse fixture last December ended in a draw after a Maxi Rodriguez strike cancelled out an own-goal by Charlie Adam in the first half.

The match will be available live on vslive.tv in the UK and FOXSoccer.tv in the US.

Probable Starting Line-up

Blackburn: Robinson, Orr, Dann, Hanley, Martin Olsson, Lowe, N'Zonzi, Pedersen, Hoilett, Marcus Olsson, Yakubu

Liverpool: Doni, Flanagan, Skrtel, Agger, Enrique, Gerrard, Henderson, Downing, Bellamy, Suarez, Carroll