Javier Mascherano will complete a three-match suspension for his red card against Manchester United.
Daniel Agger (knee), Harry Kewell (hamstring) and Jermaine Pennant (hamstring) remain sidelined.
Blackburn striker Jason Roberts faces a fitness test on a groin injury ahead of Sunday's game.
Midfielder David Dunn, who missed last week's 1-1 draw at home to Tottenham with a knee problem, will also be assessed prior to the match.
Liverpool (from): Reina, Arbeloa, Finnan, Carragher, Skrtel, Hyypia, Riise, Aurelio, Babel, Benayoun, Alonso, Gerrard, Lucas, Crouch, Torres, Voronin, Kuyt, Itandje.
Blackburn (from): Friedel, Emerton, Ooijer, Samba, Nelsen, Khizanishvili, Warnock, Bentley, Reid, Dunn, Pedersen, Santa Cruz, Roberts, McCarthy, Derbyshire, Vogel, Mokoena, Tugay, Brown.
.
Daniel Agger (knee), Harry Kewell (hamstring) and Jermaine Pennant (hamstring) remain sidelined.
Blackburn striker Jason Roberts faces a fitness test on a groin injury ahead of Sunday's game.
Midfielder David Dunn, who missed last week's 1-1 draw at home to Tottenham with a knee problem, will also be assessed prior to the match.
Liverpool (from): Reina, Arbeloa, Finnan, Carragher, Skrtel, Hyypia, Riise, Aurelio, Babel, Benayoun, Alonso, Gerrard, Lucas, Crouch, Torres, Voronin, Kuyt, Itandje.
Blackburn (from): Friedel, Emerton, Ooijer, Samba, Nelsen, Khizanishvili, Warnock, Bentley, Reid, Dunn, Pedersen, Santa Cruz, Roberts, McCarthy, Derbyshire, Vogel, Mokoena, Tugay, Brown.
.
BIG-MATCH FACTS
Liverpool, relishing the prospect of yet another Champions League semi-final against Chelsea, return to the business of qualifying for next season's competition through their league position, three days before the 48th birthday of manager Rafa Benitez.
Blackburn's only realistic chance of Europe next season is by qualifying for the Intertoto Cup, for which they are engaged in a three-way fight with Aston Villa and Manchester City.
This match is a clash between the two top-half draw specialists of the Premier League. Liverpool and Blackburn have finished level in 24 of their combined 66 fixtures.
But Rovers have not beaten a "Big Four" club this season, nor in nine since the maximum over Liverpool at Ewood Park on Boxing Day 2006.
Blackburn have won only one of 18 Premier League matches against Liverpool, but they've not won at Anfield since 12 September 1993.
Liverpool, relishing the prospect of yet another Champions League semi-final against Chelsea, return to the business of qualifying for next season's competition through their league position, three days before the 48th birthday of manager Rafa Benitez.
Blackburn's only realistic chance of Europe next season is by qualifying for the Intertoto Cup, for which they are engaged in a three-way fight with Aston Villa and Manchester City.
This match is a clash between the two top-half draw specialists of the Premier League. Liverpool and Blackburn have finished level in 24 of their combined 66 fixtures.
But Rovers have not beaten a "Big Four" club this season, nor in nine since the maximum over Liverpool at Ewood Park on Boxing Day 2006.
Blackburn have won only one of 18 Premier League matches against Liverpool, but they've not won at Anfield since 12 September 1993.
.
CLUB FORM
LIVERPOOL
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premier League fixtures, and refer to stats and sequences in the Premier League only, unless stated otherwise)
1. Lost one of 11 (all competitions).
2. The 3-0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford on 23 March is their only loss in 10, seven of which were won. Picked up 23 points from a last available 30.
3. Lost four times; only Arsenal (twice) and Chelsea (three times) have been beaten less frequently.
4. Drawn 12; only Blackburn and Fulham have recorded that many stalemates.
5. Just 9% of their goals have been headers - a league low (5 of 57); but they have scored the most from long range - 11 from outside the 18-yard box.
6. Conceded 25 goals; only Manchester United (17) and Chelsea (23) have shipped fewer. Also, allowed the opposition to score first in eight games; only Manchester United can better that (five times).
7. Registered five goalless draws. Only Portsmouth have also been involved in as many as that.
8. Won the last six at home against Sunderland, Middlesbrough, West Ham, Newcastle, Reading and Everton. Aston Villa were the last club to leave Anfield with a point (2-2 on 21 January); Manchester United are the only club this season to take all three points away (0-1, 16 December).
9. Lost one of 21 at Anfield since March 2007, scoring in all but two of those.
10. The league run-in is:-
Fulham (a) Birmingham (a) Manchester City (h) Tottenham (a)
.
CLUB FORM
LIVERPOOL
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premier League fixtures, and refer to stats and sequences in the Premier League only, unless stated otherwise)
1. Lost one of 11 (all competitions).
2. The 3-0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford on 23 March is their only loss in 10, seven of which were won. Picked up 23 points from a last available 30.
3. Lost four times; only Arsenal (twice) and Chelsea (three times) have been beaten less frequently.
4. Drawn 12; only Blackburn and Fulham have recorded that many stalemates.
5. Just 9% of their goals have been headers - a league low (5 of 57); but they have scored the most from long range - 11 from outside the 18-yard box.
6. Conceded 25 goals; only Manchester United (17) and Chelsea (23) have shipped fewer. Also, allowed the opposition to score first in eight games; only Manchester United can better that (five times).
7. Registered five goalless draws. Only Portsmouth have also been involved in as many as that.
8. Won the last six at home against Sunderland, Middlesbrough, West Ham, Newcastle, Reading and Everton. Aston Villa were the last club to leave Anfield with a point (2-2 on 21 January); Manchester United are the only club this season to take all three points away (0-1, 16 December).
9. Lost one of 21 at Anfield since March 2007, scoring in all but two of those.
10. The league run-in is:-
Fulham (a) Birmingham (a) Manchester City (h) Tottenham (a)
.
BLACKBURN ROVERS
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premier League fixtures, and refer to stats and sequences in the Premier League only, unless stated otherwise)
1. Won one of five; 3-1, home to Wigan on 22 March.
2. Won three of seven.
3. Victory here would take their total of points in this league over the 800 mark (798 at present).
4. Come from behind on 13 occasions this season.
5. Beat Tottenham (a), Newcastle (h), Derby (a) and Bolton (a) from losing positions. Also, rescued 17 points from matches in which they were trailing.
6. One of three clubs to have had six players sent off in this league; Chelsea and Fulham are the others. Also, been shown 75 cards in this league this term (six red, 69 yellow); only Middlesbrough players have been issued with more (79).
7. Used just 22 players; only Aston Villa match that.
8. No club has been awarded more penalties; five of the seven spot kicks given have been converted. 9. All six away wins have been by a single goal, and five by a 1-2 score-line. They are also unbeaten in five against North-West clubs (three wins, two draws), but have won only one of the last five North-West derbies away from home; that being 1-2 against Bolton at the Reebok on 13 January.
10. The run-in is:-
Manchester United (h) Portsmouth (a) Derby (h)Birmingham (a)
.
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premier League fixtures, and refer to stats and sequences in the Premier League only, unless stated otherwise)
1. Won one of five; 3-1, home to Wigan on 22 March.
2. Won three of seven.
3. Victory here would take their total of points in this league over the 800 mark (798 at present).
4. Come from behind on 13 occasions this season.
5. Beat Tottenham (a), Newcastle (h), Derby (a) and Bolton (a) from losing positions. Also, rescued 17 points from matches in which they were trailing.
6. One of three clubs to have had six players sent off in this league; Chelsea and Fulham are the others. Also, been shown 75 cards in this league this term (six red, 69 yellow); only Middlesbrough players have been issued with more (79).
7. Used just 22 players; only Aston Villa match that.
8. No club has been awarded more penalties; five of the seven spot kicks given have been converted. 9. All six away wins have been by a single goal, and five by a 1-2 score-line. They are also unbeaten in five against North-West clubs (three wins, two draws), but have won only one of the last five North-West derbies away from home; that being 1-2 against Bolton at the Reebok on 13 January.
10. The run-in is:-
Manchester United (h) Portsmouth (a) Derby (h)Birmingham (a)
.
KEY PLAYER NOTES
LIVERPOOL
Fernando TORRES is Liverpool's top scorer with 29 goals, and their leading marksman in the Premier League with 21.
TORRES and GERRARD have scored a total of 31 league goals between them.
Goalkeeper Jose REINA is the only remaining player to have been on the field for every minute of every one of Liverpool's Premier League matches this season.
REINA and David JAMES of Portsmouth are joint leaders in the race for the Barclays Golden Glove. Both keepers have kept 15 clean sheets.
If selected:-
GERRARD and Sami HYYPIA will be making their 300th Premier League appearances for Liverpool.
REINA will be making his 150th appearance in goal for the Reds.
If on the field from the outset:-
Jermaine PENNANT will be making his 50th start in a Liverpool shirt.
Suspended:-
Javier MASCHERANO (one match)
.
LIVERPOOL
Fernando TORRES is Liverpool's top scorer with 29 goals, and their leading marksman in the Premier League with 21.
TORRES and GERRARD have scored a total of 31 league goals between them.
Goalkeeper Jose REINA is the only remaining player to have been on the field for every minute of every one of Liverpool's Premier League matches this season.
REINA and David JAMES of Portsmouth are joint leaders in the race for the Barclays Golden Glove. Both keepers have kept 15 clean sheets.
If selected:-
GERRARD and Sami HYYPIA will be making their 300th Premier League appearances for Liverpool.
REINA will be making his 150th appearance in goal for the Reds.
If on the field from the outset:-
Jermaine PENNANT will be making his 50th start in a Liverpool shirt.
Suspended:-
Javier MASCHERANO (one match)
.
BLACKBURN ROVERS
Roque SANTA CRUZ is Blackburn's top scorer with 18 goals, and the club's leading Premier League marksman with 14, half of which were headers.
All but three of SANTA CRUZ' league goals have been scored away from home.
Benni McCARTHY has scored in two of his three league appearances against Liverpool.
David DUNN is a hat-trick shy of 50 club career goals.
Brad FRIEDEL has made 181 consecutive appearances for Blackburn since standing between the sticks against Charlton on 27 September 2004.
The 36 year old United States international keeper has put in 147 successive Premier League appearances for Rovers, since the beginning of the 2004-05 season.
Only FRIEDEL has played every minute of every one of Blackburn's league and cup matches this season.
If selected:-
FRIEDEL will be facing a former club. The 36 year old United States international keeper made 31 appearances (25 in the league) for Liverpool between December 1997 and his move to Ewood Park in November 2000.
Stephane HENCHOZ will also be facing former colleagues, although he has not made an appearance so far this season. The 33 year old Swiss international defender made 205 appearances (135 in the league) for the Reds between August 1999 and January 2005.
Stephen WARNOCK will be facing the club where he started his professional career. The 26 year old midfielder made 67 appearances (40 in the league) and scored one league goal, before signing for Blackburn in a £1.5m move in January this year.
Matt DERBYSHIRE will be playing on the eve of his 22nd birthday.
.
Roque SANTA CRUZ is Blackburn's top scorer with 18 goals, and the club's leading Premier League marksman with 14, half of which were headers.
All but three of SANTA CRUZ' league goals have been scored away from home.
Benni McCARTHY has scored in two of his three league appearances against Liverpool.
David DUNN is a hat-trick shy of 50 club career goals.
Brad FRIEDEL has made 181 consecutive appearances for Blackburn since standing between the sticks against Charlton on 27 September 2004.
The 36 year old United States international keeper has put in 147 successive Premier League appearances for Rovers, since the beginning of the 2004-05 season.
Only FRIEDEL has played every minute of every one of Blackburn's league and cup matches this season.
If selected:-
FRIEDEL will be facing a former club. The 36 year old United States international keeper made 31 appearances (25 in the league) for Liverpool between December 1997 and his move to Ewood Park in November 2000.
Stephane HENCHOZ will also be facing former colleagues, although he has not made an appearance so far this season. The 33 year old Swiss international defender made 205 appearances (135 in the league) for the Reds between August 1999 and January 2005.
Stephen WARNOCK will be facing the club where he started his professional career. The 26 year old midfielder made 67 appearances (40 in the league) and scored one league goal, before signing for Blackburn in a £1.5m move in January this year.
Matt DERBYSHIRE will be playing on the eve of his 22nd birthday.
.
HEAD TO HEAD
Blackburn's only maximum against Liverpool in over 11 years was 1-0 at Ewood Park on Boxing Day 2006, with a close range tap in from McCarthy.
Mike Newell scored the winner in Blackburn's last league victory at Anfield on 12 September 1993.
Home and awayLeague (inc PL): Liverpool 48 wins, Blackburn 34, Draws 37Prem: Liverpool 11 wins, Blackburn 6, Draws 10
at Liverpool only League (inc PL): Liverpool 34 wins, Blackburn 9, Draws 16Prem: Liverpool 7 wins, Blackburn 1, Draws 5
.
Blackburn's only maximum against Liverpool in over 11 years was 1-0 at Ewood Park on Boxing Day 2006, with a close range tap in from McCarthy.
Mike Newell scored the winner in Blackburn's last league victory at Anfield on 12 September 1993.
Home and awayLeague (inc PL): Liverpool 48 wins, Blackburn 34, Draws 37Prem: Liverpool 11 wins, Blackburn 6, Draws 10
at Liverpool only League (inc PL): Liverpool 34 wins, Blackburn 9, Draws 16Prem: Liverpool 7 wins, Blackburn 1, Draws 5
.
LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME
Liverpool 1-1 Blackburn Rovers 14 October 2006 - Ref: Mark Clattenburg
Liverpool 1-1 Blackburn Rovers 14 October 2006 - Ref: Mark Clattenburg
Liverpool scorer: Bellamy 64 Blackburn scorer: McCarthy 17
.
.
THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE
Blackburn Rovers 0-0 Liverpool 3 November 2007 - Ref: Martin Atkinson
Blackburn Rovers 0-0 Liverpool 3 November 2007 - Ref: Martin Atkinson
No comments:
Post a Comment