Liverpool V Blackburn Rovers Betting: Sunday, 28th February

Liverpool V Blackburn Rovers

Sunday, 28^th February – 15:00 GMT

Liverpool

League Position: 6th

Recent Form: DWWLD

The arrival of Blackburn Rovers on Sunday does present Liverpool with a routine fixture if truth be told in that the three points should be all but theirs if they apply themselves in the correct manner. While they haven’t exactly been doing that of late, failing to win in either of their last two league games, Liverpool are flying high at Anfield after a succession of wins -five in fact – and victory at home to Blackburn on Sunday would extend their winning run at home to six games. However, more importantly, it would see them snatch back fourth position if results go their way on Saturday, so the incentives are all laid out for Liverpool. It’s just a case of whether they grab them with both arms.

A 1-0 defeat at Arsenal accompanies a stalemate at Man City as Liverpool’s run without a league wins stretches to two games. That’s far from catastrophic but it’s a run which could have more of an adverse affect then you think considering that both were against two tough sides. They were the sort of games where you win and the confidence within the team oozes, while failure in those types of nitty-gritty affairs can often leave to a drowsy camp, and to players doubting their own ability’s. However, all the negatives that come with not winning games should be brushed under the carpet with a predicted victory this weekend.

Liverpool are very short in price and heavily fancied to do the business on Sunday, and rightly so in our eyes. While their opponents have been dragging their feet on the road this season, having won just once away from home all season, Liverpool have finally found a bit of ground back at Anfield to call their own after five wins on the bounce. Even their home form was looking patchy at around Christmas time but now Anfield is slowly moulding back into the fortress it was of last season, where Liverpool went the entire season without losing at home. Moreover, it’s the atmosphere at the stadium which is steadily improving because of these succession of wins. The fans are aware that the club have a serious fight on their hands for their ‘Top Four’ status and are right behind their players in the cause.

The Reds’s, aided by the euphoric support from their fans, should win this game at a cantor. However, Liverpool rarely win games comfortably nowadays, especially the ones they really should. Nevertheless, a home win still looks fairly assured and the odds on Liverpool winning (1.40 Boylesports) look far bigger then they should be in our honest opinion. Anfield is now a happy hunting ground for Liverpool, with points coming think and fast in their home fixtures. Their performance on Sunday lacked inspiration, that bit of spark or guile, but the return of Fernando Torres, who has been out of action for what seems an eternity for Liverpool, should make his long awaited start on Sunday, and we fancy the Spaniard to torment this Rovers back line and wouldn’t discourage anyone from backing Torres to score at Anfield, even if he is lacking in match fitness.

Blackburn Rovers

League Position: 12th

Recent Form: WDLWW

Blackburn Rovers put a more than healthy eleven point gap between them and the drop after victory over Bolton Wanderers last Sunday in a game which was had more of an Ice Hockey feel than football. It was blizzard like conditions in Lancashire, with the snow coming down at a rate of knots. It was Blackburn though who handle the bitter cold and low visibility conditions a whole lot better as they racked up their biggest marginal win of the season.

However, off the back of what proved to be an easy assignment for Sam Allardyce is a more thorough examination as he takes his Rovers squad up North to Liverpool where Anfield will be the setting for their next league fixture. It’s a venue where Blackburn haven’t exactly boasted a strong run of form, losing on three of their last four visits, but will the clubs recent good run of form – Winning four of their last six league games – aid them in their quest to end their losing streak at one of the most prestigious yet intimidating arenas in the land.

The problem for Blackburn is their produce the goods at home in front of a packed Ewood Park but they simply don’t cut it when out on their travels. In thirteen away outings thus far Blackburn have managed to win just one game, with even that coming against a Bolton Wanderers side struggling to fend off relegation. Rovers unwillingly claim the rights to a 69% losing ratio away from their beloved Ewood Park, losing nine away games in all, avoiding defeat on just four occasions. It’s a terrible statistic to have drummed into you, especially for a Blackburn player, but it does get worse when you hear Rovers have lost four of their last seven away fixtures in the Premier League and haven’t scored away from home in 250 minutes of away play.

The Blackburn cause really does look a lost one, and if Sam Allardyce is brutally honest he’ll say his players probably don’t stand much of a chance against any of the ‘Top Four’ teams on their own patch. However, Liverpool are rapidly losing their grasp on a top four stranglehold, while Liverpool’s performances on the whole this season haven’t been great and haven’t been ideal of late, either. Rovers, however, are enjoying a confidence beaming run of four wins from their last six games. Of course, it’s certainly worth remembering that all four did come at Ewood Park but wins breathe confidence into players, like we’ve mentioned a few times this week, and if Blackburn could somehow etch out the first goal then perhaps Rovers could sneak a shock point.

Match Verdict: Liverpool to WIN – 1.40 Boylesports

We’d be foolish to select anything other than a home win here considering the state of both teams respective home/away records. Liverpool have won nine of thirteen at home this season, which is in stark contrast to Blackburn away form of one win in thirteen, losing nine of them. Blackburn have lost the same amount of games away from home as Liverpool have won at home this season, which is a sure-fire sign that Liverpool will cruise for this fixture if I ever seen one. Moreover, Blackburn have a terrible record at Anfield of three defeats in their last four visits and we don’t envisage that getting any better on Sunday. Liverpool for us, although a sneaky bet on Fernando Torres as well.

Match Odds:

Liverpool – 1.40 Boylesports

Draw – 4.80 Bet365

Blackburn Rovers – 10.00 SkyBet

SoccerBetting Value Tip: Fernando Torres FGS – 4.30 Coral