Blackburn Rovers V Liverpool odds

Blackburn Rovers V Liverpool

Kick-off: Wednesday, 5th January – 20:00 (GMT)
Venue: Ewood Park
Previous Meeting: Liverpool 2-1 Blackburn Rovers (24 Oct, 2010)

Blackburn Rovers

In a well-plotted PR stunt, Venky’s, Blackburn’s controversial owners, have done a fantastic job in deflecting some of the negativity which has swamped the club of late following their shock decision to sack former Rovers boss Sam Allardyce in December of last year. Ronaldinho, the former two-time World Player of the Year, has suddenly become available and even though there isn’t the slightest possibility of the Brazilian swapping the San Siro for Ewood Park, just the sheer link between Blackburn and the buck-toothed star has united the supporters and gone some way to putting their form woes to the back of everyone’s minds. Not ours, however.

Despite the distraction of big-name signings, with David Beckham now being linked with a loan move to Blackburn, we haven’t taken our eyes off the ball, because we actually have some perspective. Who in their right mind would want to come to Blackburn Rovers? A club ran by idiots and managed by some brain-washed Scot who genuinely believes the Champions League is a viable objective on a shoestring bidget of £5-million. But both Venky’s and Steve Kean are well aware that neither move will ever materialize, but that’s the beauty of the poys as it means they get the best of both worlds, no useless Brazilian but their fifteen minutes of fame whilst tricking the fans into thinking Blackburn can lure big names to Lancashire. So it’s back to reality for all you Rovers fans, back to watching a team who despite the outrageous targets laid down by the absurd owners, are fighting for their Premiership status.

With over half the season gone, Blackburn will be pleased with how the season has panned out, and where they are in the table. Venky’s won’t, but they’re clueless. Though one cause for concern has been the lack of consistency, with Rovers having secured strung together a succession of wins on just one occasion previous this season, back in November when beating Wigan and Newcastle both 2-1. So that’s something which Steve Kean will need to address in the 2011, though the Rovers manager will have a tough job on his hands getting the winning ball rolling on Wednesday night up against Liverpool.

The fact Liverpool are coming to town isn’t that much of a daunting prospect anymore, although Rovers may beg to differ. In 27 Premier League meetings with the Reds, Blackburn have won only once. But Liverpool have arguably never been as poor a travelling side as they are currently, so Kean and his charges will be aiming to take full advantage of their opponent’s home-sick nature. However, Kean will need to do so without a whole host of players, with his squad being savaged by injuries and suspensions. Paul Robinson is the latest injury casualty, joining the likes of Phil Jones and Jason Roberts on the sidelines, but Brett Emerton’s involvement in the AFC Asian Cup and Nikola Kailinic’s suspension has compounded Kean’s selection headache ahead of Liverpool’s eagerly-anticipated arrival.

Liverpool

A narrow, some would even say lucky win over Bolton won’t have been enough to ease the pressure on Reds chief Roy Hodgson, who is a man under intense pressure as the speculation surrounding his position as manager continues to dominate the headlines. But to his credit, Hodgson hasn’t allowed any of the rumours to effect him nor his camp in what has been a testing period for everyone at the club; players, staff and fans alike, and the experienced tactician is instead confident of guiding his Liverpool side to what could be a season-defining win in midweek should they overhaul Blackburn at Ewood Park.

He needed some old-fashioned Steven Gerrard brilliance in order to kick-start the Anfield revolution, but Hodgson saw his team avoid a third straight defeat on New Year’s day as goals from Fernando Torres, who was a completely different player as soon as Gerrard began weaving his magic in the midfield, and Joe Cole, his first as a Liverpool player, sealed a priceless win for the Reds which helped move them back into the top-half of the table. Now it’s imperative they build on that result, a morale boosting one at that considering they left it late to secure all three points, and you could see the relief all round Anfield.

However, away from home is where Roy Hodgson and Liverpool have encountered so many problems during their rocky relationship, and possibly the catalyst for Hodgson’s demise should the rumour mill ring ture and NESV, fronted by John Henry, release the veteran from his duties as Liverpool manager.

Since the start of last season, Liverpool have recorded just three league wins. Roy Hodgson, meanwhile, has only one victory to his name in his last 27 away matches as Fulham & Liverpool manager – So is it any wonder why the Reds have accumulated a meagre tally of five points from a possible 27 on the road so far this term? Probably not, although that isn’t a valid reasoning as to why Liverpool aren’t performing to the standards we’ve all come to expect from what is a massive club who should be challening for major honours instead of minor mid-table placings. And the points you collect on the road are often what definies a good season from a bad one. In Liverpool’s case, it’s been an appalling one thus far.

There are some positives Liverpool will take to Ewood Park with them. The first being the fact they’ve not lost a league contest away to Blackburn in three years – Winnings one and Drawing two of their last two visits to Lancashire. The second being the form of Steven Gerrard as the skipper played an instrumental role in the victory over Bolton at Anfield, with the England international dismantling the Trotters single-handily. If the Liverpool skipper plays anywhere near that sort of level at Ewood Park, you can be sure that the first to benefit will be Fernando Torres, who thrives of Gerrard’s service and looked a new player once he got his goal on New Year’s day, his first in six matches, amply assisted by Gerrard.

Unlike his opposite number, Roy Hodgson isn’t weighed down by injuries. In fact, with the exception of Jamie Carragher and Jay Spearing, while Raul Meireles is a doubt but can be replaced by a number of suitable candidates, the 63-year old has a fully-fit squad to pick from. Joe Cole may even come to the reckoning after he boosted his confidence levels by scoring the winning goal last time out, a result many a Red is desperately hoping will be the platform upon which a second-half resurgence kicks into life.

—————————————

Last 5 Results

Blackburn Rovers

Premier League: Sunderland 3-0 Blackburn Rovers
Premier League: West Brom 1-3 Blackburn Rovers
Premier League: Blackburn Rovers 0-2 Stoke City
Premier League: Blackburn Rovers 1-1 West Ham
Premier League: Bolton Wanderers 2-1 Blackburn Rovers

Liverpool

Premier League: Liverpool 2-1 Bolton Wanderers
Premier League: Liverpool 0-1 Wolves
Europa League: Liverpool 0-0 FC Utrecht
Premier League: Newcastle United 3-1 Liverpool
Premier League: Liverpool 3-0 Aston Villa

—————————————

Head-to-Head (Last 5 Seasons)

2010/2011: Liverpool 2-1 Blackburn Rovers

2009/2010: Liverpool 2-1 Blackburn Rovers
2009/2010: Blackburn Rovers 0-0 Liverpool

2008/2009: Liverpool 4-0 Blackburn Rovers
2008/2009: Blackburn Rovers 1-3 Liverpool

2007/2008: Liverpool 3-1 Blackburn Rovers
2007/2008: Blackburn Rovers 0-0 Liverpool

2006/2007: Blackburn Rovers 1-0 Liverpool
2006/2007: Liverpool 1-1 Blackburn Rovers

2005/2006: Blackburn Rovers 0-1 Liverpool
2005/2006: Liverpool 1-0 Blackburn Rovers

—————————————

2010/2011 Premier League Statistics

Blackburn Rovers

League Position: 12th
Win-Draw-Lose: 7-4-10 (Home: 4-3-3)
Form: LDLWL (Home: WWWDL)
Goal Difference: 26-34 (Home: 12-9)
Top Scorer: Morten Gamst Pedersen & Nikola Kalinic (4)

Liverpool

League Position: 9th
Win-Draw-Lose: 7-4-8 (Away: 1-2-6)
Form: LWLLW (Away: WDLLL)
Goal Difference: 23-24 (Away: 6-16)
Top Scorer: Fernando Torres (6)

—————————————

Betting Odds & Tips

Match Prediction: Liverpool to WIN – 2.20 Bet365

Suicidal, possibly, but we’re playing with a fire with this next selection and backing the Reds to win only their second away league match of the season.

The fact Blackburn are without a whole host of players was key, as was Liverpool’s impressive record against Rovers which has seen them suffer just one defeat in twenty-seven Premier League meetings with the Lancashire outfit.

But their recent endeavours also played a large part, with Steve Kean’s men completely outplayed when he took his team to Sunderland on New Year’s Day, where they were comprehensively beaten 3-0 at the Stadium of Light. Meanwhile Liverpool secured three massive points in that morale-boosting fashion, by scoring late on and celebrating the goal like it won them the league outright, when in reality all it did was move them into the top-half of the table.

The momentum is now with Roy Hodgson’s men, who desperately need a win away from home quickly ahead of their visit to Old Trafford on Sunday for their third round FA Cup tie. Blackburn, meanwhile, have yet to win at Ewood Park under Steve Kean, a run we believe will stretch to three games after the visit of Liverpool on Wednesday.

Value Punt: Fernando Torres First Goalscorer – 5.50 Unibet

The Spaniard recently ended another goal drought of six matches with the equaliser at home to Bolton last time out, and with Gerrard back in the side he looked a rejuvenated figure. The Liverpool skipper will ensure ‘El Nino’ will get his chances to bolster what is a meagre tally of six league goals for the term against Blackburn, who he has found the net five times in four matches against.

Match Odds:

Blackburn Rovers – 3.75 VictorChandler
Draw – 3.40 SkyBet
Liverpool – 2.20 Bet365

Blackburn Rovers V Liverpool

Kick-off: Saturday 5^th December – 15:00 GMT

Venue: Ewood Park

Blackburn Rovers

League Position: 13th

Recent Form: LWWLD

After going two games without a win, a Blackburn side absent of their manager, will have to contend with the fact that another win less outing could be on the cards as a rejuvenated Liverpool come to Ewood Park in search of all three points. Rovers will, however, do their utmost to halt Rafael Benitez’s side and they will be very confident of at least claiming a point as Blackburn have been a typically hard side to overcome at Ewood Park this season.

Home is certainly where the heart is as far as Blackburn are concerned, with Rovers losing just once in seven outings at Ewood Park this season. On the opening day of the season, Man City battled their way to a 2-0 victory over Blackburn but Rovers didn’t give up the points without a sight in that clash and have shown some real grit in their following home fixtures, remaining unbeaten at home ever since that City defeat. However, they did greet Stoke City over the weekend but there warm gestures didn’t get them far as the Potters halted Blackburn’s winning run at home with a dull 0-0 draw.

With Sam Allardyce still recovering from a heart operation, his blood pressure will have risen a few knots after watching Blackburn play out just their second draw at Ewood Park this season. The point against Stoke did put an end to a run of four straight victories for Blackburn at home and they could now be on the verge of going two successive games at home without a win, what would be the first time they’ve suffered such a run this season. They have accumulated 14 points at home thus far, that’s 11 more then they’ve picked up away from home, whilst it’s been their surprisingly good form in front of goal which has sparked their early home peak in form.

A lot of Blackburn’s recent success has to go down to David Dunn, a player who has spent so many months on the injury table in recent years. He, quite literally at times, has carried Rovers to victories, not only providing that creative spark in that midfield Blackburn engine, but he’s also chipped in with a few goals, more then a few in fact. With five goals already this season, David Dunn is by far and away Blackburn’s most prolific goalscorer at current, a country mile above most of his team-mates. However, Rovers have relied upon a whole host of players chipping in with the odd goal here and there and they will need a similarly big team performance and effort on Saturday as they welcome Liverpool to fortress Ewood Park, that’s something we haven’t been able to say for a long time.

Liverpool

League Position: 5th

Recent Form: WLDDW

It’s been a difficult last few months for Liverpool and everyone involved at the club, after a terrible run of results, but their victory in the Merseyside Derby, one which heated and did have it’s controversial moments, may just have lifted the mood in the camp and perhaps by the time May does come around next year the Liverpool players can look upon this part of the season as the pinnacle point in the season, the point where their season changed for the good… at long last!

If we’re being honest, the 2-0 scoreline did flatter Liverpool in Sunday’s Merseyside encounter with Everton, as the Toffees’ dictated most of the play and had most of the clear cut chances. In fact, Liverpool actually, for about the first time this season, rode their luck to record a huge win as not only was Javier Mascherano’s opening goal deflected into the Everton goal but Everton also had two goals ruled out for offside, rightly ruled out it must be said. Nevertheless, it was a still a very poor team performance from the Reds’ but when results are the moneymaker nowadays and players thrive on points, perhaps the win is all that matters and people can start criticising Liverpool if they do fail to win on their next venture.

Well, Liverpool’s next venture does happen to be a trip to Ewood Park, a ground they haven’t faired too bad at but have also found times hard going. Rovers, this season, have been immense on home soil so Liverpool will need to make great strides of improvements if they are to beat Blackburn on their own patch. Passing with Liverpool has generally been OK, but creating and converting chances is something they have seriously struggled to master this season, especially in away outings. Despite scoring 31 goals this season, one of the highest tallies in the league, they’ve managed just 10 away from home. In fact, they’ve even conceded more on the road then they’ve scored, which is unheard of from a Liverpool side in recent years.

Liverpool’s away record leaves them exposed to another disappointing results this weekend – 3-0-4. The 2-0 victory at Goodison Park on Sunday ended a win less away run of three games, all were defeats, so it’s clear that the Liverpool players are severely lacking in confidence whenever they strand away from Anfield. Everton was also the first team Liverpool managed to keep an away clean sheet against this season, with the Reds’ conceding in their previous six away encounters. For a side which usually prides itself on a rock solid defence, that’s a terrible statistic and it’s basically been the root of Liverpool’s issues this season.

The critics are already out in droves about Alberto Aquilani’s lack of match exposure thus far, but Rafael Benitez has remained adamant that the Italian won’t be rushed into earning match minutes but this do look a good opportunity for a second half run out for the former Roma midfielder. However, just about everyone is still in the dark about how close Spaniard; Fernando Torres, is to a return. He was given a late fitness test ahead of Sunday’s clash with Everton but wasn’t even on the team coach so perhaps his return to the fold is longer off then we first anticipated. With this said, David Ngog should start up front, a striker who hasn’t made much of an impression in recent appearances as a lone striker. Steven Gerrard has still been putting in sluggish displays so he will need to up his game, while the key man for us is Yossi Benayoun. He’s about the only play in this Liverpool squad that can take the game by the scruff of the neck and drive forward into the opposing box. He’s a big danger when he has the ball and a goal predator at times.

Head-to-Head (Last 10):

Blackburn Rovers W: 1 Liverpool W: 5 Draws: 4

We wouldn’t say Liverpool have completely dominate previous meetings because they haven’t, but they have picked the vast majority of the points in this fixture in past seasons. In the last ten league clashes between the two, Liverpool have accumulated 19 points from a possible 30, while Blackburn have snatched just the seven away from the Reds’.

Liverpool are on a three match winning run over Rovers, although, two of those did come at Anfield. Liverpool did, however, win on their last trip to Ewood Park, a 3-1 victory, while they are unbeaten in their previous two visits. Blackburn’s only home win over Liverpool in seven meetings at Ewood Park came three seasons ago in a narrow 1-0 win, a Benni McCarthy second half strike separating the two then.

In the previous four meetings at Ewood Park, Blackburn haven’t managed to score more then once. They’ve failed to score in two, although they did manage to find the Liverpool goal last season, albeit in a 3-1 defeat. Liverpool themselves have struggled to score at Ewood Park, and if you disregard their three goals last season, the Reds have managed just two goals at Ewood park in three outings.

Match Verdict:- Liverpool to WIN – 1.83 BlueSquare

We’re banking on the win at Everton boosting the morale within the Liverpool camp as anything less would make this a terribly tough encounter for the Reds’. Blackburn have been a tough side to beat at Ewood Park, and the fans will be in a buoyant mood after their team knocked Chelsea, the current league leaders, out of the Carling Cup on Wednesday. That result will have left the Blackburn players on cloud nine so they’ll be looking to build on that result but Liverpool get the nod, just, to record their second successive victory as they aim to claw back some of the ground lost on the top four.

Match Odds:

Blackburn Rovers – 5.00 VCbet

Draw – 3.60 Bet365

Liverpool – 1.83 BlueSquare

SoccerBetting Value Tip: Yossi Benayoun FGS – 11.00 Coral