The Official Not606 Match Thread: Liverpool Vs Blackburn Rovers.

**Chris.** · 24/12/2011, 10:27 AM

Vs

Hello and welcome to the official Not606 match thread for the Boxing Day encounter between Liverpool & Blackburn Rovers.

Preview.

Liverpool & Blackburn Rovers both go into this festive needing the three points for very different reasons. The home side, Liverpool, need to get back to winning ways to continue their push for a top four place and return to the Champions League. The away side, Blackburn Rovers, currently sit bottom of the Premier League table and need to start picking up points or they might find themselves being cut adrift at the bottom.

Liverpool have enjoyed a mixed start to the season. We currently sit 6th in the Premier League table with 30 points from 17 games. We are only 3 points off 4th place but dropped points, at home, against teams which we should be beating. This has left many Liverpool fans frustrated and we can see that there are areas that need to be addressed. Our lack of finishing has also caused concern amongst the Liverpool faithful.

We've had some good results this season (The two wins over Chelsea, an away win at Arsenal and a derby victory over Everton) but like I have already said, Liverpool's problem is against the teams they, on paper, should be beating. Home draws against Norwich City, Swansea City & Sunderland have been fraught with missed chances and if we were able to pick up wins in two of those games, Liverpool would be sitting 4th in the table.

Blackburn Rovers have endured a extremely difficult season so far. Steve Kean's side sit bottom of the Barclays Premier League table with 10 points from 17 games. It's been a poor start to the season for Blackburn with just two wins so far and that has left the manager, Steve Kean, under a great deal of pressure. The fans have made their feelings known by staging a series of protests at Ewood Park against Steve Kean and the owners, Venky's.

Blackburn have some good players (Samba, Yakuba & Hoilett) but a defensive injury crisis has left Kean short of players at the back and this has contributed to Blackburn's poor form. It's quite obvious that Blackburn need players but you have to ask:

Do Venky's have the money to invest into the squad?
Will they give any money they have to Kean when his position seems so insecure?

Injury News.

Liverpool.

Steven Gerrard- Ankle/Foot Injury.
Lucas Leiva- ACL Knee Injury.

Blackburn Rovers.

Paul Robinson- Calf/Shin Injury.
Scott Dann- Groin/Pelvis Injury.
Michel Salgado- Rib Injury.
Martin Olsson- Hamstring Injury.
Gael Givet- Heart Condition.
Vince Grella- Hip/Thigh Injury.
Ryan Nelsen- Knee Injury.

Liverpool 1 - 1 Blackburn Rovers

Goalscorers:

Blackburn Rovers... Charlie Adam Own Goal. (45th minute)
Liverpool... Maxi Rodriguez. (53rd minute)

Liverpool:

Reina
Johnson
Skrtel
Agger
Enrique
Bellamy
Henderson
Gerrard
Downing
Suarez
Carroll

SUBS:

Doni
Kelly
Carragher
Shelvey
Adam
Kuyt
Maxi

Charlie Adam off and Steven Gerrard on.
Maxi Rodriguez off and Craig Bellamy on.

Blackburn Rovers:

Bunn
Henley
Samba
Lowe
Hanley
Pedersen
N'Zonzi
Petrovic
Vukcevic
Formica
Goodwillie

SUBS:

Rochina
Blackman
Morris
Kean
Hoilett
Dunn
Yakuba

Junoir Hoilett off and Simon Vukcevic on.
David Dunn off and Radosav Petrovic on.
Yakuba off and David Goodwillie on.

YNWA.

SKY+ · 24/12/2011, 10:29 AM

Nice one Chris

I see they have a few injuries. I'm going for a nervy 1-0 win for us...

**the artist known as Billy El Pistolero** · 24/12/2011, 10:35 AM

8-0.

**Berbnanidez Videncia.** · 24/12/2011, 10:35 AM

Will Suarez be starting his ban or will it be put back because of his appeal?

Either way it's surely going to be a Liverpool win. Blackburn are in turmoil and the Manager is under huge pressure (not to mention the disgusting treatment he's been receiving from their fans).

Liverpool away followed by a trip to Old Trafford. I can't see things getting better for Blackburn anytime soon.

SKY+ · 24/12/2011, 10:36 AM

Originally Posted by Berbnanidez Videncia.

Will Suarez be starting his ban or will it be put back because of his appeal?

Either way it's surely going to be a Liverpool win. Blackburn are in turmoil and the Manager is under huge pressure (not to mention the disgusting treatment he's been receiving from their fans).

Liverpool away followed by a trip to Old Trafford. I can't see things getting better for Blackburn anytime soon.

He's appealing so the ban won't of started yet

**Berbnanidez Videncia.** · 24/12/2011, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by SKY

He's appealing so the ban won't of started yet

Good for my Fantasy Team

Mind you, I'm losing interest in the Fantasy Football. How can a team full of Man Utd and Man City players be doing so badly

**Chris.** · 24/12/2011, 10:43 AM

The view from Blackburn.

Blackburn Rovers fan Tony Sharples from www.roversfans.co.uk provides the view from Ewood Park ahead of the Boxing Day clash at Anfield.

How are Blackburn fans feeling about a trip to Anfield?

About as low as can be. Our previous four matches were seen as our best chance of putting points on the board before difficult away trips to Anfield and Old Trafford. Having only managed three points from a possible 12 and coming into this match on a run of three straight defeats, no Rovers fan is expecting to come away from Anfield with much.

Best thing about being a Blackburn fan?

The best thing was the fact that the club felt like it belonged to the fans. We have a very proud history but we are a small town, with limited finances as a football club. We go because we love the club. The press, television, and most other clubs don't seem to like us but we don't care, and we continue to support a club continually beating the odds year on year. There's a great solidarity amongst Rovers fan.

Do the Rovers fans still hold Kenny Dalglish in high regard after he led you to the title in 1995?

Absolutely, yes. Our glory years under King Kenny are days as a football fan I know I'll never experience again. They couldn't seem further from how things are for us right now! King Kenny will always be a legend to Blackburn Rovers fans.

Who makes you tick?

Usually you think of a midfielder making us tick but currently our midfield is none existent. Chris Samba at the heart of our defence is at the fore front of everything for us. A literal giant in defence, and a menace in the opposition area. Expect us to play to his height throughout the match.

Players you'll be worried about on our side?

Luis Suarez, a wonderful player full stop. Downing also likes to score against us if I remember correctly.

What player would you most love from LFC in the Blackburn team?

Obviously any club would like Suarez, but given our midfield and defensive issues a Charlie Adam to pull the strings in the middle and a Daniel Agger at the back would do nicely thanks.

Weak links?

We have no defence! Jason Lowe's a great talent but he's a midfielder not a right back. I expect Pedersen to play out of position at left back again too. With just Samba alongside the inexperienced Grant Hanley in the middle, I expect they'll all have their work cut out!

Best way to beat Blackburn?

Don't worry about that, we'll give you all day on the ball to pick your passes. We have seemingly decided this season to put the opposition under zero pressure when they have the ball. This, coupled with our depleted defence, should mean if you put us under any sort of pressure it's only a matter of time before you're reaping the rewards.

Prediction?

I've had to become a deluded optimist these days in the hope I'll be proved wrong in my weekly predictions. However, I'll be amazed if it's anything other than a defeat for Rovers by at least two goals.

**the artist known as Billy El Pistolero** · 24/12/2011, 10:47 AM

Originally Posted by Berbnanidez Videncia.

Good for my Fantasy Team

Mind you, I'm losing interest in the Fantasy Football. How can a team full of Man Utd and Man City players be doing so badly

Big squads so you never know who'll bloody play any given week, and because they're flying everyone else has players from the mank teams.

Blackburn do have a couple of players that can hurt any team (Yak on current form, Hoillett's pretty nifty, Nzonzi is hit and miss but good when on form and Sambas aerial threat always there from set-pieces) but in reality we couldn't be meeting a team at Anfield that is at a lower ebb than Blackburn are at the moment.

Will ****ing ruin my xmas if we lose this one...really should be only one outcome and that's 3 points for us.

**Chris.** · 24/12/2011, 10:58 AM

Some pictures from training.

**beatenbyashorthead** · 24/12/2011, 11:10 AM

0-0 Paul Robinson MOTM

**the artist known as Billy El Pistolero** · 24/12/2011, 11:13 AM

Originally Posted by beatenbyashorthead

0-0 Paul Robinson MOTM

That would just about sum up our home form for this season to be fair

SKY+ · 24/12/2011, 11:19 AM

Originally Posted by the artist known as Billy El Pistolero

That would just about sum up our home form for this season to be fair

It's a lot more likely than your drunken prediction....

**the artist known as Billy El Pistolero** · 24/12/2011, 11:28 AM

Originally Posted by SKY

It's a lot more likely than your drunken prediction....

RHC finding the missing physics thingys is more likely than any of my drunken predictions coming true mate.

**the artist known as Billy El Pistolero** · 24/12/2011, 11:29 AM

Any word on Stevie G?

**bow4fowler** · 24/12/2011, 11:54 AM

Originally Posted by the artist known as Billy El Pistolero

Any word on Stevie G?

Not from our official website. I expect him to be on the bench, perhaps getting last 1/4 hour if we're winning.

I think its extremely unlikely we will get forth now after the saga, but all we can do is make the best of what we can.

This game, I have decided, will end 3-1 to us.

Suarez brace, Kuyt Penalty. Pedersen free kick.

**James_8** · 24/12/2011, 01:00 PM

Well, I'm of the opinion that we could well win this one 6-0, Suarez Brace, Hendo, Adam, Shelvey and Carroll off the bench. I'd just like to add to this that I'm not normally one for dramatics but if we don't win i'll steal three donkeys off Blackpool beach, get Igor Biscan, Erik Meijer and Istvan Kozma to ride them up to a farm in Aughon where I'll then steal a black new born baby from the maternity ward and recreate the birth of Christ. I shall also be recruiting Suarez as Joseph and Kelly Daglish as the virgin mary, I'll then send a photo of Him cradling his beautiful new born ebony child with Istvan, Igor and mad erik cradling imaginery baby's in celebration just out of shot to the FA.

**James_8** · 24/12/2011, 01:28 PM

Just to add, that's the 6-0 we've been threatening, not just some random 6-0.

**redcgull** · 24/12/2011, 01:43 PM

Ive got a bad feeling for this game and the 0-0, Robinson motm seems as likley as any sort of victory for us...

Hope im wrong...

SKY+ · 24/12/2011, 01:46 PM

Originally Posted by James_8

Well, I'm of the opinion that we could well win this one 6-0, Suarez Brace, Hendo, Adam, Shelvey and Carroll off the bench. I'd just like to add to this that I'm not normally one for dramatics but if we don't win i'll steal three donkeys off Blackpool beach, get Igor Biscan, Erik Meijer and Istvan Kozma to ride them up to a farm in Aughon where I'll then steal a black new born baby from the maternity ward and recreate the birth of Christ. I shall also be recruiting Suarez as Joseph and Kelly Daglish as the virgin mary, I'll then send a photo of Him cradling his beautiful new born ebony child with Istvan, Igor and mad erik cradling imaginery baby's in celebration just out of shot to the FA.

I'll give you a hand!