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10-30-2004, 06:08 PM
Ewood Park
Saturday, 30 October
Kick-off: 1715 BST
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Match report will appear here.
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Blackburn (from): Friedel, Enckelman, Gray, McEveley, Gresko, Short, Matteo, Todd, Johansson, Neill, Reid, Emerton, Pedersen, De Pedro, Douglas, Flitcroft, Tugay, Ferguson, Stead, Dickov, Jansen, Bothroyd, Djorkaeff, Gallagher.
Liverpool (from): Kirkland, Josemi, Hyypia, Carragher, Traore, Garcia, Alonso, Hamann, Riise, Baros, Cisse, Dudek, Finnan, Kewell, Warnock, Diao, Biscan, Pongolle.
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BIG-MATCH FACTS
BLACKBURN ROVERS go into this Saturday tea time fixture bottom of the Premiership following successive 0-4 defeats, and face a Liverpool side victorious in the last two Premiership outings, in addition to the midweek victory over Millwall at the New Den in the Carling Cup.
The signs are ominous for new manager Mark Hughes. Rovers won their first encounter after his arrival, but the former Wales coach has subsequently watched his side fail to score in three of the last four games - losing all three. They have the weakest defence in the division, but by kick off time will know whether a victory will be enough to take them out of the relegation zone. Only two points separate them from Crystal Palace at sixth bottom going into Saturday's fixtures.
Blackburn lost three times to Liverpool last season. The first two meetings were at Ewood Park when the Reds won 1-3 in the League and 3-4 in the Carling Cup. Lucas Neill was shown red cards in both matches. Rovers have not managed victory in 11 home and away Premiership games with the Merseysiders.
LIVERPOOL have won three and drawn one of their last four games under Refael Benitez in all competitions, and will be looking for a place in the top four if Manchester United fail to win at Portsmouth in their 3 o'clock kick off.
The Merseysiders, who visit Deportivo La Coruna in the Champions League on Wednesday, lie fourth in the top flight's Current Form table with 12 points from the last possible 18. They are yet to keep a clean sheet on their Premiership travels, but have not conceded in their last three League and Cup outings.
Michael Owen got a brace in each of Liverpool's League meetings with Blackburn last season, when the Reds completed the 'double' over Rovers with a 4-0 victory at Anfield in April. Liverpool are undefeated in five League visits to Ewood Park since 1997 (two wins, three draws).
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Referee:
Rob Syles (Waterlooville)
Rob Styles has not brandished a red card in Premiership matches he has officiated this season. Indeed in two of the four games, he issued no cards at all.
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SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM
BLACKBURN ROVERS
Club stats
Fixtures
20th 6 points
Highest realistically achievable after Saturday's games: 15th
Lowest could fall: STAY AT THE FOOT
Not won in five in all competitions.
Since defeating Portsmouth at Ewood Park on 18 September, Rovers have been beaten on penalties by Bournemouth in the Carling Cup, lost 1-0 away to Charlton in the Premiership, drawn 2-2 home to Aston Villa, and have been crushed 0-4 at home to Middlesbrough, and again 4-0 away to Chelsea.
Won one of ten Premiership games this season.
Lost six top tier games so far. Crystal Palace, Fulham and Southampton are the only other clubs to have also lost as many as six Premiership games this term, ahead of Saturday's kick offs.
Scored only seven goals in ten Premiership games. Only Tottenham and Southampton (six each) have a weaker top flight attack.
Conceded more Premiership goals than any other club (22).
Conceded the opening goal in eight Premiership matches - more than any other team.
Not awarded a penalty in Premiership matches last season, nor so far in this.
Completed 51 League matches without a goalless draw - the most recent being home to Bolton on 21 April 2003.
Scored first in only two of their 10 League games. Only Norwich have managed it less often in the top division (once).
Yet to score in the first 15 minutes and last quarter-hour of a Premiership match this season.
Players shown three red cards in Premiership games this season (either during or after the matches). Only Fulham players have also been shown that many.
The heavy loss to Middlesbrough in the last game at Ewood Park ended Rovers' unbeaten home League record.
LIVERPOOL
Club stats
Fixtures
6th 16 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's games: 4th
Lowest could fall: 9th
Four undefeated in all competitions.
Won three and drawn one League and Cup matches since losing 1-0 away to Chelsea in the Premiership on 3 October.
Not conceded in exactly five and a half hours (330 minutes) of League and Cup football, since Luis Boa Morte's second goal for Fulham at Craven Cottage on 16 October.
Drawn only one of nine top flight games this term.
Shipped eight Premiership goals. Only Chelsea (two), Tottenham (six) and Manchester United (seven) have conceded fewer.
Five short of conceding 200 all-time Premiership goals, away from home.
Not scored nor conceded in the first quarter hour of top flight matches this season.
Doubled their goals tally away from home in the Premiership, when notching a first League victory on their travels with a 4-2 success at Fulham in the most recent League game on the road.
Yet to keep a clean sheet in the top division away from home.
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KEY PLAYER NOTES/POTENTIAL MILESTONES
BLACKBURN ROVERS
Squad profiles
Brad FRIEDEL, Dominic MATTEO and David THOMPSON are all Liverpool old boys.
Paul DICKOV celebrates his 32nd birthday on Monday, 1 November (two days after the game).
If selected in the 11, TUGAY will be making his 100th Premiership start for Blackburn.
LIVERPOOL
Squad profiles
If he turns out, Stephane HENCHOZ will be facing his former club.
If on the field at kick off, HENCHOZ will be making his 200th start for Liverpool.
If he figures, Milan BAROS will be making his 50th Premiership appearance for the Anfield club.
If he plays, Steve FINNAN will be making his 100th appearance in English top flight football.
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LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME:
Blackburn Rovers 1-3 Liverpool
13 September 2003 - Ref: Neale Barry
Blackburn scorer: Jansen 8
Liverpool scorers: Owen 12 pen, 68, Kewell 90
Sent Off: Neill (Blackburn) 13
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HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS
League: Blackburn 33 wins, Liverpool 46, Draws 33
Prem: Blackburn 5 wins, Liverpool 9, Draws 6
HEAD TO HEAD at Blackburn
League: Blackburn 24 wins, Liverpool 13, Draws 19
Prem: Blackburn 4 wins, Liverpool 3, Draws 3
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/3947393.stm
Saturday, 30 October
Kick-off: 1715 BST
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Match report will appear here.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blackburn (from): Friedel, Enckelman, Gray, McEveley, Gresko, Short, Matteo, Todd, Johansson, Neill, Reid, Emerton, Pedersen, De Pedro, Douglas, Flitcroft, Tugay, Ferguson, Stead, Dickov, Jansen, Bothroyd, Djorkaeff, Gallagher.
Liverpool (from): Kirkland, Josemi, Hyypia, Carragher, Traore, Garcia, Alonso, Hamann, Riise, Baros, Cisse, Dudek, Finnan, Kewell, Warnock, Diao, Biscan, Pongolle.
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BIG-MATCH FACTS
BLACKBURN ROVERS go into this Saturday tea time fixture bottom of the Premiership following successive 0-4 defeats, and face a Liverpool side victorious in the last two Premiership outings, in addition to the midweek victory over Millwall at the New Den in the Carling Cup.
The signs are ominous for new manager Mark Hughes. Rovers won their first encounter after his arrival, but the former Wales coach has subsequently watched his side fail to score in three of the last four games - losing all three. They have the weakest defence in the division, but by kick off time will know whether a victory will be enough to take them out of the relegation zone. Only two points separate them from Crystal Palace at sixth bottom going into Saturday's fixtures.
Blackburn lost three times to Liverpool last season. The first two meetings were at Ewood Park when the Reds won 1-3 in the League and 3-4 in the Carling Cup. Lucas Neill was shown red cards in both matches. Rovers have not managed victory in 11 home and away Premiership games with the Merseysiders.
LIVERPOOL have won three and drawn one of their last four games under Refael Benitez in all competitions, and will be looking for a place in the top four if Manchester United fail to win at Portsmouth in their 3 o'clock kick off.
The Merseysiders, who visit Deportivo La Coruna in the Champions League on Wednesday, lie fourth in the top flight's Current Form table with 12 points from the last possible 18. They are yet to keep a clean sheet on their Premiership travels, but have not conceded in their last three League and Cup outings.
Michael Owen got a brace in each of Liverpool's League meetings with Blackburn last season, when the Reds completed the 'double' over Rovers with a 4-0 victory at Anfield in April. Liverpool are undefeated in five League visits to Ewood Park since 1997 (two wins, three draws).
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Referee:
Rob Syles (Waterlooville)
Rob Styles has not brandished a red card in Premiership matches he has officiated this season. Indeed in two of the four games, he issued no cards at all.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM
BLACKBURN ROVERS
Club stats
Fixtures
20th 6 points
Highest realistically achievable after Saturday's games: 15th
Lowest could fall: STAY AT THE FOOT
Not won in five in all competitions.
Since defeating Portsmouth at Ewood Park on 18 September, Rovers have been beaten on penalties by Bournemouth in the Carling Cup, lost 1-0 away to Charlton in the Premiership, drawn 2-2 home to Aston Villa, and have been crushed 0-4 at home to Middlesbrough, and again 4-0 away to Chelsea.
Won one of ten Premiership games this season.
Lost six top tier games so far. Crystal Palace, Fulham and Southampton are the only other clubs to have also lost as many as six Premiership games this term, ahead of Saturday's kick offs.
Scored only seven goals in ten Premiership games. Only Tottenham and Southampton (six each) have a weaker top flight attack.
Conceded more Premiership goals than any other club (22).
Conceded the opening goal in eight Premiership matches - more than any other team.
Not awarded a penalty in Premiership matches last season, nor so far in this.
Completed 51 League matches without a goalless draw - the most recent being home to Bolton on 21 April 2003.
Scored first in only two of their 10 League games. Only Norwich have managed it less often in the top division (once).
Yet to score in the first 15 minutes and last quarter-hour of a Premiership match this season.
Players shown three red cards in Premiership games this season (either during or after the matches). Only Fulham players have also been shown that many.
The heavy loss to Middlesbrough in the last game at Ewood Park ended Rovers' unbeaten home League record.
LIVERPOOL
Club stats
Fixtures
6th 16 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's games: 4th
Lowest could fall: 9th
Four undefeated in all competitions.
Won three and drawn one League and Cup matches since losing 1-0 away to Chelsea in the Premiership on 3 October.
Not conceded in exactly five and a half hours (330 minutes) of League and Cup football, since Luis Boa Morte's second goal for Fulham at Craven Cottage on 16 October.
Drawn only one of nine top flight games this term.
Shipped eight Premiership goals. Only Chelsea (two), Tottenham (six) and Manchester United (seven) have conceded fewer.
Five short of conceding 200 all-time Premiership goals, away from home.
Not scored nor conceded in the first quarter hour of top flight matches this season.
Doubled their goals tally away from home in the Premiership, when notching a first League victory on their travels with a 4-2 success at Fulham in the most recent League game on the road.
Yet to keep a clean sheet in the top division away from home.
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KEY PLAYER NOTES/POTENTIAL MILESTONES
BLACKBURN ROVERS
Squad profiles
Brad FRIEDEL, Dominic MATTEO and David THOMPSON are all Liverpool old boys.
Paul DICKOV celebrates his 32nd birthday on Monday, 1 November (two days after the game).
If selected in the 11, TUGAY will be making his 100th Premiership start for Blackburn.
LIVERPOOL
Squad profiles
If he turns out, Stephane HENCHOZ will be facing his former club.
If on the field at kick off, HENCHOZ will be making his 200th start for Liverpool.
If he figures, Milan BAROS will be making his 50th Premiership appearance for the Anfield club.
If he plays, Steve FINNAN will be making his 100th appearance in English top flight football.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME:
Blackburn Rovers 1-3 Liverpool
13 September 2003 - Ref: Neale Barry
Blackburn scorer: Jansen 8
Liverpool scorers: Owen 12 pen, 68, Kewell 90
Sent Off: Neill (Blackburn) 13
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HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS
League: Blackburn 33 wins, Liverpool 46, Draws 33
Prem: Blackburn 5 wins, Liverpool 9, Draws 6
HEAD TO HEAD at Blackburn
League: Blackburn 24 wins, Liverpool 13, Draws 19
Prem: Blackburn 4 wins, Liverpool 3, Draws 3
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/3947393.stm