Blackburn vs. Liverpool: Team News, Predicted Line-Ups, Live Stream and TV Info
Blackburn Rovers welcome Liverpool to Ewood Park on Wednesday night for their FA Cup quarter-final replay, with a trip to Wembley up for grabs for the winners of what will be a hotly contested clash.
After high-profile losses to top-four rivals Manchester United and Arsenal in the Premier League in recent weeks, Liverpool will be looking to regain some form with a victory over their Championship opponents, with the prospect of silverware spurring them on.
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However, with Rovers safely moored in mid-table in the Championship at this juncture, and with no threat of relegation or promotion this season, the Reds will find themselves in a tough game.
Whoever emerges the victor in this encounter will take on Tim Sherwood's Aston Villa in the semi-finals, with the eventual winner of that tie set to play either Arsenal or Reading in the FA Cup final.
Last time out, at Anfield, the two sides played out a frustrating 0-0 draw. Now, both sides will fancy their chances of advancing to a Wembley semi-final.
Date: Wednesday, 8 April
Time: 19:45 p.m. BST (14:45 p.m. ET)
Venue: Ewood Park
TV Info: BT Sport 1 (HD), FOX Sports 1 USA
Live Stream: BT Sport and FOX Sports GO (U.S. only)
Predicted Formations
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers will be missing key defenders Martin Skrtel and Emre Can, as they both serve suspensions, while Reds captain Steven Gerrard also sits out after being shown a red card in the loss to United prior to the international break.
Last summer's £25 million midfielder Adam Lallana missed Saturday's defeat to Arsenal with a fitness issue, as did striker Mario Balotelli—both are doubts for this clash.
Injured youngsters Jordon Ibe and Jon Flanagan are also likely to miss out.
However, star striker Daniel Sturridge returned from injury at the Emirates Stadium and should be fit to start.
Paul Wheelock of the Lancashire Telegraph reports that Rovers could be missing Rudy Gestede, Chris Brown, Chris Taylor, Shane Duffy, Jason Lowe, David Dunn, Grant Hanley, Josh King and Craig Conway.
David Raya, Jay Spearing, Paul Taylor and John O'Sullivan are also all unavailable.
Blackburn Rovers (4-4-2): Steele; Henley, Baptiste, Kilgallon, Olsson; Cairney, Evans, Williamson, Marshall; Rhodes, Gestede
Liverpool (3-4-2-1): Mignolet; Lovren, Toure, Sakho; Markovic, Henderson, Allen, Moreno; Sterling, Coutinho; Sturridge
Form Lines (All Competitions)
Blackburn Rovers
Won 3-0 vs. Leeds United
Lost 1-0 vs. Brighton & Hove Albion
Lost 3-2 vs. Brentford
Won 3-1 vs. Charlton Athletic
Won 1-0 vs. Bolton Wanderers
Liverpool
Lost 4-1 vs. Arsenal
Lost 2-1 vs. Manchester United
Won 1-0 vs. Swansea City
Drew 0-0 vs. Blackburn Rovers
Won 2-0 vs. Burnley
Player to Watch
Blackburn Rovers: Rudy Gestede
If passed fit, Gestede will likely be a key player in Blackburn's attempts to topple another Premier League foe in this season's FA Cup competition.
The Benin international proved a thorn in the Reds' side at Anfield in the teams' initial clash, with his physical approach dominating Rodgers' back-three defence—Gestede won 10 aerial duels against a shrinking Liverpool side.
With Rodgers' main aerial presence, Skrtel, sitting this clash out, Gestede could flourish once more.
Liverpool: Philippe Coutinho
Liverpool No. 10 Philippe Coutinho has been fairly muted in recent weeks, with his run of exceptional form in February and early March diminishing at a rapid rate along with the Reds' fortunes.
Rodgers will be hoping the majestic Brazilian can get back to his best at Ewood Park, as his creativity will be key to unlocking what will likely be a well-drilled Rovers back line.
Key Battles
Gestede vs. Toure
Kolo Toure is likely to take Skrtel's place at the heart of the defence once more, despite his abysmal showing in the loss to Arsenal, and it will be the Ivorian's physicality that will likely prompt this selection from Rodgers.
Toure is the Reds' only hope in terms of dominating the brutish Gestede, and Liverpool's defensive success will be pinned on an improved showing from the 34-year-old.
Sturridge vs. Baptiste and Kilgallon
If Rodgers persists with his 3-4-2-1 formation despite recent pitfalls, lone striker Sturridge will likely face up to Rovers' staunch central-defensive pairing of Alex Baptiste and Matthew Kilgallon, who successfully shut out the Reds last time.
The no-nonsense Kilgallon made 12 clearances at Anfield, and his leadership rubbed off on Baptiste, who also produced a solid performance.
Sturridge will need to rely on his intelligent movement, pace and the support of Coutinho and Raheem Sterling to find a way past the Rovers pair.
Odds (via Odds Shark)
Blackburn Rovers win: +500
Liverpool win: -154
Draw: +300
Prediction: Blackburn Rovers 0-1 Liverpool
Statistics via WhoScored.com.
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