Liverpool vs. Blackburn Rovers: Complete Preview, Live Stream and Start Time

Liverpool will enter their Boxing Day match against Blackburn Rovers with a cloud of uncertainty drifting overhead. The Reds currently find themselves sitting sixth in the English Premier League table after a scoreless draw against lowly Wigan on Wednesday.

Now, panic won't truly set in at Anfield unless (or until) the Kop are subjected to a less-than-favorable result against Rovers, who are currently wallowing in last place in the Premiership with just 10 points through their first 17 matches.

Should the Reds come away with anything less than three points, they may yet prefer to walk alone, lest they risk serious bodily harm from rabidly angry Liverpuddlians.

Where: Anfield, Liverpool, England

When: Monday, December 26th at 10:00 a.m. EST

Watch: Fox Deportes, Sportsnet East, Sportsnet Ontario, Sportsnet Pacific, Sportsnet West, Canal+ Liga / HD, ESPN DOS, Abu Dhabi Sports, J Sports 1, ESPN Latin America South, ESPN Latin America Andina, Sport.TV Liga Inglesa, Sport 2 Israel, SuperSport 7, SuperSport HD 3, Sport TV4, Nova Sport Bulgaria, Sportmanía, SportKlub + Serbia, SuperSport 7 Nigeria, SuperSport Maximo 2, Sky Calcio 4, Sky Sport 3 Italia, SuperSport Internet 7, SuperSport HD 3 Nigeria, 6'eren, Digi Sport 2 Romania, Tring Sport 4, TV3 Sweden, TV2 Sport PL Danmark, Canal+ Deportes HD

Live Stream: FoxSoccer.tv

Player to Watch for Liverpool: Luis Suarez/Andy Carroll

This all depends on whether or not Luis Suarez decides to appeal the FA's eight-match ban for racial abuse against Manchester United's Patrice Evra. Luisito's lawyer thinks the Uruguayan striker will, in fact, fight the ban, which should give him enough leeway to play up front for Liverpool on Monday.

If not, the Reds will have to rely on the £35-million tree stump known otherwise as Andy Carroll to provide some scoring punch for a side that's managed to put through just 20 goals in 17 league fixtures this season.

Player to Watch for Blackburn: Yakubu Aiyegbeni

Say what you want about Blackburn's abysmal season. Just don't point any fingers at Yakubu. The Nigerian striker has notched 10 goals for Rovers after moving over from Everton at the end of August.

"The Yak" has been the lone bright spot peeking through the clouds hanging over Ewood Park and will need to shine even brighter to keep his club in the running for this match and out of the very bottom of the EPL barrel.

Key Matchup: Yakubu vs. Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel

If you're in search of strength against strength at Anfield on Monday, look no further than Yakubu going toe-to-toe with Liverpool's central defence. The Reds have surrendered just 13 goals—the fewest of any club in the Premiership this season, including clean sheets for Pepe Reina in each of their last three fixtures.

Much of the credit belongs to Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel, who've taken up the mantle in the back since surrendered (though not willfully) by Jamie Carragher. They'll need to be on form once again to ensure that Yakubu doesn't burn them, lest they put pressure back on their own lackluster attack to keep them in the contest.

What They're Saying

It's nearly impossible to ignore the storm of controversy surrounding Luis Suarez these days. The rest of his Liverpool teammates got in on the "fun" before Wednesday's match at Wigan, wearing T-shirts in support of Suarez during warm-ups.

The gesture has drawn strong rebukes from some prominent figures in the world of football, though Reds boss Kenny Dalglish hasn't been shy in expressing solidarity with his talisman, saying after his club's draw at Wigan:

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"I think the boys showed their respect and admiration for Luis with wearing the T-shirts. It is a great reflection of the man as a character, a person and a footballer that the boys have been so supportive and so have the supporters.

"He has earned that. He deserves it and we will always stand beside him. They will not divide the football club, no matter how hard they try.''

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Of course, things haven't exactly been settled in Blackburn, either. The town is breathing down Rovers boss Steve Kean's neck now that the club is practically entrenched in last place in the league.

Not everyone has abandoned Kean, though. Newcastle manager Alan Pardew, a close friend of Kean's, came to the Blackburn boss's defense, batting back those who would lob abuse at him:

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"It's a sign of the game. I don't know whether 20, 30 years ago, it would have been quite as vicious to Steve Kean. I know him well - he's a personal friend of mine - so I have great sympathy for the position he is in.

"There are a lot of factors in why he's receiving that. I don't go along with it and I don't think any member of the LMA (League Managers Association) would go along with it in their right mind.

"He's trying to do the best job he can do. He has been given the job to do and that's what he is trying to do. He should be left alone to do that and it will be beneficial to the team if the fans take that view.''

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Prediction: Liverpool 1, Blackburn 0

As poorly as Liverpool have played of late, they'd be hard-pressed to come away with any fewer than three points against Blackburn. Victory won't come as easily as it should for the Reds, especially if Luisito has to sit out, but it surely will come in the end.

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