LIVERPOOL’S TRIP TO face Blackburn Rovers on Monday is their last chance to find form before an FA Cup semi-final showdown with Everton.
Kenny Dalglish’s have struggled badly since beating Cardiff City in the Carling Cup final on February 26.
They have managed just one win from seven Premier League matches, and needed a 1-1 draw at home to struggling Aston Villa on Saturday to end a sequence of three defeats in succession.
Liverpool’s slump has left them seventh in the table, 14 points off their stated ambition of Champions League qualification.
Blackburn meanwhile are on a three-match losing streak of their own, going down 3-0 at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.
During that run, Steve Kean and his players have seen a six-point buffer between themselves and the relegation zone disappear.
They are now 18th, level on points with QPR but inside the bottom three due to their inferior goal difference.
There remains little separating the struggling teams at the wrong end of the table.
A draw against Liverpool would be enough for Blackburn to climb back above QPR, and a precious victory would lift them as high as 16th, beyond both QPR and Bolton Wanderers.Given Liverpool’s problems, a win is not out of the question for the home side at Ewood Park.
And they may be able to take advantage of some key absentees in the visitors’ defence.
Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina is suspended, meaning Brazilian Alexander Doni will deputise, while full-backs Glenn Johnson (hamstring) and Martin Kelly (ankle) are both doubtful.
Blackburn manager Steve Kean has close to a full complement of players to choose from. Only striker Anthony Modeste (suspended) and long-term absentee Vince Grella (hip injury) are unavailable.
