English Premier
2012-04-10 - Blackburn Rovers vs Liverpool
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Tuesday 10 April 2012 - Kick Off 8pm
This game is live on TV
Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers will be hoping that Liverpool are looking ahead to their FA Cup Semi Final on Saturday against Everton, giving the home team the chance to pick up a vital three points in their race for survival in the Premier League.
The team are currently in the relegation zone, although they are only in that place due to an inferior goal difference compared with QPR. They have a 5-1-10 record at Ewood Park this season, scoring 22 goals and conceding 29, making them the highest home scorers out of all the teams occupying the bottom 9 places in the League.
A 2-0 win over Sunderland here seemed to have given Blackburn plenty of space between themselves and the relegation zone, but 3 consecutive Premier League defeats has pulled them back down the table. Rovers were beaten 0-2 here by Manchester United in their last home game, but they had won 3 of their previous 5 games here and had picked up 10 points from 15 available.
Anthony Modeste was sent off at West Brom over the weekend and will be suspended for this game. Martin Olsson is a major doubt after suffering a shoulder injury in that same game.
Liverpool
The pressure is really beginning to tell on Kenny Dalglish as there are more and more die-hard supporters of Liverpool that are beginning to lose the faith in his ability to manage the team to success. While the Scot remains the favourite to be the next Premier League manager to exit his job, reaching the FA Cup Final on Saturday may extend his stay beyond this season.
The most embarrassing aspect of the season so far is that Liverpool are 8th in the Premier League and have been overtaken by their local rivals Everton who they trail by 4 points. The Reds have a 6-1-9 away record this season, scoring 17 goals and conceding 21.
Take away the Cup results Liverpool have had in recent weeks and you can really see the problems they have been having and why fans are beginning to lose faith in the management. Liverpool drew 1-1 with Aston Villa at home over the weekend to extend their run to 1 win in 9 League games, while they have been beaten 6 times in that run. It has been even worse away from home where the Reds have lost 6 of their last 7 League games.
Daniel Agger could return to the starting line up, while Pepe Reina is still suspended. It will be interesting to see what kind of changes are made to the side with the Everton game on Saturday in mind.
Head to Head
Liverpool and Blackburn Rovers drew 1-1 at Anfield earlier this season.
Blackburn have now lost just 1 of their last 5 League games at Ewood Park against Liverpool, and won this corresponding fixture 3-1 last season.
Prediction
This is a tough game to predict as I still think Liverpool have enough in their squad to turn a corner sooner rather than later, although confidence has to be extremely low with the way they have been playing.
If this game had taken place a couple of weeks ago, Blackburn Rovers would have looked an attractive price, but their recent form has also deserted them and that is where I am left in two minds as to how this game will go.
However, I think there could be a bit of value in picking the home side to hit the net at least twice tonight as the recent statistics seem to point that way.
Blackburn beat Liverpool 3-1 here last season and are the highest scoring home team in the bottom 9 places in the League. They have scored at least 2 goals in 3 of their last 6 home games, while also reaching that target against Arsenal earlier in the season.
Liverpool have also struggled defensively in recent weeks, conceding at least 2 goals in games against QPR, Wigan Athletic and Bolton Wanderers. They are also missing the composure that Pepe Reina will give them between the sticks and Blackburn do have the attacking players that can take advantage of that.
At 3.00, Blackburn to score at least twice looks a little overpriced and worth taking a chance on.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Blackburn Rovers 2-2 Liverpool
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Blackburn Rovers Over 1.5 Team Goals @ 3.00 (Bet365)
