90 minutes weren’t enough to separate Liverpool and Blackburn at Anfield as they played out a scoreless draw. The two teams will now have another 90 minutes (or more, if necessary) to finally settle the score in the replay with a spot in the FA Cup semifinals on the line.
Liverpool are reeling after two tough losses against their Champions League rivals in consecutive weeks. But will their matchup against Championship side Blackburn bring a more favorable result? Read on for our preview of this FA Cup quarterfinal replay, and while you’re at it don’t miss our preview of Chelsea vs. QPR.
[sc:Soccer ]Blackburn Rovers vs. Liverpool Betting Preview
Where: Ewood Park, Blackburn
When: Wednesday, April 8, 2:45 PM ET
Line: Liverpool -180 at Blackburn Rovers +425, tie +260; total 2.5 – view all FA Cup lines
What’s at Stake
[sc:Soccer240banner ]Whether it’s settled in 90 minutes, 120 minutes or in penalty shootout, someone will be headed to the FA Cup semifinals. After missing out on their main goals in the Premier League and Champions League, Liverpool will be aiming to salvage their season with a trip to Wembley.
Betting on Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers had a perfect warm-up ahead of their FA Cup quarterfinal replay with Liverpool by beating Leeds United 3-0 on Saturday. Leeds were down to ten men just before halftime – something Blackburn have been accustomed to playing against in the FA Cup – which helped Rovers end a streak of two consecutive losses.
Goals from Tom Cairney, Jordan Rhodes and Jay Spearing gave Blackburn the comfortable win. Manager Gary Bowyer opted not to start Rhodes, the team’s leading scorer this season with 17 goals, at Anfield. Instead, he went with a very conservative formation that packed the midfield and made things as hard as possible for Liverpool’s attack; it worked. The Reds claimed 71 percent of possession and launched 19 goals on the Blackburn goal, but were ultimately held scoreless.
Bowyer, though, has been much more positive at home. Rovers started with two forwards in both of their shock home wins over Premier League sides Swansea (3-1) and Stoke (4-1) en route to the quarterfinal. However, both of those matches were aided by first-half red cards to their opposition, a trend that is highly unlikely to continue.
But Blackburn will be catching a Liverpool team that is low on confidence and has continued to have the same issues upfront. Furthermore, Rovers’ physical play upfront should rough up the Reds’ makeshift backline. Rudy Gestede (14 goals this season), in particular, caused all sorts of problems for the Liverpool line that was also without Skrtel and Can (who was in midfield) in the first meeting.
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Betting on Liverpool
Liverpool’s dream of claiming a Champions League place all but disintegrated after they were dismantled 4-1 by Arsenal on Saturday, which followed up their 2-1 loss to Manchester United. The Reds’ only remaining hope to salvage a disappointing season will be the FA Cup, but even that is under some doubt given the way they’ve been playing.
Their defense, the rock-solid foundation upon which their now-concluded 13-match unbeaten run in the league was built, has been in shambles. Wingback Alberto Moreno was exposed time and again on the Liverpool left, while the back three has underperformed. Emre Can and Maarten Skrtel, two of their three first choice centerbacks, will both be suspended against Blackburn.
Upfront, Raheem Sterling’s ongoing contract controversy hasn’t been helped by the fact that he’s scored just once in his last eight starts. Meanwhile, Daniel Sturridge continues to be marred with niggling injuries and has looked like a shell of his old self.
Nevertheless, this is still a very talented Liverpool side, one that will be eager to remove the taste of those two awful losses from its mouth. With Blackburn a little more obligated to go forward at home, Liverpool may find the space they need to play Rovers out of the park.
Writer’s Prediction
Liverpool recover from their league disappointments to beat Blackburn, 2-0.
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