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Torres & Gerrard: will they start?

The Champions League is their only chance of winning a trophy this season, but it's still important that they secure fourth place in the Premier League; Everton are just three points behind so they can't afford too many slip-ups.

Matt Le Tissier
Quotes of the week

Liverpool v Blackburn
1pm, Sunday, Sky Sports 1

Related links

Teams

• Blackburn Rovers
• Liverpool

Players

• Steven Gerrard
• Jamie Carragher
• More Players David Bentley Fernando Torres

Also see

• Le Tiss on Man Utd v Arsenal
• Martin Tyler's column

Liverpool v Blackburn
1pm, Sunday, Sky Sports 1

Rafa Benitez will want to make sure his big boys are fresh for the upcoming Champions League semis against Chelsea, so don't be surprised if he makes a few changes against Blackburn.

The Champions League is their only chance of winning a trophy this season, but it's still important that they secure fourth place in the Premier League; Everton are just three points behind and Liverpool can't afford too many slip-ups.

Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres are the ones that make a difference to that team and I can't see either of them playing the whole 90 minutes against Rovers, but if I was the manager I would play them for 60 minutes and make sure the game is won before bringing them off.

I'm sure Benitez would like to give Jamie Carragher a rest too, but they're a bit short of numbers defensively at the moment and he may not be able to.

You never know what Benitez is going to do in terms of team selection, but he must be aware he's still got a bit of work to do in the league. Three points is not a massive gap with five games to go so they've got to stay on their toes.

It would be a disaster if they failed to win the Champions League and finished fifth; that would have to go down as a very poor season for Liverpool.

Their Champions League win over Arsenal was a cracking night of high drama and demonstrated why European matches at Anfield are so special. Liverpool were a little bit fortunate to get the decisive penalty, but if you're going to win trophies you always need a spot of luck along the way.

Sunday's game against Blackburn might be something of a comedown after all the tension of midweek and they might find it a little difficult to get themselves motivated for a run-of-the-mill Premier League game.

But if they look over their shoulders and see their local rivals just three points behind then that might just focus them.

Comfortable

They're playing a Blackburn team sat comfortably in eighth spot and I think Mark Hughes would be fairly happy with their season so far.

Looking at the squad they've got, they're unlikely to be challenging the top five, so their current position is a good return.

They've not really got anything to play for now, but I can't see a manager like Hughes allowing his players to take their eye off the ball. As a player he always gave 100 per cent in every game and I'm sure his attitude is no different as a manager.

David Bentley has been excellent for them this season and as somebody with England ambitions it wouldn't surprise me if one of the big boys came calling in the summer.

If Bentley wants to play in Europe on a regular basis then he might have to move and I'm sure he'll be interested to see how much money Blackburn spend on players in the summer and what sort of ambition they are willing to show.

They've got a solid squad, but it's always going to be hard for teams like Blackburn to hold on to their better players. It's also tough for Hughes to attract players because the support isn't as passionate as at some other clubs and it's not the most fashionable town in the country to go and live in.

It's tough for Blackburn to entice big players, but Hughes does well and uses his reputation to attract people.

Sunday's game is tough to call and a lot depends on Liverpool's attitude after their excursions in midweek, but ultimately I think they'll just have a bit too much for Blackburn.

Le Tiss Predicts

HOME WIN - The game is at Anfield and that might be the decisive factor. It'll be fairly tight and I'm going for a 2-1 win for Liverpool.

Matt's Main Man

PETER CROUCH - I think he'll play in this game after his goal at The Emirates last weekend, which he took really well. He wasn't as effective on Tuesday night and I think he needs to be at a club where he's playing regularly for the sake for his career. He'll be frustrated by his lack of football this season but he might just be the key man on Sunday.