Blackburn v Liverpool: Kuyt leads the line

Rafa Benitez has opted for Dirk Kuyt to lead the Reds’ attack in the continued absence of Fernando Torres, dropping David NGog to the bench.

Yossi Benayoun replaces NGog and comes in on the right of midfield, while Albert Riera replaces Fabio Aurelio on the left of midfield.

There’s still no start for £18m midfielder Alberto Aquilani who again starts on the bench. Lucas and Mascherano preferred in the middle of midfield.

The Reds finally have a stable back four with Johnson, Carra, Agger and Insua starting together for the third successive match.

Steven Gerrard makes his 500th appearance for the club, well in Stevie lad, 11 years after his first appearance – against Blackburn in November 1998!

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carra, Agger, Insua, Benayoun, Lucas, Mascherano, Riera, Gerrard, Kuyt
Subs : Cavalieri, Aquilani, Kyrgiakos, Ngog, El Zhar, Skrtel, Dossena

Blackburn: Robinson, Chimbonda, Samba, Nelsen, Givet, Emerton, Grella, Nzonzi, Diouf, McCarthy, Di Santo.

Subs: Brown, Roberts, Pedersen, Andrews, Kalini?, Hoilett, Salgado

Kick off at Ewood Park is 3pm, streams can be found in our forums.

Today’s Other Fixtures

Arsenal v Stoke
Aston Villa v Hull
Man City v Chelsea (17:30)
Portsmouth 2-0 Burnley (FT)
West Ham v Man Utd
Wigan v Birmingham
Wolverhampton v Bolton