Liverpool will once again be without star striker Fernando Torres for their trip to Blackburn on Saturday.
The Reds go into the game on the back of a 2-0 victory in the Merseyside derby against Everton, although last weekend's win at Goodison Park was a rare highlight in what has been a miserable season so far.
Rafa Benitez's side are currently fifth in the Premier League and are 13 points adrift of leaders Chelsea, with hopes of a title challenge getting slimmer by the day.
Liverpool have decided against risking Fernando Torres. The Spanish striker has been involved in three first-team training sessions this week, but there are still concerns over his groin problem. Boss Rafael Benitez is now thinking of playing his top scorer against Fiorentina in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Italian Alberto Aquilani will also again be amongst the substitutes, while Ryan Babel is still out with an ankle injury
Liverpool will be hoping that, after playing out a thrilling 3-3 draw over the course of 120 minutes and enduring the knife-edge tension of spot-kicks, Blackburn's players will be both physically and mentally fatigued for tomorrow's match at Ewood Park.
But Blackburn assistant coach Neil McDonald is confident the squad are ready for their second encounter with a `big four' side in four days though and is expecting a similar performance.
Manager Sam Allardyce will be back overseeing affairs at Ewood Park, having missed the last four matches while recovering from heart surgery.
David Dunn could miss out again for Blackburn after picking up a calf problem in the match against Stoke, and his involvement will be subject to a late fitness check.
Keith Andrews is also nursing a calf injury but is more likely to be available for selection.
REVIEW:
LIVERPOOL had to settle for a point after a frustrating goalless stalemate with Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.
It was skipper Steven Gerrard’s 500th appearance for the Reds but he couldn’t find a way past a dogged Rovers side.
Substitute David Ngog came closest for the visitors when he struck the bar in the second half.
The first half was instantly forgettable with very little in the way of goalmouth action as both sides cancelled out each other.
But the second was a much livelier affair. The introduction of Ngog, for the indescribably abject Albert Riera, did at least inject a little bit of life into the Spaniard’s side in a second half infinitely less torpid than its predecessor.
Gerrard, as always, did his best. Two shots, one straight at Paul Robinson, the other deflected just over, served notice of his intent.
Two efforts from Franco Di Santo - springing Liverpool’s offside trap for the first, only to be robbed at the last by Javier Mascherano, then forcing a good save from Reina after Lucas’s slip let Vince Grella run clear - acted as reminder that focus cannot wane at Ewood Park for a second.
Allardyce was incensed by the Liverpool boss’ ‘dismissive’ gesture when the sides last met but this match was nowhere near as clear cut.
And with a quarter-of-an-hour remaining Blackburn began to turn the screw, sensing three points were there for the taking.
First Vince Grella then Benni McCarthy saw efforts narrowly miss the target before the introduction of Nikola Kalinic with ten minutes remaining.
Daniel Agger let fly with a 30-yard drive that was well managed by England-hopeful Robinson before a final flurry of chances at both ends that failed to produce a goal.
Whilst Rovers will be disappointed not to claim all three, they'll be pleased with the point that sees them move up a place to 12th, above their local rivals Burnley.