Unlucky Reds Home Form Are Reminders Of Rafa's Title Chasing Season

Liverpool huffed and puffed once more but came up against another excellent goalkeeping display. A feat that Mark Bunn probably will and could not repeat even if he tried. The journeyman goalkeeper showed far better reflexes than Paul Robinson have had this season to deny Andy Carroll a confidence-boosting goal. As if to add insult to hurt, Blackburn defence only had Chris Samba as the experienced defender, the rest were youth team players elevated to emergency first team action!

SIX home draws have surely dampened Liverpool's hopes for a Champions League spot. Drawing against the Wigans, Fulhams and Blackburns of the Premiership are of course nothing new for the mighty Reds. We should remember that home draws against inferior opposition costed Liverpool the Premiership title. There is a strange Benitez resonance to this season's results and this problem to kill off the lesser Premier League teams at home is rearing its ugle head again.

The Reds need to be ruthless like Manchester United if they want that fourth Champions League spot.

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Swansealona's Urgent Search For Prolific Striker

Leroy Lita had the chance to cover himself with glory against Villa last week. After superbly turning the Villa defender, he dragged his shot just wide of the post. That sums up Swansea's problem in their first Premiership season. This lack of a cutting edge may eventually drag the Swans back into a relegation dogfight.

Against Blackburn, Swansea must sought to make their customary lions' share of possession count. This is the sort of game that City must try and score a handful to improve their poor goal difference. Blackburn has the second worst defence in the Premiership and Lita will get another chance to bury a few this time round.

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Manchester City Shows Strength In Depth While Berbatov Blows Bubbles

Roberto Mancini had learned from the Fulham lesson and as David Platt said, Mancini freshened up his team after the Champions League defeat at Munich. He rang in changes for the match against Blackburn and the replacements repaid his faith in them by scoring four goals against Rovers.

Mario Balotelli, Samir Nasri and Adam Johnson together with David Silva were the difference in another routine match for the Citizens. Everytime Adam Johnson plays, he always makes an impression on those who watch him. Fabio Capello obviously feels the same way as I did since he selected Johnson for the England squad.

With Tevez and Dzeko benched for their Munich outburst, Balotelli took his chance and produced another excellent performance. He even afforded a smile after his goal, and this is a player who does not celebrate goals. Mancini has got the Premier League's most talented squad and he must utilise its potential to its fullest advantage.

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Blackburn Rovers Vs. Liverpool: Yet More Reminiscence of The Past

Liverpool travels to Blackburn on Saturday 5th December hoping to register their third consecutive win in all competitions. A Blackburn Rovers who must be full of confidence, having came through a nervy penalty shootout to beat Chelsea and advance to the semifinals of the Carling Cup.

Though not a crucial match, a win for Liverpool will help the Reds consolidate their fifth position in the Premiership league table. A slip up will allow Aston Villa to jump above Liverpool into fifth spot. So already, Liverpool is in a fight for the final Champions League spot and hence this put greater importance to the Ewood Park visit.

Liverpool have a good away record at Blackburn, the home team winning only once in the last nine matches. More importantly, there is a chance that Fernando Torres will be able to line up alongside Steven Gerrard. As though the motivation of the final Champions League spot is not enough, this Blackburn match will be Gerrard's 500th match and the Liverpool captain surely intend on celebrating with three points.

Just to underline how important Torres is to Liverpool this season, he has scored one matchwinning goal, two equalising goal and one hattrick en route to ten goals of an injury-troubled season. With Torres in the team along with Gerrard, Liverpool's win percentage goes up to 79%. Without either one, Liverpool win in only 56% of the matches.

One thing's for sure, I still think about the wonder volley goal 'Nando scored last season. Didn't it get voted as the goal of the season? Here it is again for our reminiscing pleasure.

David Ngog has looked better and better this season. That goal against Manchester United seemed to have given him a massive boost in confidence. Liverpool may have finally gotten the best out of the 20-year striker. I have full confidence that Rafa knows how to get a win when it matters. Blackburn is shorn of their best player, David Dunn, meaning that their attack and creativity will lack thrust. The Reds must dictate the flow of the game and withstand a ten to fifteen physical onslaught/gamesmanship. Three points will be massive!