Blackburn battling to stun lacklustre Liverpool in FA Cup replay

Blackburn Rovers will be aiming to add further misery to Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool when they host the recent Premier League strugglers at Ewood Park for their FA Cup quarter-final replay.

The hosts are 9/2 with Coral to cause an upset over their top-flight opponents in 90 minutes, with the Merseysiders having previously lost back-to-back domestic league fixtures against top four rivals Manchester United and Arsenal.

Liverpool, odds-on 8/13 to secure victory in 90 minutes, were held to a goalless draw in the first encounter with Rovers last month, and have since won only a single game against Swansea City. Gary Bowyer will be quietly confident that his mid-table Championship side can shock their supposedly superior opposition and book a semi-final appearance at Wembley.

Although, the home side will need to conjure up the spirit of the cup and produce another courageous one-off performance, having lost three of their last four home games.

Blackburn’s leading marksman Jordan Rhodes has netted an impressive 17 league goals this current campaign, including a recent strike in a 3-0 victory over Leeds United last time out, and he will surely be their main scoring threat.

The in-form forward will be hoping to add to his terrific tally in this crucial clash at Ewood Park, having recently represented Scotland in a vital 6-1 Euro 2016 qualifying triumph over Gibraltar. Bowyer’s superb Scot is a 2/1 chance to strike in 90 minutes in his latest outing.

As well as rampant Rhodes, the hosts have Rudy Gestede to rely on in attack, with the French-born forward having netted 16 times already this term. Among his impressive tally, the 26-year-old has managed FA Cup goals against top-flight clubs Swansea City and Stoke City. The clinical Championship centre forward is 7/1 to open proceedings this time out.

Meanwhile, Reds boss Rodgers will need his star forwards Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling to be firing on all cylinders in order to reach Wembley. Astute attacker Sterling is a 3/1 chance to net the last goal, while Sturridge is 5/2 to bag a brace or more.

With Liverpool’s season having taken a turn for the worst in recent weeks, and a top four Premier League position seemingly out of reach, the FA Cup is their last hope for success. The Anfield club are available at 27/10 to win and both teams to score.