Source: Team_Talk
Allardyce spots Reds' weaknessess
The Blackburn manager was in the crowd on Wednesday night to watch Liverpool beaten 3-1 by Chelsea in the Champions League.
Although Allardyce believes too much blame has been laid at the door of Rafael Benitez' zonal marking system at corners - two of the three Chelsea goals came from that route - he hopes to take advantage of "one or two weaknesses" shown by Liverpool.
"I went to watch what was probably the most in-form team in this country at the moment come a little unstuck on the night," said Allardyce.
"We can only hope that that knocks their confidence a little bit.
"It can happen to us all on occasions, but Chelsea got the tactics right and also used their outstanding ability to punish them very heavily in the end.
"I just want to get as many of my experienced players as fit as possible to go and pick a side who can combat a very good Liverpool team, and then try and expose one or two weaknesses that were shown up last night.
"But I thought there was a little of unfair criticism of the zonal marking system, because I don't think any system would have stopped those two goals on the night."
Allardyce will warn his players, however, to expect that Liverpool will come out fighting on Saturday - because the Barclays Premier League may be their only chance of silverware.
"Their pride will have been hurt. But they are still just one point off Manchester United, so it will be a very big game for them," he added.
"I think they'll be all guns blazing, but it's something we've come across before and have had to cope with.
"I'd like to see a repeat of the performance of what we did at Manchester United, where we were very unlucky to lose."
Allardyce will be without Jason Roberts, who was injured against Tottenham, and is still waiting for news on Morten Gamst Pedersen.
Roque Santa Cruz's knee injury has shown signs of improvement, and he may be on the bench.
Allardyce said: "It is a little slower than we would have expected.
"We expect for him to at least be fit for Stoke [next week]. He may be fit to play but he'd be short on match practice."
