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Beleaguered Blackburn Rovers manager Paul Ince faces one his former clubs, Liverpool, at Ewood Park this weekend.

The Rovers boss, who cut his managerial teeth at Macclesfield Town and MK Dons before joining Blackburn in the summer, spent two seasons as a player at Anfield in the late 1990s.

Ince failed to win any trophies during his spell on Merseyside before heading to Middlesbrough, but silverware is the last thing on his mind at the moment as he fends off questions about his managerial future.

Last weekend's 3-2 defeat at Portsmouth left Rovers entrenched in the relegation zone and Ince's side have failed to taste success in any of their last nine league games since winning at Newcastle United more than two months ago.

They have lost their last four league matches and, with Roque Santa Cruz being linked with a transfer to Manchester City next month, the future looks far from rosy.

No player has scored more than two league goals this season, but Ince is refusing to get downcast, saying this week: "It's easy for me to be a target, but I've got thick skin.

"I don't really care what other people say about me or what people write about me. All I care about are my players. They're the most important people to me.

"It's important I come in every day smiling and making sure they're happy and then they're prepared to hopefully get three points on Saturday."

Injured trio Steven Reid (knee), Vince Grella (hamstring) and David Dunn (calf) will not feature against the league leaders who were booed off the pitch on Monday following their goalless draw with West Ham United.

Rafa Benitez has guided his side to ten victories in their opening 15 games of the season to revive hopes that the Reds' could clinch their 19th title and first in 19 years in May.

Liverpool have kept four successive clean sheets in the league but goals are proving to be a problem without hamstring injury victim Fernando Torres, with the West Ham stalemate coming on the back of another 0-0 Anfield draw against Fulham.

As well as Torres, Fabio Aurelio (calf), Philipp Degen (metatarsal) and Martin Skrtel (knee) will be missing on Saturday.

Match Report

Premier League leaders Liverpool heaped the pressure on Blackburn Rovers boss Paul Ince with a 3-1 win at Ewood Park.

Both keepers had made fine saves at the same end of the ground, before Xabi Alonso stroked home the opener midway through the second half.

Yossi Benayoun added a skilful second ten minutes later, before Roque Santa Cruz rediscovered his goalscoring touch to give the home fans some hope.

But Steven Gerrard sealed the win with the last kick of the game to extended Rovers' winless run in the league to ten games.

Before the game, both managers made three changes to the sides from their last outings, with Santa Cruz and Brett Emerton passed fit for the hosts, while Robbie Keane and Albert Riera were both relegated to the visitors' bench.

And the game's first two chances fell to players returning to their starting line-ups.

On 19 minutes, Dirk Kuyt played in Benayoun, but former Liverpool full-back Stephen Warnock recovered just in time to make a goal-saving tackle.

And ten minutes later, Gerrard, who was guilty of giving possession away on numerous occasions in the first half, passed the ball straight to Morten Gamst Pedersen, who let fly from fully 25 yards, only for Pepe Reina to terrifically tip the ball onto the bar.

Pedersen fancied his chances from even further out a little later, firing in a 30-yard free-kick, which Reina had to palm around the post.

The final chance of the half dropped to Gerrard, who lashed a left-foot shot well wide of the target.

The visitors provided more of an attacking threat in the second half, with Paul Robinson twice coming to Rovers' rescue.

On 57 minutes, Emiliano Insua's cross fell kindly for Alonso, whose crisp strike was well kept out by the England international.

And five minutes later, Gerrard's effort was superbly saved by the Robinson and Benayoun just couldn't force home the follow-up.

But with little over 20 minutes remaining, the league leaders eventually made the breakthrough. Gerrard picked out Kuyt, whose shot was blocked by a couple of Rovers bodies, but Alonso was on hand to stroke home the rebound.

Rovers had an excellent chance to equalise when Andre Ooijer picked out Santa Cruz in the centre, but the Paraguayan striker sent his free header well wide.

And the home side were made to pay for the miss, as Liverpool extended their lead with their next attack. Kuyt played a superb volleyed pass out wide to Benayoun, who skipped past Warnock before drilling the ball under Robinson.

Rovers did get a goal, which their steely endeavour deserved, but it proved too little too late. A corner from the right was swung in by Keith Andrews, Ooijer flicked on and Santa Cruz headed home at the far post.

There was still time for Liverpool to add a third, when Robinson came rushing out of his goal to deny substitute Nabil El Zhar. Alonso squared the loose ball to Gerrard and the skipper slotted the ball into the empty net.

Corners

Fouls

Goal attempts

Shots off target

Offsides