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Premier League Betting: Liverpool v Blackburn

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Nik Wardle on a game with big implications for Blackburn's European push

On Sunday lunchtime Blackburn begin the first of three tricky games that will shape their hopes of European football next season. First it's Anfield, followed by champions Man United at home, then a trip to likely FA Cup winners Portsmouth. A null return from these games will probably end their hopes of European football in 2008/2009, even via the Intertoto Cup route.

It's been another steady season for Mark Hughes' side. The goals of Santa Cruz, the guile of Bentley and the goalkeeping of Friedel have kept Blackburn on the fringes of the race for a European slot.

With the fixtures they have left and the amount of points they are behind Portsmouth and Everton, it's unlikely they'll obtain an automatic UEFA Cup spot but if, as expected, Portsmouth win the FA Cup, seventh place will be good enough for the much maligned Intertoto Cup.

The fact that Everton, Aston Villa, Man City and Blackburn have all applied, proves the growing importance of this route into UEFA Cup football. Betfair customers have set low odds for Everton and Portsmouth for a top six finish and with Aston Villa at [3.5] and Blackburn out at [18.5] it appears few give Blackburn a chance of having some busy Thursday nights next season. The other team with a sniff of sixth or seventh, Man City, are at [21.0]. With Aston Villa a point ahead of Blackburn, having a vastly superior goal difference, and fixtures to come against Derby A, Birmingham H, Everton A, Wigan H and West Ham A, you'd expect them to accumulate more points than Blackburn.

What must also worry Mark Hughes is that Bentley has began making noises that he wants regular European football to help him cement his place in the England team. On current form, he's the best right-sided Englishman around. I'm unsure if any of the 'Grand Slam' teams would bid for him, though, as they're all either well-stocked in his position or don't play with wide midfielders. The fact that these sides stockpile players means he could be purchased to fight for a place in a top four team, but given what's happened to Wright-Phillips at Chelsea, this may not appeal to Bentley. Of the other biggish Premier League teams, Everton have the excellent Arteta on the right, Tottenham I'm sure would love him, as would Newcastle. Mark Hughes has stated that Bentley's not for sale but a bid of around £15 million may dissuade him, especially if the player requests a transfer.

Liverpool will be buoyed by winning their pulsating Champions League clash against Arsenal and will look to cement fourth place to ensure they have the opportunity of such nights again next season.

The Reds are at [1.58] to win this game with Blackburn out at [7.8]. I'm sure some Blackburn fans will get misty-eyed about that afternoon in 1995 when they lost at Anfield yet won the league. The odds are that the result of that game will be repeated in 2008.