Mamadou Sakho - what are you doing?! The Liverpool centre-back dwells on a hopeful punt forward from Rovers - seemingly trying to shepherd the ball back to keeper Simon Mignolet. But the Belgian is on a different wavelength as Craig Conway almost nips in to embarrass France defender Sakho. If in doubt, get it out!

Howard Mole: Liverpool's season is getting worse, and it's about to hit rock bottom...

Matthew Walsh: Reading v Blackburn final, please!

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Ah, a first sign of encouragement for the home fans. Tricky winger Ben Marshall puts on the afterburners on the left flank, but his cross cannot pick out the head of Jordan Rhodes.

Image source, EPA

A red shirt crumples to the Ewood pitch clutching his nose like he has just been on the end of Rocky Balboa's right hook. Albert Moreno is the man in question but I'm not sure why he went down. I'm sure it was accidental. And there is no claret either - the Spanish left-back will be fine.

Former Everton and Republic of Ireland winger Kevin Kilbane
at Ewood Park for 5 live Sport

"How are Liverpool going to react to their new back four? All of a sudden there are more changes in that part of their side. Are there going to be defensive frailties on show?"

Image source, Getty Images

Promising start from Liverpool, who look as though they want to bury Blackburn early doors. They don't fancy a late night in east Lancashire. Raheem Sterling lurks with intent inside the home box, collecting Daniel Sturridge's pass, but is unable to sting the palms of Rovers keeper Simon Eastwood.

First chance of the match - and, unsurprisingly, it falls to Liverpool. Lucas lofts a high ball into the Blackburn box, which is met by the head of Rovers defender Alex Baptiste. But it goes as far as the feet of Joe Allen, who skews a volley wide from 15 yards.

The home fans are providing plenty of vocal support for their side - but their players have barely had a kick yet.

James Bools: I want Blackburn to win, being an Manchester United fan, but I think Liverpool will win 2-0.

Mariam Kazmi: Liverpool can beat Blackburn. I really believe that they have it in them to win the game.

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Former Everton and Republic of Ireland winger Kevin Kilbane
at Ewood Park for 5 live Sport

"The priority now for Liverpool is winning this trophy. They must win it for this season to be deemed a success. Considering what they managed to do last season, and with the attacking quality in the side, their season is at risk of falling by the wayside if they lose tonight."

David Bowie's classic 'Heroes' pumped out of the Ewood Park sound system in the seconds before kick-off - quite apt as Gary Bowyer repeatedly talked about someone becoming a hero tonight.

Liverpool - as I, erm, suspected - are playing four at the back. Dejan Lovren has seen plenty of the ball in the early stages as the Reds keep possession at the back.

Foggy is all set - and so is referee Kevin Friend. He toots his whistle for the first time as Blackburn have the honour of starting the match. A Wembley date against Aston Villa is the prize remember...

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Ewood Park

Image source, Empics

"All set for kick-off and former World Superbike champion and fanatical Blackburn Rovers supporter Carl Fogarty has just taken his seat in the stand."

Blackburn: Eastwood, Henley, Baptiste, Kilgallon, Olsson, Marshall, Evans, Conway, Williamson, Cairney, Rhodes. Subs: Spurr, Songo'o, Lenihan, Steele, Mahoney, Gestede, Nyambe.

Liverpool: Mignolet, Johnson, Lovren, Sakho, Moreno, Henderson, Lucas, Allen, Sterling, Sturridge, Coutinho. Subs: Jones, Toure, Lambert, Manquillo, Borini, Brannagan, Markovic.

Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)

Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson stares ahead intently as the two teams line up in the tunnel - he is a picture of concentration. Henderson and Rovers counterpart Matt Kilgallon are given the nod to walk out in front of a packed Ewood Park. Almost show-time - he's a quick reminder of the line-ups....

BBC Radio 5 live

While the two sets of players shuffle into the Ewood Park tunnel, 5 live's commentary team of Kelly Cates and Kevin Kilbane are already in position. Listen live now.

Image source, @juliette_grace

Other gelatine-based sweet snacks are available at your local cornershop...

Image source, Reuters

Every single Blackburn player will have been dreaming last night about being the one who bags the winning goal to knock out Liverpool. And the likeliest candidate to be that man is Scotland striker Jordan Rhodes.

"Someone has got to be the hero for Blackburn Rovers," says Rovers boss Gary Bowyer.

"We will need heroes in terms of defending and work-rate, but we also need a matchwinner. And there is probably no-one better than Jordan Rhodes.

"Hopefully he can step up and have his name in lights."

Anthony Shaw: I am so up for this - we have nothing to lose and a trip to Wembley to gain! I think we can have them tonight. Come on Rovers!

Gerardo: Finishing below fourth, I'd rather take a trophyless season to avoid playing in the Europa League next term. But the final is Stevie's birthday...

Nevangelista: "Take me home, Jordan Rhodes, to the place, we belong, back to Wembley, Blackburn Rovers, take me home, Jordan Rhodes!"

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Former Everton and Republic of Ireland winger Kevin Kilbane
at Ewood Park for 5 live Sport

"It looks as though the top four has slipped away from Liverpool, so this game is hugely important. But Blackburn too, their season is also over if they lose today. And a lot of Blackburn's players will never have played at Wembley."

More from Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers on BT Sport: "In the last three months we have been excellent, but the last two games have been disappointing. We can't dwell on it too much and the players have looked sharp in training.

"We have got to avoid the season fizzling out. The cup is an objective for us - it's clear we're keen to win a trophy."

On the absence of Mario Balotelli: "He travelled and he trained well. But he fell ill last night and woke up not feeling great. The advice was to send him back."