BLACKBURN Rovers must stop Steve McManaman if they are to secure their first 'double' of the season against title-chasing Liverpool.

Tony Parkes should take a leaf out of the book of Sheffield Wednesday boss David Pleat who stuck a man-to-man marker on the England flyer - and condemned Liverpool to their only home defeat of the season.

On that occasion, Peter Atherton stuck like glue to Liverpool's danger man - and Rovers should take note.

Italy did it again at Wembley last week and McManaman had one of his least effective games since bursting onto the international scene.

Who might get the job of marking the wing wizard who seems to have to run of the pitch? Billy McKinlay, perhaps. Or Garry Flitcroft. Rovers' usual 4-3-3 formation might just have to be thrown up in the air - and what a gamble that would be!

Liverpool suffered their heaviest defeat of the campaign when they lost 3-0 at Ewood Park in November - Parkes' first home game in charge as caretaker manager.

And he can take heart from the fact that Anfield no longer seems to be the fortress it once was with Liverpool having been held five times at home so far this season.

Reds' boss Roy Evans has said that the title run-in starts here and he knows that his side, currently lying in second place, have so far managed to get away unpunished for their inconsistency.

Likewise, with 14 games to go, Rovers need to continue their impressive form to climb away from the relegation dogfight.

Rovers are trying to thrash out a £2.5 million deal with Odense to sign their international striker Per Pedersen - widely regarded as the hottest attacking property in the Danish League - in time for Saturday's trip to Anfield.

The 28-year-old hitman has scored five goals in four international appearances - including all four in the 4-1 win over the USA last month.

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