Everton manager David Moyes has urged his team to maintain their fight for European football to the death and they could not plump for more pugnacious opponents than Sam Allardyce’s Blackburn, beaten once at Ewood Park since the opening day of the season. Rovers do a fine line in spoiling, as Manchester United found to their cost last Sunday, and have kept three consecutive clean sheets. But Everton have good history in this fixture (unbeaten in five) and recent form (two losses in 20) as they attempt to erode the four-point deficit to Aston Villa, occupants of the final Europa League place. Richard Gibson
Venue Ewood Park, Saturday 3pm
Tickets £28-38 (0871 222 1444)
Last season Blackburn 0 Everton 0
Referee A Marriner
This season’s matches 24 Y90, R9, 4.12 cards per game
Odds Blackburn 7-4 Everton 17-10 Draw 23-10
Blackburn
Subs from Brown, Bunn, Andrews, Diouf, Olsson, Jacobsen, Chimbonda, Basturk, Hoilett, Roberts, Di Santo
Doubtful Basturk (groin), Emerton (hamstring), Olsson (dead leg), Samba (groin)
Injured None
Suspended None
Form guide DDWWDL
Disciplinary record Y52 R2
Leading scorer Dunn 8
Everton
Subs from Nash, Senderos, Yobo, Rodwell, Yakubu, Hibbert, Anichebe, Duffy, Agard, Baxter, Wallace, Mustafi
Doubtful Heitinga (ankle)
Injured Arteta (groin, 24 Apr), Fellaini (ankle, Aug), Gosling (knee, Jan)
Suspended None
Form guide DDDWWD
Disciplinary record Y56 R2
Leading scorer Saha 13
Match pointers
• Blackburn have scored one goal in their last five home league meetings with Everton and have not beaten them at Ewood Park since November 2003
• Tim Cahill’s last 11 league goals for Everton have been scored with his head
• 60% of Blackburn’s league goals this season have come from set pieces, the highest proportion in the division
• Steven Pienaar has won more free-kicks (82) than any other player in the top flight
• Blackburn have lost one of their last 16 games at home in the Premier League
Premier LeagueBlackburn RoversEvertonguardian.co.uk
