Cole starts for Reds in Rovers clash

Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole made his first Barclays Premier League start since October 31 as manager Roy Hodgson made four changes to face Blackburn at Ewood Park.

Cole, the late matchwinner against Bolton on Saturday, was last named in the starting XI for the win over Wanderers at the Reebok, when he injured a hamstring and missed six matches.

Steven Gerrard, a substitute against Wanderers, also returned along with Sotirios Kyrgiakos and Paul Konchesky as Daniel Agger and Dirk Kuyt dropped to the bench, with Fabio Aurelio rested and Raul Meireles injured.

Blackburn manager Steve Kean made three changes to the side beaten at Sunderland.

Benjani Mwaruwari made his first start since November 6 while there were also returns for defenders Christopher Samba and Michel Salgado.

Blackburn: Bunn, Salgado, Samba, Nelsen, Givet, Hoilett, Dunn, Pedersen, Olsson, Mame Diouf, Mwaruwari.

Subs: Fielding, El-Hadji Diouf, Linganzi, Doran, Goulon, Hanley, Morris.

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Kyrgiakos, Skrtel, Konchesky, Cole, Gerrard, Lucas, Maxi, Torres, Ngog.

Subs: Gulacsi, Agger, Jovanovic, Kuyt, Babel, Poulsen, Kelly.

Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands)