Premier League preview: Blackpool v Liverpool

Liverpool will be out for revenge when they travel to Blackpool in the English Premier League on Sunday, but only if the match goes ahead.

Blackpool’s Bloomfield Road home is without undersoil heating and the freezing conditions gripping the United Kingdom means the fixture is in serious danger of being called off.

But if the match somehow gets underway, Roy Hodgson and his team will have plenty of motivation to inflict a defeat on their hosts.

Liverpool reached the low point of a poor start to Hodgson’s first season in charge when they lost 2-1 at home to newly promoted Blackpool in October.

The upset meant Liverpool slipped to third from bottom in the English Premier League and, coming after a shock exit from the Carling Cup at the hands of League Two side Northampton Town, seemingly left Hodgson fighting for survival just four months into the job.

The former Fulham boss survived an insipid 2-0 defeat against local rivals Everton before positive Europa League form and an excellent victory over defending champions Chelsea secured a stay of execution.

Liverpool have since climbed to ninth in the table and level on points with 10th-placed Blackpool, but they lost 3-1 away to Newcastle United in their last league game, on December 11.

A home match against Hodgson’s former club Fulham was postponed on Saturday.

Blackpool’s home game against Tottenham was also called off, along with an earlier fixture at Bloomfield Road against Manchester United.

Their last match to go ahead was a 1-0 victory away to Stoke City on December 11, and it was no mean feat to come away from the Britannia Stadium with all three points.

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway will be robbed of several key men for the visit of Liverpool, with midfield lynchpin Charlie Adam and forward Marlon Harewood both expected to miss out.

Craig Cathcart and David Vaughan are also in doubt.

Liverpool will be without stalwart Jamie Carragher until February due to a dislocated shoulder, but captain Steven Gerrard may be in line for a return after missing four matches with a hamstring injury.