GARRY Flitcroft insists there will be no holding back in the tackles during tonight's crunch Carling Cup tie against Liverpool at Ewood Park.

The Premiership game between the sides last month was marred by Lucas Neill's sending off for a two-footed lunge at Jamie Carragher and the subsequent war of words between the managers.

But, with Neill likely to return to the side tongiht, the Blackburn Rovers captain is also calling for an end to the ill feeling generated by the incident that left Carragher's leg broken.

"There will be a lot of passion and challenges will be flying in, and you can't pull out of them," said Flitcroft.

"There was a lot said about that one challenge last time and I think too much was said. Lucas is not that type of player and things like that should be forgotten and we should get on with the game.

"Things happened between the gaffer and Houllier and that spices it up for tonight, but as a player you want to go out and win the game.

"Nothing gets said about it now and the gaffer's said he doesn't want to get involved in it again.

"When I play Liverpool I get on with all the lads and they are good games, it was just one bad incident.

"I didn't think the tackle would be that bad. At the time I thought Lucas got some of the ball and didn't know Jamie had broken his leg.

"He knows when he comes back that he can't get his first tackle wrong, but he's tough and it won't affect him."

Progress in the Carling Cup isn't the mian motivation for a Blackburn victory tonight, as Flitcroft knows his team desperately needs a win to end their current slump.

Andy Todd is cup-tied having played for Burnley at Scunthorpe in the previous round, so Markus Babbel could also be set for a return to the defence.

Aside from Todd's absence and the delayed return of Craig Short after a knee ionjury, manager Graeme Souness has a full squad to pick from and is likely to field his strongest side.

Flitcroft added: "The Carling Cup is always a priority but we need to get our best side out because we need a win.

"Both sets of fans will be up for it and both sets of players will be up for it, it's a cup game and both sides want to win it.

"As a footballer you want to go out and win every game you play but we need a win to lift the lads and if we can get that tonight we can take it in to Sunday's game against Leicester.

"As captain I have to make sure the lads are sticking together and we can't be coming every day being down you have to keep your chin up.

"When you get down towards the bottom aty Christmas you tend to stay there unitl the end of the season so we have to pick up results."

Alan Mahon has extended his loan spell at Ipswich.