Liverpool v Blackburn Rovers - Peter White's big match preview

STEVE McManaman is now the finished article - thanks not least to some fantastic finishing.

Goals have been the catalyst for the Liverpool star's re-emergence as the man to help restore championship credibility to Merseyside and also bring a World Cup sparkle to Glenn Hoddle's eye.

Already, "Macca" has equalled last season's haul of nine goals and his current collection includes some real gems.

There was the solo spectacular he launched at Celtic Park in the UEFA Cup for his first strike of the season and, more recently, the searing volley which helped spoil Kenny Dalglish's Christmas on Tyneside.

In between McManaman has scored goals of all shapes and sizes, to confound the critics who suggested he would never step up from being very good to great because of his continuing failures in front of goal.

His improvement has already been rewarded, with the Carling player of the month prize, not to mention a new-found respect - should that be fear? - among his peers.

There is little doubt that, in addition to the pace and trickery of those penalty area pickpockets Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen, McManaman spells the greatest threat to Blackburn Rovers' hopes of holding onto second place in the Premiership when they visit Anfield tomorrow.

Not that the attacking menace is a one-way street. The names of Chris Sutton and Kevin Gallacher will feature prominently in Liverpool's pre-match thoughts, as will Damien Duff - in many ways a younger version of McManaman with the ability to unlock the most secure of defences.

Duff has a similar gift to ghost past players but, in his first season at senior level, has already shown the deadliness in front of goal that McManaman only recently discovered.

And even his Anfield rival would gladly have put his name to the brilliant goal scored by the Irish youngster on Monday night.

Although Duff is a winger and McManaman plays in a freer role, many similarities exist between the two players. They both love to take on defenders, possess bags of creativity and are regarded as the flair players of their side.

As our exclusive Carling Opta comparison of the two players is very reveals there are some interesting comparisons to be drawn.

For his first season, Duff has looked remarkably comfortable in possession of the ball. His pass completion rate of 88 per cent is one of the best in the Premiership and four per cent higher than McManaman. Once in possession of the ball these two exciting players choose a different route to goal. Duff is more of an orthodox winger. He has made more crosses than McManaman, and his success rate is, significantly, 14 per cent higher. McManaman is the king of the mazy dribble and he has made five times as many runs as the Rovers man, with a greater ball retention.

Their goal creating and goal scoring records compare well. McManaman has made relatively more goal assists, with seven to two, but their striking records are similar.

McManaman has managed to get 52 per cent of his shots on target, while Duff manages 56 per cent, and their goals-to-shots ratio both work out at 19 per cent, excluding blocked shots.

Clearly these two could be crucial contributors tomorrow and, while Rovers fans are beginning to drool over Duff's talents, there is a feeling at Liverpool that McManaman is also starting to scale new peaks.

Assistant manager Doug Livermore has no doubt about what the England man has achieved this season.

"I've not seen him play better," enthused Livermore.

"If there is a better player in his position anywhere in the country, I'd like to see him.

"Steve has been absolutely outstanding this season, his form's been excellent and his goals return is also very impressive."

The praise is richly deserved and McManaman has featured strongly at the top of the Carling Opta rankings all season.

He is expected to force his way into Glenn Hoddle's World Cup plans, if he can maintain his current form. Livermore believes he can.

"He's been a great servant to this club and has now begun to show a level of consistency in his game that shows he has matured.

"Macca has responded brilliantly to the sort of man-to-man marking he's been subjected to this season.

"He's coped with a lot of criticism and bounced back with fine displays. He has matured into a fantastic player.

"It had been suggested that he couldn't handle man marking at international level, but he's had enough practice at it now for us. He's shown he can cope with it."

The question of deploying someone specifically to mark McManaman would not seem likely for Rovers.

Though they will, of course, have Billy McKinlay in his usual holding role in front of the back four and he will be aware of the threat posed by the Liverpool star's runs from deep.

Without making it an individual responsibility, Rovers' team planning will no doubt take account of the fact that they are facing one of the Premiership's men of the moment - and a matchwinner.

Liverpool's progress over the past couple of months, inspired in many respects by McManaman, has not gone un-noticed elsewhere. Leicester held them to a rare goalless draw and Martin O'Neill is backing the Anfield challenge to push champions Manchester United all the way.

"Make no mistake, Manchester United are in a fantastic position but Alex Ferguson will be looking over his shoulder," he said.

"You only have to go back two years to when Newcastle were 12 points clear at around the same stage of the season and then everything slid from under their feet.

"Liverpool know what it takes to win championships.

"Having had an indifferent spell before Christmas, they will know they can ill afford many more slip-ups before the end of the season and that could work in their favour."

Rovers' aim is to provoke another Anfield stumble and hope it turns into a significant fall.

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