BRETT Emerton insists Blackburn Rovers have the mental toughness to beat the Premier League’s ‘big four’ and can prove it by piling more misery on Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez today.

Buoyed by Sam Allardyce’s return from a minor heart operation - and Wednesday’s stunning Carling Cup victory over Chelsea - Rovers can make it a week to remember by toppling the Reds.

But they must end a horrendous sequence of losses against the top-flight’s big-hitters to complete a magical four days.

Last season, Rovers crashed to nine defeats out of nine against Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal, shipping 28 goals and scoring just five in the process.

Their woes have extended into the current campaign with 6-2 and 5-0 thumpings at Arsenal and Chelsea respectively, followed by a 2-0 reverse at Old Trafford.

Yet that horror-list of results came crashing to an end in midweek when Rovers stuck three past the Blues in the League Cup before winning on penalties.

Midfielder Emerton, back to his best after knee surgery earlier this year, played an instrumental role in Blackburn’s shock quarter-final victory.

And the Aussie insists that performance will restore inner-belief in the Rovers camp that they can beat the best.

“It was massive because we’ve had negative results against the big teams and you start to doubt yourselves a little bit,” said Emerton.

“When you go into games, you need to know that you can win them.

“If you don’t believe in beating these teams, then you’ve got no chance from the beginning.

“Beating Chelsea was a big step for us and everyone believes that no matter who we play we can get some sort of result.

“It was important on Wednesday night to play well and get a result. We’ve done that and the boys are confident.

“Obviously, when you are confident and playing well, you look forward to each and every game. All the boys are looking forward to Liverpool.”

Emerton has special memories against Liverpool, scoring a crucial goal in a 2-2 draw back in 2004 when Rovers were embroiled in a relegation fight.

And although the Reds have ruled the roost in meetings with Rovers at Anfield, they have won just twice at Ewood in the past five seasons.

“Our record against Liverpool hasn’t been too bad,” said the midfielder.

“We haven’t really picked up too much away from home, but our home form against Liverpool in recent years has been decent.

“It’s always a fantastic atmosphere when we play Liverpool at home and always a pleasure to play in.

“Our home form has been very good this season.

“We’re very confident so it does not matter who comes here, we always feels we will get a result.”