Liverpool winger Stewart Downing expects a real battle tonight against Blackburn Rovers.

Downing was part of the Middlesbrough outfit relegated from the Premier League in 2008-09 and knows how the prospect of dropping a division can inspire players to perform above their usual level.

He told Liverpoolfc.tv: "It will be a difficult game. They are fighting for their lives, but we've got to keep concentrating on our game, keep creating chances and we need to start scoring goals and winning games.

"It can be difficult playing teams fighting against relegation. They are playing for their futures - they don't want to drop down a division. I've been in that situation with Middlesbrough before and it's not good.

"We saw with Villa, they were fighting like hell for the team and made it difficult for us at times."