29.10.2003 - Flo to start as Reds cup defence begins

---

Florent Sinama-Pongolle will make his first Liverpool start tonight, as Liverpool begin the defence of the Carling Cup which they won in March.

Pongolle has made a quick step up to the first team after an impressive start to the season in the reserves, where he's scored 3 times in 4 games, and he has appeared as a sub in the Reds' last three first team games.

But the youngester will get his best chance yet to show what he's capable of, with a start against Blackburn at Ewood Park, the ground where Anthony Le Tallec made his first competitive appearance in a Liverpool shirt.

And Le Tallec could be in line to join his French under-21 team-mate in the starting line up, after Vladimir Smicer was ruled out through injury.

Michael Owen is also likely to play, while Chris Kirkland makes his first competitive start since January after recovering from a pair of injuries which have kept the England under-21 'keeper on the sidelines for most of the last 9 months.

The match kicks off at 7.45pm and should the scores be level after 90 minutes, the game will be decided after extra time or penalties.