A backlight unit and a liquid crystal display including the same are provided. The backlight includes a light guiding plate, a reflector, and at least one LED assembly including an LED light source, a substrate, and a support plate. A plurality of protrusions formed on a cover of the liquid crystal display are configured to mate to a plurality of concave portions formed on the light guiding plate, the reflector, and the LED assembly to mount the various components of the liquid crystal display onto the cover.