After Liverpool ran Manchester United close in the title race last season, it is fair to say that Rafa Benitez’s men have failed to live up to expectations so far this season. With injuries to key players Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, Liverpool faltered and are now out of the Carling Cup and Champions League.
Europa League football awaits them in the New Year and they will still be strong favourites to win the competition despite a run of mixed results. The FA Cup can still be won by the club which will be a target for management and fans alike. The biggest target for the club will be to finish in the top 4 of the Premier League but with Aston Villa, Manchester City and Tottenham all pushing, it makes the challenge a little bit harder.
After drawing at Stoke on Saturday, Roberto Martinez will be hoping that his side can claim a scalp over Liverpool and push on in the build up to the festive period. Martinez has already backed Hugo Rodallega to continue taking penalties despite his last minute miss at the weekend. Latics have played at Anfield four times and claimed one point out of twelve which, compared to the records at Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge, is respectful.
Wigan Team News
Martinez is expected to name Hendry Thomas in his starting XI with either Jordi Gomez or Jason Koumas expected to be dropped to the bench, Maynor Figueroa will continue at left back after his 60 yard wonder goal on Saturday. Emmerson Boyce is a doubt after picking up a head injury at Stoke with Paul Scharner ready to step in at centre back if required.
Predicted Line Up
Kirkland
Melchiot Boyce Bramble Figueroa
Thomas Diame
Koumas Scharner N’Zogbia
Rodallega
What the Gaffer Thinks
"At the moment we have to be perfect to earn points in the Premier League and the moment we have a bad 20-minute spell we don't know how to weather the storm and we get punished.
"I think it is a great strength for any team to know how to get results without playing well.
"You are not going to play well for 90 minutes over 38 games but at the moment we have to work really hard for the results."
"I was very pleased with the performance.
"When we play with intensity and focus we can compete against anyone and that is a huge compliment for a club like ours.
"It could easily have gone away from us and I was proud to see a difference in the five-minute period when Stoke were really on top in the second half."
Key Player for Liverpool
Fernando Torres – Still on his way back to full match fitness but will see the game as a chance to hit the goal trail again. He links up well with Steven Gerrard and if the club is to claim anything out of the game, Torres and Gerrard will have to be kept quiet.
WIGANER.net Prediction
Anything claimed at Anfield will be seen as fantastic and if the team that performed at Villa Park and against Chelsea turn up, anything is possible. If the performance is like Tottenham, there will only be one outcome.
LFC 2-0 WAFC