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Premier League Preview: Wigan Athletic - Liverpool
Luckless Latics look to break dry run as Rafa's Reds come to town...
| Bet: | Returns: | Liverpool £12.00 | Draw £55.00 | Brighton £120.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Liverpool £12.20 | Draw £50.00 | Brighton £100.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Liverpool £12.86 | Draw £50.00 | Brighton £120.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Liverpool £12.50 | Draw £55.00 | Brighton £120.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Liverpool £12.30 | Draw £54.00 | Brighton £97.00 |
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7 Mar 2010 21:28:00
By Mick Maguire
Kick-off: Monday, March 8, 2010 - 20:00 GMT
DW Stadium, Wigan
Liverpool take a short trip to Greater Manchester on Monday night to tackle a Wigan Athletic side desperate to keep their heads above the waterline in the Premier League.
Roberto Martinez's men flitted between wonderful and woeful in the first half of the season, but it has been mostly the latter for the Latics since the turn of the year.
The Dave Whelan-owned team are in the midst of a nine-game winless streak across all competitions - their last victory having come against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the middle of January.
Last weekend's defeat to Birmingham City has left Wigan in 16th place, dangling just one point above the drop zone, meaning the DW faithful will be hoping against hope for some sort of result when the giants of Merseyside come to visit.
Liverpool have picked up their game in recent times and are well and truly in the hunt for Champions League football, albeit with strong competition from Aston Villa, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.
The Reds currently sit sixth in the table, one point off fourth spot, but that position doesn't do justice to their vast improvement in 2010; indeed, they have lost just once - at Arsenal - in their last 10 league outings.
The Anfield outfit have only strengthened over the last month with a slew of key players returning from injury, and that fact has not been lost on manager Rafael Benitez.
The Spaniard said recently: "Because of the injury situation we couldn't change too many players this season and some players have played too many games because we couldn't give them a rest.
"We have had to manage in a different way but I still think we can be strong as usual in the second half of the season."
FORM GUIDE
Wigan Athletic
Feb 27: Birmingham City 1-0 Wigan Athletic
Feb 21: Wigan Athletic 0-3 Tottenham Hotspur
Feb 17: Wigan Athletic 0-0 Bolton Wanderers
Feb 9: Wigan Athletic 1-1 Stoke City
Feb 6: Sunderland 1-1 Wigan Athletic
Liverpool
Feb 28: Liverpool 2-1 Blackburn Rovers
Feb 25: Unirea Urziceni 1-3 Liverpool (Europa League)
Feb 21: Manchester City 0-0 Liverpool
Feb 18: Liverpool 1-0 Unirea Urziceni (Europa League)
Feb 10: Arsenal 1-0 Liverpool
TEAM NEWS
Wigan Athletic
Martinez has an all but full squad to work with, although both Charles N'Zogbia (knee) and Paul Scharner (groin) will have to pass late fitness tests.
Steve Gohouri is the only real concern, as the Ivorian defender is still struggling with a back injury.
Last starting XI (vs. Birmingham City): Kirkland, Melchiot, Bramble, Caldwell, Figueroa, N'Zogbia, Diame, Thomas, Scharner, McCarthy, Rodallega.
Liverpool
Glen Johnson is expected to make his long-awaited return to the field of play, having been out of action since December with ligament damage in his knee.
Daniel Agger has shrugged off a knock picked up against Blackburn and Sotirios Kyrgiakos returns from a three-match ban, while Martin Skrtel and Fabio Aurelio are both out injured.
Last starting XI (vs. Blackburn Rovers): Reina, Mascherano, Carragher, Agger, Aurelio, Maxi, Gerrard, Lucas, Benayoun, Kuyt, Torres.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Wigan Athletic - Charles N'Zogbia
Whether he plays right or left, the Frenchman is undeniably the Latics' key creator. With his personal highlight reel expanding week by week, this is one player who could cause problems - especially given the Reds' lack of stability in the full-back positions.
Liverpool - Yossi Benayoun
The Israeli playmaker is an expert when it comes to opening up an opponent's defence, whether it be highly organised or simply flooded with bodies. He also has a knack for finding the net against Wigan, so the hosts had better try to keep him on a short leash.
PREDICTION
Wigan Athletic 0-1 Liverpool
DW Stadium, Wigan
Liverpool take a short trip to Greater Manchester on Monday night to tackle a Wigan Athletic side desperate to keep their heads above the waterline in the Premier League.
Roberto Martinez's men flitted between wonderful and woeful in the first half of the season, but it has been mostly the latter for the Latics since the turn of the year.
The Dave Whelan-owned team are in the midst of a nine-game winless streak across all competitions - their last victory having come against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the middle of January.
Last weekend's defeat to Birmingham City has left Wigan in 16th place, dangling just one point above the drop zone, meaning the DW faithful will be hoping against hope for some sort of result when the giants of Merseyside come to visit.
Liverpool have picked up their game in recent times and are well and truly in the hunt for Champions League football, albeit with strong competition from Aston Villa, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.
The Reds currently sit sixth in the table, one point off fourth spot, but that position doesn't do justice to their vast improvement in 2010; indeed, they have lost just once - at Arsenal - in their last 10 league outings.
The Anfield outfit have only strengthened over the last month with a slew of key players returning from injury, and that fact has not been lost on manager Rafael Benitez.
The Spaniard said recently: "Because of the injury situation we couldn't change too many players this season and some players have played too many games because we couldn't give them a rest.
"We have had to manage in a different way but I still think we can be strong as usual in the second half of the season."
FORM GUIDE
Wigan Athletic
Feb 27: Birmingham City 1-0 Wigan Athletic
Feb 21: Wigan Athletic 0-3 Tottenham Hotspur
Feb 17: Wigan Athletic 0-0 Bolton Wanderers
Feb 9: Wigan Athletic 1-1 Stoke City
Feb 6: Sunderland 1-1 Wigan Athletic
Liverpool
Feb 28: Liverpool 2-1 Blackburn Rovers
Feb 25: Unirea Urziceni 1-3 Liverpool (Europa League)
Feb 21: Manchester City 0-0 Liverpool
Feb 18: Liverpool 1-0 Unirea Urziceni (Europa League)
Feb 10: Arsenal 1-0 Liverpool
TEAM NEWS
Wigan Athletic
Martinez has an all but full squad to work with, although both Charles N'Zogbia (knee) and Paul Scharner (groin) will have to pass late fitness tests.
Steve Gohouri is the only real concern, as the Ivorian defender is still struggling with a back injury.
Last starting XI (vs. Birmingham City): Kirkland, Melchiot, Bramble, Caldwell, Figueroa, N'Zogbia, Diame, Thomas, Scharner, McCarthy, Rodallega.
Liverpool
Glen Johnson is expected to make his long-awaited return to the field of play, having been out of action since December with ligament damage in his knee.
Daniel Agger has shrugged off a knock picked up against Blackburn and Sotirios Kyrgiakos returns from a three-match ban, while Martin Skrtel and Fabio Aurelio are both out injured.
Last starting XI (vs. Blackburn Rovers): Reina, Mascherano, Carragher, Agger, Aurelio, Maxi, Gerrard, Lucas, Benayoun, Kuyt, Torres.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Wigan Athletic - Charles N'Zogbia
Whether he plays right or left, the Frenchman is undeniably the Latics' key creator. With his personal highlight reel expanding week by week, this is one player who could cause problems - especially given the Reds' lack of stability in the full-back positions.
Liverpool - Yossi Benayoun
The Israeli playmaker is an expert when it comes to opening up an opponent's defence, whether it be highly organised or simply flooded with bodies. He also has a knack for finding the net against Wigan, so the hosts had better try to keep him on a short leash.
PREDICTION
Wigan Athletic 0-1 Liverpool
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