Liverpool travel to the JJB Stadium to face Chris Hutchings’ Wigan after the midweek Carling Cup win over Reading. Rafa Benitez’s side have drawn their last two Premier League matches 0-0 but will be looking for a similar result to last season’s comfortable 4-0 victory.
Wigan are without a League win in five matches and are missing former Liverpool forward Emile Heskey but will have keeper Chris Kirkland lining up against his old club.
Benitez is again expected to make wholesale changes, captain Steven Gerrard will return to midfield and replace Lucas who made his debut at Reading on Tuesday. Fernando Torres should keep his place after his great hat-trick but Peter Crouch will probably miss out to Dirk Kuyt alongside the Spaniard.
Yossi Benayoun could keep his place and Jermaine Pennant is expected to return in place of Sebastien Leto.
The Reds are without Xabi Alonso and Daniel Agger so Javier Mascherano and Sami Hyypia should return to the eleven.
Last season at the JJB
Liverpool finally picked up their first away win – in December – and did so in some style with four first half goals – two from Craig Bellamy, one for Dirk Kuyt and an own goal by Lee McCulloch.
Probable line-ups:
Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise, Pennant, Gerrard, Mascherano, Benayoun, Kuyt, Torres
Wigan: Kirkland, Melchiot, Bramble, Granqvist, Kilbane, Koumas, Brown, Skoko, Scharner, Bent, Sibierski
Premier League Fixtures
Birmingham v Man Utd, 17:15
Chelsea v Fulham
Derby v Bolton
Man City v Newcastle, 12:45
Portsmouth v Reading
Sunderland v Blackburn
West Ham v Arsenal
Wigan v Liverpool
Everton v Middlesbrough (Sun 4pm)
Tottenham v Aston Villa (Mon 8pm)
Pre Match Discussion
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