Premier League
Saturday 17th November 2012
Pre match preview
Liverpool FC v Wigan Athletic
With last weekends draw to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge being seen as a success, especially with Liverpool's habit of having lots of possession, nice football but not converting chances and Chelsea's calibre of footballers - Liverpool FC really need to get a win against Wigan at Anfield and begin to climb the Premier League table.
As mentioned above, Liverpool's problem is not the possession or the quality of the football being played its just their conversion rate. Luis Suarez is the top scorer in the league at the moment but even he doesn't take all his chances and therefore can't carry the team all of the time. If Suarez and co can be more clinical this Saturday then the goals with flow gaining them the 3 points they so desperately need.
Wigan are a team who seem to do the same thing every season - begin the campaign looking dangerous, have a serious slump in results that then put them in the end of season relegation battle and then they pull some fantastic performances out of the bag to survive and see another season in the Premier League.
That isn't to say that Wigan aren't to be taken seriously - because we have seen first hand that with the calibre of players they have, they are able to hurt teams and win games.
Throughout the match, every player will have to battle to help their side in a fixture that has thrown up some surprises over the last few seasons - none more than Wigan's 2-1 near the end of last season.
Key Players and battles to watch out for:
Ali AL Habsi v Brad Jones ... Both of these goalkeepers have proved that they are some of the best in the Premier League at the moment but who will come out on top come the final whistle? Ali Al Habsi is famous for making some of the most fantastic saves you will see come the weekend but sometimes his defenders cause him to seem a little weary and with Luis Suarez troubling Wigan's defence that could cause Habsi some problems. Since Brad Jones has come in for the injured Pepe Reina, he has done fantastically well, not conceding many goals, making phenomenal saves and saving Liverpool on several occassions - he really is staking his claim on the Liverpool goal.
Verdict: Brad Jones will edge this one.
Wigan defenders v Luis Suarez and Raheem Sterling ... This is going to be one of the key areas to watch during this game. With Suarez and Sterling being in the form they are, and if Liverpool keep possession and give the ball to these two wizards as much as they can then the Wigan defence will have a torrid time. I don't think they will get a break during the game as Liverpool will be constantly at them.
Verdict: Luis Suarez and Raheem Sterling should win this battle.
Liverpool defenders v Arouna Kone and Jordi Gomez ... These two will be Wigan's go too men. Both extremely talented, on form and dangerous on their day and if Wigan get momentum and play well they could punish us.
Verdict: Liverpool's defence and goalkeeper will have to watch these two to keep them at bay.
Probable team selection for Liverpool FC:
LFC - Jones, Skrtel, Agger, Wisdom, Johnson, Gerrard, Allen, Sahin, Sterling, Suso, Suarez. (Subs: Gulasci, Carragher, Downing, Assaidi, Henderson, Coates, Cole)
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