Wigan’s very recent path to success means there is little history between these two sides, but two former Liverpool players – Emile Heskey and Chris Kirkland – will return to Anfield seeking to make a solid start to 2008 on familiar ground.
However, Wigan know that getting a result on Wednesday will be a tall order – they have yet to earn so much as a draw against the Reds in their entire history.
"When you got a place like Anfield, you need to be at your best to get something and it's always a massive occasion for any club to visit there,” said new Latics boss Steve Bruce.
“To get something at Anfield would be a great achievement. We will go there full of confidence and approach the game in the same way as we would any other,” added the former United player, who has a 0-0 draw at Liverpool this season as manager of Birmingham.
Saturday’s defeat to Aston Villa was a major disappointment for Wigan, who threw away a 1-0 lead and brought to an end a streak of seven points from nine. But the bigger picture, however, is just two wins in 17. The Latics once again find themselves in the relegation zone. They’ll be keen to clamber out as soon as possible, but is Anfield really the place to do it?
Despite what much of the media have claimed, Sunday’s 0-0 draw at Manchester City wasn’t a bad result: United lost at Eastlands and only Blackburn have matched Liverpool’s feat of a point so far this season. However, the fact remains that the gap to league leaders Arsenal is now two points greater than it was heading into the weekend. Time is slowly but surely running out for Liverpool’s title challenge.
As has often been the case this season, Rafa Benítez’ side have failed to convert pressure and chances into goals when it matters most: comfortable wins are great morale boosters, but a couple of sly 1-0’s yield more points than a 4-0 thrashing followed by a scoreless draw.
City defended well, but – more so than any of their title rivals – those were two points Liverpool could not afford to drop. Anything other than three points against lowly Wigan and the Anfield faithful must resign themselves to yet another season without the league championship.
The pressure is particularly on strikers Kuyt, Voronin and Crouch to start pulling their weight: the trio notched a paltry one goal between them in all competitions in December, and even that was hardly a key strike (Kuyt scored the third in the 4-0 win at Marseille).
As great as Fernando Torres is, Liverpool cannot keep relying on him to score the important goal in every game. Wednesday, against a Wigan side with just one clean sheet in 18 games, would be a fine time for Liverpool’s other forwards to rediscover their goalscoring form and begin justifying their place in the squad.
FORM GUIDE
Liverpool
Match Result Date Championship
Manchester City - Liverpool 0 - 0 30/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Derby - Liverpool 1 - 2 26/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Liverpool - Portsmouth 4 - 1 22/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Chelsea - Liverpool 2 - 0 19/12/2007 CARLING CUP
Liverpool - Man Utd. 0 - 1 16/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Marseille - Liverpool 0 - 4 11/12/2007 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Wigan
Match Result Date Championship
Wigan Athletic - Aston Villa 1 - 2 29/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Wigan Athletic - Newcastle 1 - 0 26/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Fulham - Wigan Athletic 1 - 1 22/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Wigan Athletic - Blackburn 5 - 3 15/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Bolton - Wigan Athletic 4 - 1 09/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Wigan Athletic - Manchester City 1 - 1 01/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
TEAM NEWS
Liverpool
Peter Crouch has completed his three-match ban and is available for selection. The news is less positive in defence, however, as Sami Hyypia’s ankle continues to bother him and Daniel Agger is still not fit. Benítez will probably select Arbeloa over Hobbs at centre-back, but may rotate his midfield and forwards once more. Torres will probably start, but it remains to be seen whether Crouch or Voronin get the nod over Kuyt.
Likely XI (4-4-2): Reina – Finnan, Carragher, Arbeloa, Riise – Babel, Gerrard, Alonso, Aurélio – Torres, Voronin
Wigan
Emile Heskey resumed training on Monday and could be recalled against his old club. Jason Koumas is also available having recovered from a groin strain. Sibierski and Taylor respectively will probably make way for the duo.
Likely XI (4-4-2): Kirkland – Melchiot, Scharner, Bramble, Kilbane – Valencia, Brown, Landzaat, Koumas – Bent, Heskey
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Liverpool – Andriy Voronin (pictured)
Fernando Torres will no doubt be keen to return to goalscoring ways at Anfield on Wednesday, but it is Liverpool’s other strikers who really need goals at the moment. Voronin has failed to set Merseyside alight since arriving from Leverkusen, netting just four times and not since October’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham. 2008’s first game gives the Ukrainian a chance to make a fresh start.
Wigan – Chris Kirkland
All eyes will be on Emile Heskey as he makes his Anfield return, but it is Chris Kirkland, another former Liverpool man, who will be of the greatest importance to the Latics. Blighted by injury, the goalkeeper was granted insufficient chances to make an impression in front of the Kop. A clean sheet on Wednesday would show the Reds exactly what talents they’ve thrown away.
However, Wigan know that getting a result on Wednesday will be a tall order – they have yet to earn so much as a draw against the Reds in their entire history.
"When you got a place like Anfield, you need to be at your best to get something and it's always a massive occasion for any club to visit there,” said new Latics boss Steve Bruce.
“To get something at Anfield would be a great achievement. We will go there full of confidence and approach the game in the same way as we would any other,” added the former United player, who has a 0-0 draw at Liverpool this season as manager of Birmingham.
Saturday’s defeat to Aston Villa was a major disappointment for Wigan, who threw away a 1-0 lead and brought to an end a streak of seven points from nine. But the bigger picture, however, is just two wins in 17. The Latics once again find themselves in the relegation zone. They’ll be keen to clamber out as soon as possible, but is Anfield really the place to do it?
Despite what much of the media have claimed, Sunday’s 0-0 draw at Manchester City wasn’t a bad result: United lost at Eastlands and only Blackburn have matched Liverpool’s feat of a point so far this season. However, the fact remains that the gap to league leaders Arsenal is now two points greater than it was heading into the weekend. Time is slowly but surely running out for Liverpool’s title challenge.
As has often been the case this season, Rafa Benítez’ side have failed to convert pressure and chances into goals when it matters most: comfortable wins are great morale boosters, but a couple of sly 1-0’s yield more points than a 4-0 thrashing followed by a scoreless draw.
City defended well, but – more so than any of their title rivals – those were two points Liverpool could not afford to drop. Anything other than three points against lowly Wigan and the Anfield faithful must resign themselves to yet another season without the league championship.
The pressure is particularly on strikers Kuyt, Voronin and Crouch to start pulling their weight: the trio notched a paltry one goal between them in all competitions in December, and even that was hardly a key strike (Kuyt scored the third in the 4-0 win at Marseille).
As great as Fernando Torres is, Liverpool cannot keep relying on him to score the important goal in every game. Wednesday, against a Wigan side with just one clean sheet in 18 games, would be a fine time for Liverpool’s other forwards to rediscover their goalscoring form and begin justifying their place in the squad.
FORM GUIDE
Liverpool
Match Result Date Championship
Manchester City - Liverpool 0 - 0 30/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Derby - Liverpool 1 - 2 26/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Liverpool - Portsmouth 4 - 1 22/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Chelsea - Liverpool 2 - 0 19/12/2007 CARLING CUP
Liverpool - Man Utd. 0 - 1 16/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Marseille - Liverpool 0 - 4 11/12/2007 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Wigan
Match Result Date Championship
Wigan Athletic - Aston Villa 1 - 2 29/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Wigan Athletic - Newcastle 1 - 0 26/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Fulham - Wigan Athletic 1 - 1 22/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Wigan Athletic - Blackburn 5 - 3 15/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Bolton - Wigan Athletic 4 - 1 09/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Wigan Athletic - Manchester City 1 - 1 01/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
TEAM NEWS
Liverpool
Peter Crouch has completed his three-match ban and is available for selection. The news is less positive in defence, however, as Sami Hyypia’s ankle continues to bother him and Daniel Agger is still not fit. Benítez will probably select Arbeloa over Hobbs at centre-back, but may rotate his midfield and forwards once more. Torres will probably start, but it remains to be seen whether Crouch or Voronin get the nod over Kuyt.
Likely XI (4-4-2): Reina – Finnan, Carragher, Arbeloa, Riise – Babel, Gerrard, Alonso, Aurélio – Torres, Voronin
Wigan
Emile Heskey resumed training on Monday and could be recalled against his old club. Jason Koumas is also available having recovered from a groin strain. Sibierski and Taylor respectively will probably make way for the duo.
Likely XI (4-4-2): Kirkland – Melchiot, Scharner, Bramble, Kilbane – Valencia, Brown, Landzaat, Koumas – Bent, Heskey
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Liverpool – Andriy Voronin (pictured)
Fernando Torres will no doubt be keen to return to goalscoring ways at Anfield on Wednesday, but it is Liverpool’s other strikers who really need goals at the moment. Voronin has failed to set Merseyside alight since arriving from Leverkusen, netting just four times and not since October’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham. 2008’s first game gives the Ukrainian a chance to make a fresh start.
Wigan – Chris Kirkland
All eyes will be on Emile Heskey as he makes his Anfield return, but it is Chris Kirkland, another former Liverpool man, who will be of the greatest importance to the Latics. Blighted by injury, the goalkeeper was granted insufficient chances to make an impression in front of the Kop. A clean sheet on Wednesday would show the Reds exactly what talents they’ve thrown away.
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