Saturday, September 26, 2009

Premier League Preview: Liverpool vs. Hull City

Three weeks into the season, some quarters of the press were on the verge of writing off Liverpool's title chances altogether. Losses to Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa had highlighted what many deemed to be glaring weaknesses in Rafael Benitez's squad, with Xabi Alonso's absence singled out as the key missing ingredient.

Now, with five consecutive victories under their belts in all competitions, the Reds have hushed a few of their more vocal critics. Tuesday's League Cup win over Leeds United may not have been pretty – and the 1-0 scoreline hardly encouraging, on face value – but it sends the Mersey men into the weekend as confident as ever in their ability to deal with less-fancied opponents.

Even more than the result at Elland Road, the 4-0 home wins over Stoke City and Burnley underline a marked change from the Liverpool of previous seasons. Whereas frustrating draws were once the order of the day when facing the underdogs, now the Anfield giants have become that most dangerous of prospects: the flat-track bully. It is in just such a mode that Manchester United have claimed the last three Premier League crowns.

Hull City were among those teams that troubled 'Pool on their own patch last term, only a classic Steven Gerrard rescue job denying the Tigers all three points. The newly promoted side were flying at that point, threatening to snag the most unlikely of European places; but it is under different circumstances that they return to Merseyside.

Phil Brown is well and truly under the pump following the 4-0 league Cup defeat to Everton in midweek, forcing club chairman Paul Duffen to come out and throw his support behind a manager whose charges have won just two league games since the turn of the year. While a result this weekend is a tall order, fans are sure to scrutinise the overall performance closely.

Hull currently sit second from bottom with four points from six games, while Liverpool are third, six points behind leaders Chelsea.


FORM GUIDE

Liverpool

Sep 22: Leeds United 0-1 Liverpool
Sep 19: West Ham United 2-3 Liverpool
Sep 16: Liverpool 1-0 Debrecen
Sep 12: Liverpool 1-0 Burnley
Aug 29: Bolton Wanderers 2-3 Liverpool

Hull City

Sep 23: Hull City 0-4 Everton
Sep 19: Hull City 0-1 Birmingham City
Sep 12: Sunderland 4-1 Hull City
Aug 29: Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-1 Hull City
Aug 22: Hull City 1-0 Bolton Wanderers


TEAM NEWS

Liverpool

Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Martin Skrtel, Dirk Kuyt, Yossi Benayoun and Lucas Leiva are all expected to return to the first XI, having been rested for the Leeds clash.

Fit-again Fabio Aurelio could usurp Emiliano Insua at left-back, although the versatile Brazilian featured – and impressed – in midfield against the Whites on his first start of the season.

Daniel Agger (back) and Alberto Aquilani (ankle) remain sidelined.

Possible Starting XI: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio, Kuyt, Mascherano, Lucas, Benayoun, Gerrard, Torres.

Hull City

George Boateng only lasted 45 minutes on his return from injury in midweek, and it remains to be seen whether the Dutch veteran will be included on Saturday.

The inexperienced trio of Liam Cooper, Tom Cairney and Nick Featherstone will hope to get another chance to shine, while Craig Fagan could return after a spell on the pine.

Ian Ashbee and Anthony Gardner are out with knee injuries, alongside Jimmy Bullard, who is reportedly around four weeks away from a return. Steven Mouyokolo has a hamstring problem.

Possible Starting XI: Myhill, Dawson, Sonko, Zayatte, McShane, Kilbane, Hunt, Olofinjana, Geovanni, Vennegoor of Hesselink, Ghilas.


PLAYERS TO WATCH

Liverpool - Yossi Benayoun

The little Israeli tore Hull to shreds when he visited the KC Stadium towards the end of last season. Presently in career-best form, the jinking genius will no doubt be looking forward to the prospect of bamboozling a defence still at odds after the departure of Michael Turner to Sunderland.

Hull City - Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink

As imposing as his name is bizarre, new boy Vennegoor of Hesselink brings with him an impressive CV that boasts of success with PSV Eindhoven, Celtic and the Dutch national team. The tall targetman could pose problems for a defence that looked less than cohesive at West Ham last week.

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