Barclays Premier League
Venue: DW Stadium Date: Monday, 8 March 2010 Kick-off: 2000 GMT
Coverage: Live on ESPN, BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 Live and local radio including full commentary on BBC Radio Merseyside 95.8 FM, 1485 MW and DAB
TEAM NEWS
**Wigan look set to hand Victor Moses his first start after a series of impressive displays off the bench.**Charles N’Zogbia (knee) and Paul Scharner (groin) face late fitness tests but are expected to play.
Liverpool will be without Fabio Aurelio after he was ruled out for three weeks with a thigh injury.
The Reds are hopeful that Daniel Agger will be fit despite the defender leaving Anfield on crutches last Sunday after bruising a bone in his knee.
Wigan
Doubtful: N’Zogbia (knee), Scharner (groin) Injured: Gohouri (back)
Liverpool
Doubtful: Agger (knee)
Injured: Aurelio (thigh), Johnson (knee), Skrtel (metatarsal)
MATCH PREVIEW
When Liverpool battled back to beat Wigan in December after a run of six league games without a win it looked like they may have stopped the rot and taken the heat off manager Rafael Benitez.
“Manchester City, Tottenham and Aston Villa will be very dangerous so we cannot make many mistakes”
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez
They then promptly lost to rock bottom Portsmouth the very next week and their prospects of finishing fourth looked like pie in the sky.
But quietly, efficiently, and certainly without excitement they have lost just one league game since that dark day at Fratton Park and now sit just a point behind the final Champions League qualification spot.
And they will be licking their lips in anticipation at facing a side they have never lost to and who have only won one of their last 13 in the league.
The Latics are in freefall and fears are growing that unless they arrest their slump in form their five-year tenure in the Premier League may be coming to an end.
What this game seems destined not to promise is goals. Wigan are scoreless in their last three matches and Liverpool have failed to find the back of the net in five of their last seven Premier League away games, including the last three in a row. A 0-0 draw at 11-1 looks a bet worth taking.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• Liverpool have never lost to Wigan, winning nine of their 11 league and cup encounters.
• The Reds have scored one goal in each of their last two visits to the DW Stadium, both courtesy of Yossi Benayoun.
• Javier Mascherano and Hendry Thomas have put in the joint highest amount of tackles in the league this season (127).
606: DEBATE
Have your say on Monday’s match
Wigan
• Wigan are winless in seven league games and their only victory in 13 matches was against Wolves on 16 January.
• The Latics have only been caught offside 36 times in the league this season, the lowest total in the top flight.
• Roberto Martinez’s side have conceded more headed goals (12) than any other team in the league.
Liverpool
• Liverpool haven’t conceded a first-half goal in ten league games since losing 2-0 at Portsmouth during December.
• The Reds have failed to score in five of their last seven Premier League away games, including the last three in a row.
• Dirk Kuyt has scored five goals in five league starts against Wigan.
LEADING GOALSCORERS
Wigan
Rodallega: 7 goals (7 league); N’Zogbia: 6 goals (4 league)
Liverpool
Torres: 13 goals (13 league); Kuyt: 10 goals (9 league)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Andre Marriner
Assistant referees: Patrick Keane & Nigel Bannister
Fourth official: Phil Dowd
LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS
**Wigan **(L0-1 v Birmingham, a): Kirkland, Melchiot, Caldwell, Bramble, Figueroa, Thomas, Scharner (Scotland 46), Diame, McCarthy (Gomez 84), N’Zogbia (Moses 46), Rodallega. Subs Not Used: Stojkovic, Sinclair, Boyce, Moreno.
Liverpool (W2-1 v Blackburn, h): Reina, Mascherano, Carragher, Agger, Aurelio (Insua 38), Benayoun (Babel 81), Gerrard, Lucas, Maxi, Kuyt, Torres (Ngog 89). Subs Not Used: Cavalieri, Aquilani, Kelly, Ayala.
MOST RECENT MEETING
Liverpool 2-1 Wigan (16 December 2009)
Liverpool scorers: Ngog 9, Torres 79
Wigan scorer: N’Zogbia 90