Liverpool V Wigan

Not so much that Rafa Benitez will be worried about Wigan as he will the Indian hoodoo that is Steve Bruce, but will that hoodoo be broken today? Fernando Torres and Ryan Babel are out for a start so that's an omen that may work in Latics favour.

That said, Latics have come so far in their four year stint in the Premier League that nobody should think of a game against the Latics as a potential three pointer though I'm sure most clubs would think of it as thus and its always nice when Latics spring a nasty surprise on them.

Anfield is such a tough place to go and get a result so I'm not going to be too distressed if we don't get the result we so require but one has to remain optimistic and Anfield is a place where a result is achievable but will they fall at the hands of Steve Bruce, Liverpool? After two weeks ago with Jeff Stelling's Soccer Saturday, I'm not sure the old ticker could tolerate that again so I'm going to wait until 1700 hrs until I tune in again.

Good news for Latics fans is that Amr Zaki is fit (lets hope he's fit enough this time because at Middlesbrough, it was plainly obvious he wasn't despite him giving 100% to the cause.) If Emile Heskey is fit, too, that's potent enough strike force to be doing with and should cause Liverpool problems.

Another thing acting in favour of the Latics is the goal-shy antics of Robbie Keane and Dirk Kuyt. Could this be the day the goal shy duo finally open their account, or will the infamous Stevie G pull off a masterstroke? All the things that make football exciting is the expected and the unexpected, so lets hope for the unexpected and that Latics get something from this match and that Titus has got his shooting boots on again. What a goal last year from Titus Bramble that secured a memorable point. He'll be a historical player for that reason alone, Titus Bramble.

With rumours of players being linked with Liverpool and if such is their desire to go they will want to put on a good show, most notably Emile Heskey and Luis Valencia. Maybe even Wilson Palacios, too. I for one hope they stay but the good news is if they go it won't be on the cheap, but at a high premium.

POSSIBLE STARTING LINE UP

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KIRKLAND

ELCHIOT

RAMBLE

OYCE

IGUEROA

OUMAS

ATTERMOLE

ALACIOS

ALENCIA

ESKEY

AKI

ROB'S PREDICTION

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This is a really tough game to predict so I'm going for this result today:

Liverpool 0 Wigan 0

Just got a feeling this could be a very physical contest with nothing to show at the end of it all.

ROB'S FINAL NOTE

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Wigan have Aston Villa at home next - can we win that game? We need to get something to progress up the table and if we got something at Anfield today, terrific!

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