This key contest could be the pick of the weekend’s fixtures and the outcome will go a long way to shaping Wigan and Liverpool’s respective seasons.
Wigan are in 16th place on goal difference and Roberto Martinez’s men will be eager to put some light between themselves and the drop zone.
Liverpool meanwhile, are eight points off a guaranteed European spot and they will go to the WD stadium for this late kick-off (5:30pm) looking to kick on.
FORM
Both sides come into this game off the back of convincing wins but the form book tells a different story. Wigan’s 3-0 victory over Reading was their first win of 2013, while an excellent Liverpool destroyed Swansea 5-0 in a second half blitz to help them recover from losing to West Brom a week earlier.
Wigan have conceded more home goals than any other side this season but Liverpool’s away form won’t strike fear into the Latics faithful. Away from Anfield, they have just three wins this season.
TEAMS
Wigan: Al Habsi, Scharner, Caldwell, Figueroa, Boyce, McCarthy, McArthur, Beausejour, Kone, Di Santo, Maloney. Subs: Robles, Alcaraz, Henriquez, Gomez, McManaman, Espinoza, Stam.
Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Jose Enrique, Gerrard, Lucas, Allen, Downing, Suarez, Coutinho. Subs: Gulacsi, Assaidi, Henderson, Coates, Fernandez Saez, Shelvey, Wisdom.
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
The Sturridge/Luis Suarez partnership continues to grow and neither team has problems when it comes to scoring goals. Suarez is the league’s second top scorer after Robin Van Persie, and at the other end Arouna Kone has scored 10 goals in his 24 appearances for Wigan.
If James McCarthy and James McArthur can control the game from the middle, expect Wigan to be in with a shout.
BETTING NEWS
A tough game to call so let’s go for a draw at 11/4.
