Liverpool preview

A big game ahead this weekend as we seek to take the confidence from Thursday's UEFA victory into the Premier League and banish last weeks defeat at Wigan.

Liverpool is never an easy fixture and even moreso given their impressive start to the season. On their travels they are yet to concede on their travels and are right up with the leading pack (with Mark Hughes labelling them as genuine title contenders), conversely whilst we have hit 15 goals in our last 5 home games.

Rafa Benitez has also seen a good start in the Champions League and appears less prone to the rotation policy that has been so criticised in previous seasons - something that probably cost them, particularly at the beginning of the Premier League campaigns.

It should result in a good battle between our attack minded midfield and Liverpool's tight defence, whilst our defence needs to be on top form against Fernando Torres - who, as I blogged over at Football Rants, is the real difference maker for this Liverpool side and their title ambitions.

Our defence does concern me at times though and the Dunne-Richards partnership is struggling to regain the form shown at the beginning of last season, and the in-form Spaniard (not to mention Robbie Keane) will provide a stiff test.

Vincent Kompany will have a big job on his hands with Steven Gerrard and I do wonder if Mark Hughes may be tempted to draft in Gelson or Didi Hamman to provide additional support. I still don't see room for Martin Petrov and think he will have to be content on the bench.

I don't see many goals in this game and historically one goal has usually settled matters in the contest, and although it wouldn't surprise me if that was the case once again, I'm going for a 1-1 draw.