Liverpool - Wigan Preview: Reds chase third win of season to extend unbeaten run to seven

Roberto Martinez was nearly appointed Anfield manager over the summer, and will be hoping for a repeat of last season's famous win, with the Merseysiders in decent form

By Theo Squires

PROBABLE LINEUPS

LIVERPOOL ReinaWisdom, Skrtel, Agger, Johnson Gerrard, Allen, Sahin Suso, Suarez, Sterling

WIGAN    Al-Habsi Ramis, Caldwell, Figueroa Boyce, Watson, McCarthy, Beausejour Maloney Kone, Di Santo

Brendan Rodgers has a selection headache ahead of Liverpool's game at home to Wigan on Saturday with Pepe Reina pushing for a recall in goal in place of Brad Jones after recovering from a hamstring problem.

Jonjo Shelvey (knee) and Martin Skrtel (virus) should return after missing last weekend's trip to Stamford Bridge, while Daniel Agger is confident of overcoming a groin strain to play, after pulling out of the Denmark squad in midweek.

Fabio Borini (foot) and Martin Kelly (knee) both remain absent for the Reds, and the game will come too soon for Lucas Leiva (thigh) after he returned to training earlier this week.

Wigan hope to welcome back on loan Arsenal winger Ryo Miyaichi ahead of their trip to Anfield following a groin injury, but James McArthur (thigh) remains doubtful.

Ali Al-Habsi is fit, despite concerns over a shoulder injury he picked up against West Brom, after playing for Oman during the week, as Roberto Martinez is expected to name an unchaged side for the third Premier League game in a row.

Antolin Alcaraz (groin) and Albert Crusat (knee) both remain long-term absentees for the Latics.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Liverpool have failed to beat Wigan in each of their last five meetings, with their last win coming on 16 December 2009.

• Luis Suarez has scored eight Premier League goals so far this season. He did not reach that tally until April last year.

• The Uruguayan has either scored or assisted 11 of Liverpool's 14 goals in the League this season, and has scored in each of his last four games.

• Roberto Martinez's side's victory over the Reds at Anfield last season was Wigan's first ever away win against Liverpool.

• Shaun Maloney scored his first goal for the Latics in the fixture last season. It was his first goal in English football since Boxing Day 2007.

• Arouna Kone (pictured right) was a member of the PSV side that faced Liverpool four times in the 2006-07 Champions League season. Kone featured in three of the games as the Dutch side lost three and drew one.

• The referee for Saturday's game is Kevin Friend. He took charge of this fixture back in 2010-11 when Raul Meireles' opener for the Reds were cancelled out by Steve Gohouri.