Match Preview: Liverpool vs Wigan Athletic

Five game undefeated against one of the greatest side in British football, that is to say they were. Liverpool have been on the descent for a number of years, not due to the fans, or the players or even the coaches, but due to very poor financial handling. Under the radar Latics have managed to go five games without losing to them.

This time around though things could be different. Liverpool are an evolving team, they are changing to the passing style of Brendan Rodgers, while he try's to build a team around his core players that play his style of football. Currently Liverpool do look light compared to their great names of old, yet one or two main men will still cause teams problems.

One man is leading the way for them, a man who is a bit like marmite, you either love him, or hate him. Liverpool fans love him, eleven goals (in all competitions) to his name so far this season and he is a true kopite. While a world cup injustice and a racists scandal make him a pantomime villain in so peoples eyes.

Personally I think Luis Suarez is a wonderful footballer, however he has shown he is a bit of a hot head, but who could deny a player with so much talent your recognition. Some of the things he does are world class, and he does them with relative ease a dangerous player who you want to keep an eye on.

I prayed last weekend he would get a booking (ruling him out for this weekends game) but alas it didn't come. Instead we could face one of the Premier League's in form players, against a defense who don't suit playing against his type of player. Agile and quick on the ball Gary Caldwell will need to have eyes everywhere to watch the silky Uruguayan this weekend.

But how about Wigan, how are we shaping up?

Well we will have everyone back for this weekends encounter (minus our two long term injuries of Albert Crusat and Antolin Alcaraz). Ryo Miyaichi will be a welcomed addition to the bench, the winger will give us some much needed strengthen on the bench, while we may hopefully see the return of James McArthur to the midfield.

Other niggles from the West Brom game are all cleared up. Shaun Maloney is fit to play, after pulling out of the Scotland squad with abdominal pains, while goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi, who fell over and injured his shoulder in the warm up, completed 90 minutes for Oman unscathed.

So full strength and their is much to look forward to this weekend, with both teams playing a very similar type of football and both now playing more or less the same formation. If Brendan Rodgers does shape Liverpool into the 3-4-3 for this game, then I suspect Roberto Martinez will be jumping for joy, or much experienced players should be able to take advantage of Liverpool only just adapting to playing such a way.

It will be an interesting match up, which undoubtedly will be won in the midfield. Which centeral partnership will be stronger, Latics (the two James's and Shaun Maloney) or Liverpool (Steven Gerrard, Joe Allen and Nuri Sahin). I know who my money is on, and it doesn't include the England Captain, who by his standards is in poor form. Having said that I be he plays well against us today.

It is going to be close that much is for certain and I really only see one goal separating the sides in this one, which way it will go I wouldn't like to say.