Midfielder Joe Cole serves the second game of a three-match ban.

West Brom will be without defender Marek Cech for at least three weeks with a fractured metatarsal.

Midfielder Jerome Thomas, defender Joe Mattock and striker Ishmael Miller will all miss the trip to Anfield through injury.

Roberto di Matteo wasn’t even born the last time West Bromwich Albion won at Anfield, but the Midlands club may never get a better chance to end that sequence.

Baggies fans have to go all the way back to 1967 for their last success at Liverpool, a run of 23 games. But they head to Merseyside to face a team in transition. The Reds are still looking for their first Premier League win under Roy Hodgson and have not won in the league since beating Burnley 4-0 in April.

It is clear where Liverpool’s biggest problem lies. They have managed only nine shots on target in the league so far this season, with five of those coming from David N’Gog. Fernando Torres is struggling for fitness and form and has not found the net in 462 minutes for club and country, a run of 10 games. And with chief creators Joe Cole suspended and Steven Gerrard battling to overcome a back injury, it is a problem with no obvious solution.

West Brom got their Premier League campaign up and running with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Sunderland. Their attention now turns to improving their record on the road – they have not won a top-flight game away from the Hawthorns in 17 attempts.

City faced a stern test of their ability against Tottenham on the opening day, and despite having to thank goalkeeper Joe Hart for a stunning first half display, they weathered the storm to claim a goalless draw from White Hart Lane.

Liverpool meanwhile had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Arsenal in their opener at Anfield, where they took the lead following debutant Joe Cole’s dismissal thanks to David N’Gog.

However they were undone by the usually unflappable Pepe Reina’s fumble to concede an own goal in the final minute of normal time, marring what was a positive showing in Roy Hodgson’s first real test in charge.

City have certainly demonstrated their spending power in the market this summer, outspending every other club in world football to try and deliver a challenge for the Premier League title.

The likes of David Silva, Aleksandr Kolarov, Yaya Toure were all involved against Spurs, but manager Roberto Mancini has even more debuts to hand out, as well as how to accommodate high-profile squad players such as Jo, Robinho and Roque Santa Cruz.

Last season both fixtures resulted in draws, with the latter game at the City of Manchester Stadium proving to be highly uninspiring between two teams seemingly more concerned about losing the match rather than winning.

Times have changed however; Mancini has a plethora of talent to choose from now in attacking areas, whilst Hodgson appeared to adopt a more attacking mindset against Arsenal than his predecessor Rafa Benitez would have done.

The Italian coach has arguably his biggest problem in selecting a consistent team, but he may switch to a more defensive outlook with Toure, Nigel De Jong and Gareth Barry in central midfield.

He does however have the added bonus of possibly handing his latest acquisitions James Milner and Mario Balotelli their Premier League debuts.

Milner finally arrived from Aston Villa to provide even more competition on the wings, whilst Balotelli score City’s winner against Timisoara in the Europa League.

The Italian striker however is struggling with a knee injury, despite declaring he would be fit, but Milner is set to start.

Kolarov will sit out the encounter with an ankle injury whilst other new signing Jerome Boateng is still out with a knee problem.

Hart is expected to keep his place in goal after keeping two clean sheets, which will add further speculation over the future of former number one Shay Given.

Liverpool will make the trip without Joe Cole available due to him beginning a three-match ban after his sending off against Arsenal.

Hodgson may opt to start Steven Gerrard in Cole’s advanced midfield position after loaning £20million midfielder Alberto Aquilani to Juventus after just one season at the club.

Christian Poulsen is likely to make his debut in the centre of midfield alongside Javier Mascherano, who has recovered from a knock against the Gunners.

Daniel Agger is still struggling however after suffering a serious concussion in the same match and may not feature.

Martin Skrtel, Dirk Kuyt and Glen Johnson are all likely to return after being left out of the Reds’ Europa League tie against Trabzonspor.

N’Gog on the other hand may not feature due to the return to fitness of star striker and former City target Fernando Torres, who is pushing to start his first game of the season.

New keeper Brad Jones will take his place on the substitutes’ bench following his £2.3million move from Middlesbrough.

History

Liverpool played Trabzonspor in 1977 on the way to winning the European Cup for the first time. Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, goals from Heighway, Johnson and Keegan in the first half at Anfield settled the matter.  The goalkeeper on that day was Senol Gunes and he is now the manager in his third spell at the club.  He has also managed Turkey to 3rd place in the 2002 World Cup and the 2003 Confederations Cup.

Likely teams

Agger is missing from the squad following his concussion on Sunday, as is Mascherano who has a slight calf strain.  Whether or not he would have played is a different matter in the light of his proposed move to Italy or Spain.  Torres is fit but may well be rested for at least the first half with a game against Man City on Monday to think about.  This fixture headache of four games in 10 days is likely to mean Roy Hodgson will rest a few players or start strongly then bring off his big stars.  One player who will not cause this concern is Joe Cole as his red card on Sunday makes him ineligible for  the next three League games.  He will start this game and should play the full 90 minutes.  Christian Poulsen is also ready to make his debut.

Trabzonspor have just added Jaja from Metalist Kharkiv and he will be eligible to play up front alongside Bulut who is their main striker.  In midfield they have an Argentinian called Colman who is their best player.

Possible Liverpool line-up:

Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio, Kuyt, Lucas, Gerrard, Jovanovic, Cole, Ngog.

TV

This game will be shown on ITV1 at 7:30 with kick-off at 7:45.

My prediction

I expect Trabzonspor to park the bus at Anfield tonight and Liverpool may have to be patient.  It would be great if Cole and Jovanovic could open their account in front of the Kop and Ngog is in fine form.  What we need is a clean sheet and a couple of goals (or more) so I’m going for a 2-0 win for Liverpool.

Fernando Torres has recovered from the groin injury he picked up at the World Cup but may start on the bench.

Arsenal will leave it late to decide whether Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie are fit enough to feature.

Summer signings Marouane Chamakh and Laurent Koscielny are in the squad, and Jack Wilshere is pushing for a start.

It’s hard to remember Liverpool ever starting the season as 16/1 outsiders to win the league title but that is what some bookmakers are offering. This tough opener against Arsenal, who did the double over the Reds last season, will give some indication of how accurate those odds are.

It’s not all doom and gloom at Anfield; with Joe Cole arriving, and Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres staying put, new manager Roy Hodgson has got some undoubted match-winners in his squad. New signing Christian Poulsen, capped 77 times by Denmark, is also a strong addition to Liverpool’s midfield and may feature on Sunday.

Arsenal last won the Premier League in 2004 and they begin this campaign with a fairly lengthy injury list. Captain Cesc Fabregas is lacking match fitness after an extended summer break following his World Cup success with Spain, but at least he is still at the club.

Robin van Persie is also struggling to be match fit but the key man for the Gunners on Sunday could be Andrey Arshavin, who has scored five goals in his two visits to Anfield, including all four in the remarkable 4-4 draw two seasons ago.

Liverpool will contest the second leg of their Europa League third qualifying round tie against FK Rabotnicki at Anfield on Thursday. The Reds hold a 2-0 lead from last week’s meeting in Macedonia thanks to a brace of goals from David Ngog.

After a disappointing season for both sides they will be keen to end the campaign on a high.

Hull boss Iain Dowie will be seeking to secure a victory to boost his chances of landing the manager’s job on a permanent basis.

Dowie could keep faith with the side that drew with Wigan on Monday with young duo Will Atkinson and Mark Cullen keeping their places in the side after scoring on their full debuts at the DW Stadium.

The home side will again be without long-term absentees Kamil Zayatte, Ian Ashbee, Richard Garcia and Stephen Hunt.

Jozy Altidore, who would have been suspended following his red card against Sunderland, is unavailable as he returned to parent club Villarreal.

Liverpool are sweating over the fitness of Jamie Carragher and Maxi Rodriguez ahead of the trip to Hull.

The duo were forced off with a knocks picked up in last weekend’s defeat to Chelsea and they are unlikely to be risked with nothing at stake.

Martin Skrtel is back in training after a foot injury but the game is set to come too soon for him.

Glen Johnson is expected to miss out again meaning Philipp Degen could get a rare start at right-back after Javier Mascherano struggled in that position against Chelsea.

Fabio Aurelio and Emiliano Insua remain sidelined meaning Daniel Agger is likely to continue at left-back.

Fernando Torres is still missing with a knee injury so Dirk Kuyt is set to lead the attack for Rafa Benitez’s side in what could be the Spaniard’s last game in charge of the Reds as doubts grow over his future on Merseyside.

Possible starting XIs

Hull City: Duke, Gardner, Mendy, Dawson, Mouyokolo, Kilbane, Boateng, Atkinson, Cairney, Cullen, Vennegoor of Hesselink.

Liverpool: Reina, Degen, Kyrgiakos, Carragher, Agger, Kuyt, Mascherano, Aquilani, Benayoun, Gerrard, Kuyt.

With just two games of the season remaining, the Reds are close to being put out of their misery.

Europa League heartache against Atletico Madrid on Thursday summed up their campaign, with Rafa Benitez’s side now set to miss out on any silverware and possibly a top-four finish.

They must take maximum points from their remaining fixtures to have any hope of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League, but even that might not be enough.

The only positive for Liverpool at the moment is that they are unbeaten in five Premier League outings and are on course to finish with a flourish.

They have also won nine and lost none of their last 10 top-flight games on home soil, with Anfield becoming something of a fortress once more.

The Reds also boast a more than respectable record against Chelsea on Merseyside over recent years, with the Blues having left empty-handed on 11 occasions during the Premier League era.

The capital giants have also failed to score in four of their last six league meetings with Liverpool, suggesting they are yet to work out how best to play Benitez’s side.

Carlo Ancelotti knows he cannot afford to draw a blank again this weekend, with it imperative Chelsea take maximum points from their trip to the North West.

A win, coupled with a Manchester United defeat at Sunderland later in the day, would be enough for them to wrap up the title.

However, with it looking increasingly likely that the battle will go down to the wire, they will be keen to head into the final day with some sort of a lead.

They have been absolutely flying of late, ensuring confidence around the camp is sky high, with their last six outings bringing 23 goals and five wins.

Liverpool will still be without talismanic frontman Fernando Torres, following knee surgery, but their problems have eased slightly this week.

Dirk Kuyt and David Ngog were both involved in continental competition in midweek, with Kuyt fit enough to start against Atletico, and they are likely to be involved again on Sunday.

Emiliano Insua is struggling to figure again this season, as he nurses a thigh complaint, and the Argentine full-back will not be available against the Blues.

Benitez must decide whether to stick with the system he used on Thursday, which saw Javier Mascherano used at right-back and Alberto Aquilani and Steven Gerrard paired in the middle of midfield, or shuffle his pack again.

Chelsea do not expect to have John Obi Mikel available for selection at Anfield.

The Nigerian midfielder is still struggling with a knee problem and will not be rushed back into action.

Michael Essien is also nursing a knee injury, and misses out as a result, while Jose Bosingwa has been ruled out for the remainder of the season and this summer’s World Cup.

Ricardo Carvalho is making steady progress in his recovery from an ankle knock, but it remains to be seen whether the Portuguese centre-half is thrown back into action this weekend, while John Terry returns from suspension to skipper the side.

Possible starting XIs

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Kyrgiakos, Carragher, Agger, Kuyt, Mascherano, Aquilani, Benayoun, Gerrard, Torres.

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, Ashley Cole, Ballack, Lampard, Malouda, Kalou, Drogba, Anelka.

Central defender Clarke Carlisle is expected to miss out after turning an ankle in training.

Liverpool forward David Ngog suffered a back problem in Thursday’s Europa League defeat by Atletico Madrid.

With Fernando Torres out for the rest of the season, Dirk Kuyt could play as a striker if Ngog misses out.

Burnley have occupied a relegation place for over two months and they could be relegated back to the Championship come Sunday evening if results conspire against them.

The Clarets have beaten Manchester United, Everton, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham inside the last 18 months and would love to add Liverpool to that illustrious list, if only to delay the inevitable.

Brian Laws may have replaced Owen Coyle since those heady days but the squad remains intact. The simple question is whether they can rediscover how to upset the odds when it matters most.

It’s been a week of planes, trains and automobiles for Liverpool in their pursuit of Europa League glory. The Reds were on their way to their 17th league title when the film of the same name was released in November 1987, but have since won just one more crown.

The consolation of a place in the Europa League final remains in sight for Rafa’s men despite their 1-0 semi-final first leg defeat to Atletico Madrid. The return leg takes place at Anfield next Thursday.

Liverpool kicked off the season with hopes of a first league title since 1990. Those dreams have long since ended, as could their thin hopes of finishing fourth if results go against them this weekend.

The Spaniards have hardly set the world alight themselves this season, with their domestic woes well documented.

They could, in theory, still qualify for Europe again next season through their league standing, but four defeats in five outings has left them stuck in mid-table.

Securing continental competition for next term could be crucial to the club’s chances of retaining the services of their prized assets, so they will be desperate to go all out in this competition.

Their run to the last four suggests they are serious contenders, with Atletico having already claimed the notable scalps of Galatasaray, Sporting Lisbon and Valencia in the knockout stages.

Liverpool’s woes at home may not be quite as serious as those of their midweek opponents, but a season which promised so much is in grave danger of burning out.

A top-four finish in the Premier League now appears beyond them, with Rafa Benitez’s side currently languishing in seventh place.

The Europa League continues to provide a glimmer of hope, though, and could yet produce a piece of silverware for the Anfield trophy cabinet.

They will be hoping a gruelling trip to Spain, via bus, train and plane, has not drained vital energy and will be looking to send Atletico the same way as Benfica, Lille and Unirea Urziceni.

Atletico must do without Sergio Aguero for the crucial last four encounter.

The Argentine forward is suspended, handing Quique Sanchez Flores an attacking dilemma.

Jose Manuel Jurado appears to be the most likely to partner Diego Forlan up front, but 17-year-old Borja Baston has been drafted in from the reserves.

Ryan Babel returns to Liverpool’s squad and will be pushing hard for a starting berth.

The Holland international has served a one-match suspension for his sending-off in the quarter-final first leg against Benfica and provides a welcome boost to an injury-ravaged squad.

Striker Fernando Torres has been ruled out for the rest of the season after a knee operation at the weekend, denying him the opportunity to face his former employers.

Defenders Fabio Aurelio, Emiliano Insua (both thigh), Martin Skrtel (foot) and Martin Kelly (knee) were all left behind on Merseyside to continue their rehabilitation.

Defenders Emiliano Insua and Fabio Aurelio are both still out so Daniel Agger is set to continue at left-back.

West Ham midfielder Scott Parker completes his two-match ban.

Louis Boa Morte played 45 minutes for the reserves on Tuesday after eight months out with a knee injury but is not yet ready for a first-team return.

With the club put up for sale this week, Liverpool fans will be hoping the 2009/10 season can quickly be consigned to the past. Champions League qualification looks unlikely and that, for Liverpool, represents a miserable campaign.

Liverpool need to win their remaining games – including the visit of leaders Chelsea – to have any chance of snatching fourth place. Manager Rafa Benitez could be forgiven for making Thursday’s Europa League semi-final against Atletico Madrid his priority.

West Ham are fighting for survival at the other end of the table but have found some form recently. Unbeaten in April, they have inched four points above the relegation zone.

As with Liverpool, there could be big changes at West Ham in the summer, with manager Gianfranco Zola’s future unclear. “My focus is to get them (West Ham) safe and then we will see what happens,” he told Five Live this week.