Liverpool will be looking to return to fourth spot in the Premier League table by beating Wigan on Monday night.
The Reds are currently a point behind Tottenham and Manchester City, although they would need all three points to usurp Spurs into the final UEFA Champions League qualification spot.
Liverpool have an impressive Premier League record over Wigan having won nine and drawn twice from their 11 top-flight meetings, something the Latics will be keen to rectify at the DW Stadium.
Roberto Martinez’s men, who concede on average nearly two goals a game, are just one point above the drop zone and desperate to boost their relegation fight against Rafa Benitez’s side. Read more »
Saturday 26th Feb – kick off 18:00
Liverpool head to Urziceni for the second leg of their Europa League encounter against the Romanian champions
History
This is Unirea’s first year of European football, so the only time the teams have was last week. Despite being the better team in that game, Liverpool have the slenderest of leads following the 1-0 win at Anfield.
The night proved to be a nail-biter for Liverpool fans; firstly the goal that they deserved refused to come until the 81st minute, then Unirea woke up and started to put pressure on the Reds’ back line. Luckily, we held out to keep the crucial clean sheet.
UEFA Champions League credentials come under the spotlight on Sunday when rivals ManchesterCity and Liverpool meet at Eastlands.
City have emerged as the favourites to push the Reds out of the traditional Big Four cartel and they currently occupy the all-important fourth place in the Premier League, while still holding a game in hand over their closest competitors.
This weekend’s fixture has therefore become vitally important to both teams and a victory either way could secure a significant advantage in the battle for a lucrative spot in next season’s European Cup.
It has also been speculated that the future of opposing managers Roberto Mancini, at City, and Liverpool’s Rafa Benitez could hang in the balance of a top-four finish.
Mancini made an impressive start to his career in England after succeeding Mark Hughes in December, but the Italian has won just two of his next six games and he has been forced to deny reports of a bust-up with Craig Bellamy. Read more »
Having watched on longingly from afar as the opening exchanges of the UEFA Champions League knockout rounds unfolded earlier in the week, Liverpool begin their Europa League campaign against Unirea Urziceni on Thursday.
As arch-rivals Manchester United secured a thrilling win at continental giants AC Milan and Arsenal were surrounded by refereeing controversy against Porto, the Reds have been preparing to welcome a little-known Romanian side to Anfield.
Ahead of the first leg of their last-32 tie, manager Rafa Benitez and captain Steven Gerrard have been keen to stress the value of the Europa League, but behind closed doors the pair will recognise their participation is a marker of a failed season.
Liverpool were dumped out of the Champions League, finishing third in Group E, and are fighting for fourth place, rather than the title, in the Premier League, while they were also eliminated from the early stages of the FA Cup and the Carling Cup. Read more »
Saturday 6th Feb – kick off 12:45
An early kick off sees Everton make the short trip across Stanley Park in the 212th Merseyside derby.
History
This is one of the most famous derby matches in world football. Apart from cup competitions, these clubs have never met outside of the top tier of English football. Last season, Liverpool won at Goodison Park and drew at Anfield.
A post-match chat between Rafa Benitez and Owen Coyle would prove interesting listening after Liverpool host Bolton on Saturday. A sympathetic ear all round.
Reds manager Benitez has been heavily criticised when enduring a season to forget and is now grabbing the headlines as speculation suggests that Juventus want him to replace their own under-fire boss Ciro Ferrara.
Coyle, meanwhile, has seen his loyalty battered from pillar to post in the wake of Tuesday’s Reebok Stadium win over Burnley, the club he quit to take over the Trotters, where he was labelled ‘Judas’ by fans who used to sing his name.
The thought of Benitez and Coyle acting as agony aunts to one another if they meet inside Anfield to observe the tradition in English football for managers to share a drink after battle has subsided warms the cockles but there are more important issues. Read more »
