Verdict: Liverpool to Win to Nil
Best Odds: 4/6
Bookmaker: bet365
Liverpool got back to winning ways off the back of a hard-fought win at Huddersfield last time out and will be keen to extend their winning run as they prepare to welcome the Premier League strugglers Cardiff.
Liverpool
Liverpool got their much-needed win at Huddersfield after breaking a sweat at Kirklees Stadium. Back-to-back draws against Chelsea and Manchester City sandwiched a 1-0 Champions League defeat at Napoli and Jurgen Klopp’s charges were in desperate need of a morale boost.
They ended up getting it in the end but not without hiccups. Troubled by a string of midfield injuries and the lack of goals from their biggest star Mohamed Salah, the Reds were forced to grind the 1-0 result and got a huge load off of their shoulder as the Egyptian finally broke the duck after a four-match goalless drought. There were some positives to be drawn from Liverpool’s trip to Huddersfield as Jurgen Klopp’s experiment with Xherdan Shaqiri being slotted in the central midfield role brought positive results. The Swiss international put in a superb display and pulled another one during the week when he was voted the Man of the Match in Liverpool’s 4-0 Champions League drubbing of Crvena Zvezda. Former Stoke winger grabbed an assist and took part in Reds’ opening goal for a well-rounded display which should grant him a starting place against Cardiff as well.
Team News
Sadio Mane was back in action during the week and should be at disposal once again which can’t be said for Naby Keita.
Jordan Henderson also remains out through thigh injury, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain remains a long-term absentee.
Cardiff
The Bluebirds will be travelling to Liverpool with a smile on their face. The Welsh side are coming off from an ice-breaking weekend which saw them grab their first Premier League win of the season.
Nine rounds into the campaign and with tenth on the horizon at the weekend, Cardiff City are sitting in 17th with only five points to their name. Neil Warnock’s relegation strugglers did well to put an end to a six-match losing streak last week thanks to an entertaining 4-2 win against Fulham. The Bluebirds were fortunate enough to exploit all of Fulham’s defensive frailties and bag some rather lucky goals but it’s three points that count, along with a massive morale incentive. Cardiff travelled to Anfield twice over the past decade and ended up losing on both occasions. With Liverpool looking to get back to full speed, Warnock’s men will have nothing to lose against the Premier League contenders.
Team News
Forward Gary Madine’s availability is questionable ahead of Saturday’s trip to Anfield due to illness.
Cardiff will be without four players in Liverpool knowing that Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Lee Peltier, Joe Ralls and Danny Ward are all unavailable for selection.
Key Factors to Consider
- Liverpool kept consecutive clean sheets in their last three matches
- The Reds won 17 of their last 20 home matches across all competitions
- Cardiff recorded their first Premier League win last weekend
- The Bluebirds are winless in their last 4 matches on the road
- Cardiff have yet to beat Liverpool at Anfield
Conclusion
Cardiff might have ended their losing streak just in time for the trip to Liverpool but their 4-2 win over fellow strugglers Fulham will count for little against the highly-motivated Liverpool side. Jurgen Klopp’s men are trying to get back to their usual form and style of play and should be expected to go full-throttle from the off.
Verdict: Liverpool to Win to Nil
Best Odds: 4/6
Bookmaker: bet365
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