Liverpool v Wigan - Match thread

Daniel Agger replaces the injured Martin Skrtel in the heart of Liverpool's defence for this afternoon's clash with Wigan - a game you can listen to live online from 2.55pm BST.

The Dane makes his first Premier League start of the season, as does Jermaine Pennant, while Rafa Benitez has selected Robbie Keane and Dirk Kuyt up front in the absence of the hamstrung Fernando Torres.
 
The Reds XI in full is:

Reina, Arbeloa, Dossena, Agger, Carragher, Riera, Pennant, Alonso, Gerrard, Kuyt, Keane.

Subs: Cavalieri, Hyypia, Insua, Benayoun, Ngog, Lucas, El Zhar.

Damn you, you beat me to it

Good to see Agger's back ... Pennant? This will be interesting.

Great, no Masch.

So it's:

          Reina
    Agger   Carra
Arby             Doss
         Alonso
JP     Gerrard   Riera
     Kuyt  Keane   

No Aurelio either?

Kuyt up front - could be an interesting game this one.

Quite a young bench with the likes of El Zhar, Lucas, N'Gog and Insua. Also interesting to see who will try to lead the line upfront because both Keane and Kuyt love to drop back deep.

Latics XI

Kirkland

Melchiot, Bramble, Boyce, Figueroa

Valencia, Cattermole, Palacios, Kapo, De Ridder

Zaki

4-5-1 formation

It's a decent squad. Come on pennant show what you are & welcome back agger. 3-1 for us.

Latics will face Liverpool without Emile Heskey in this afternoons game at Anfield after the England international failed a fitness test, the starting line-up is:

Kirkland

Melchiot, Bramble, Boyce, Figueroa

Valencia, Cattermole, Palacios, Kapo, De Ridder

Zaki

4-5-1 formation

Latics will face Liverpool without Emile Heskey in this afternoons game at Anfield after the England international failed a fitness test

Couldn't stay on his feet for more than 5 minutes?

I'm pretty gutted for Emile. Damn shame he couldn't join us back at Anfield for today.

Glad to see two up front. Hope Pennant does well - he should take his chance here. Just found a computer near the bar at this wedding. Might try a sneaky peek at good old justin tv.... COME ON YOU MIGHTY REDS!!!

looks like a strong starting x1. hopefully pennant will find a bit of form today and make a bit of a claim to the position. hopefully he and riera will be able to give us good purposeful width.

I'm pretty gutted for Emile. Damn shame he couldn't join us back at Anfield for today.

What to sign a contract! Glad he's not playing as he is the sort of ex-player who can score.

Right, now where's that plug I need to pull to stop the forum working on matchdays!

5-0 to the Chavs then away at Boro.

So to go top - what do we need to win by.  Eleven?

5-0 to the Chavs then away at Boro.

So to go top - what do we need to win by.  Eleven?

Yeah, 11-0. We can do this. COME ON!!

:0

5-0 to the Chavs then away at Boro.

So to go top - what do we need to win by.  Eleven?

Easily done.

Can't believe Pennants starting!! Hopefully he will cause them problems and make sure Rafa thinks about using him against Chelsea. Wigan look like they are just going to park the bus, so if we bang one in early on then they should open up a bit more.

I think Pennant is used to stretch out the Wigan mid-field/back line because by the looks of their tactics they are coming up to pack the middle and attack on the counter. Pennant and Riera can offer this and I hope Pennant can take his chance because he won't get that many.

Chelsea are going to take some keeping up with. 5-0 and about 6 or 7 of their first teamers were rested ahead of the Champions League.

Could we drop 6 of our first team and go to Boro and win 5-0?

Could we drop 6 of our first team and go to Boro and win 5-0?

I'd like to think we could, but realistically I doubt it 

So a nice 11-0 win will see us top of the league, bet we would still not be 1st on MotD if we did that. Come on reds just a nice simple win with no injuries.

Chelsea are going to take some keeping up with. 5-0 and about 6 or 7 of their first teamers were rested ahead of the Champions League.

Could we drop 6 of our first team and go to Boro and win 5-0?

'Boro just didn't show up. Can't really say it's down to Chelsea playing well.

Reminds me of us when we were off-form earlier thos season - we made Standard Liege look good.

Hope AussieRed has got goosebumps singing YNWA in the Kop 

Such a shame.

His birds fit thought. Nice fringe.