Liverpool V Wigan Athletic Betting – Wednesday 16th December

Liverpool V Wigan Athletic

Wednesday 16^th December – 20:00 GMT

Liverpool

League Position: 7th

Recent Form: DDWDL

The Liverpool players won’t be in a celebratory mood this Christmas after a horrific run of results which has now left them stranded in seventh position, five points off fourth placed Aston Villa. If Liverpool have yet to hit that crisis button then surely they have now as it’s all going completely pear shaped at the club and God only knows what this bust festive period will bring in terms of results and performances from Liverpool.

Rafael Benitez could only watch on as his side threw away a slender one goal lead to lose 2-1, their sixth defeat of the season, at home to an Arsenal side without a recognised striker in their starting line up. The result was terrible, and to be honest, the performance that went with it wasn’t short of being pathetic. The first half seen Liverpool pretty much dominate proceedings without creating too many clear cut chances, although Dirk Kuyt did pop up with a goal late into the half. However, they just capitulated in the second half and their fortunes this season was summed up when Glen Johnson prodded into his own net, a humiliating own goal which well and truly got Liverpool downwards ball rolling.

Liverpool never recovered from Johnson’s second half blunder and even when Arsenal took the lead through a superb Arshavin effort, Liverpool never really put the Gunners under any great deal of pressure. Steven Gerrard, a player who thrived on these types of situations in the past, went missing, while Fernando Torres was kept quiet despite his best efforts. All in all, a horrendous day at the office, but that’s now been a rare sight this season and we’re afraid to say that Liverpool look far too lightweight this season and their oh so close miss on the title last season has evidentially had a lasting affect on morale.

It’s now a case of can Rafael Benitez and his staff somehow boost the deflated morale of the camp for this crucial home fixture with a tricky Wigan Athletic. This was a fixture which Liverpool came very close to dropping yet more points in, with the Reds’ edging out Wigan and coming from behind to win 3-2. However, with confidence not so high, would Liverpool have the capacity to defy an early deficit in this fixture as they seriously struggled to come to terms in their last outing when going one goal down. What’s more, what was once a very strong home record before the visit of Arsenal, now looks a shaky and exposed one as Liverpool have now lost twice at Anfield this season, a feat they didn’t manage at all last season, which just emphasises their chance in fortune.

At the odds, we personally wouldn’t stick our money on Liverpool but, in some aspects, they could be seen as wounded animals, starving for points after two games without a win in the league. However, their form on the whole has been dreadful, with just two wins coming in their last eight outings in the league, with the Reds’ without a win on home soil in their previous three visits to what should be fortress Anfield. Their last win at home came against Man Utd, a 2-0 success back in early November, but that was over a month ago now and have Liverpool forget how to actually win at home or will they dive head first into this busy period with at least something to show for their lacklustre efforts?

Wigan Athletic

League Position: 14th

League Form: DLWLD 

After earning a decent enough point away at Stoke City, as well as battling performance, Wigan manager, Roberto Martinez, will now be expecting his troops to push on and avoid their usual trait of coming up short in their very next outing following a good weekend. They’ve made that Jekyll & Hyde tag their own this season and they may have to unwillingly keep that attribute as they prepare themselves for the trip to Anfield, a venue they did, however, earn a valuable point at last season. 

If Wigan could replicate their workmanlike performance from the first half against Stoke then they could actually cause their more glamorous opponents a few problems. However, if they drop off, also like they did against Stoke, in the second half then Liverpool will tear chunks out of them. It quite literally was a case of two halves with Wigan last Saturday. The first saw them dominate the opening exchanges, creating by far the more chances of the two, with Charles N’Zogbia very pleasing on the eye down that left flank.  

However, our biggest concern with this Wigan set up is their reluctance to commit numbers into attack and it was one of the reasons why Wigan didn’t go into the break on Saturday with the lead. They get forward really well, with some swift passing moves and the pace of N’Zogbia down the left exposing what is usually a tight Stoke defence. However, that was as good as it got for Wigan as they failed to create too many clear cut chances, despite scoring twice. Both their goals were, though, aided by a bit of good fortune, although Figuroa’s 45 yard + effort was outstandingly good, our goal of the season thus far. However, their first, somewhat surprisingly, came from a set-piece and, although that could pay dividends against a Liverpool defence that has struggled from set-plays this season, they will actually need to get men forward to trouble the Liverpool defence and earn themselves some set-plays for this to actually work, which, considering Martinez will almost certainly opt for one up front again, looks unlikely and this is a big negative for us.

This, in our honest opinion, looks a step too far for Wigan, despite their battling display last weekend. It’s not that hard to compete with Stoke, just do exactly what they do, but to compete with Liverpool you need technically gifted players in your squad and, no disrespect, but those are few and far between at Wigan, with only Rodellega and N’Zogbia really standing out this season. What’s more, Wigan’s away form doesn’t make for light reading (2-1-5), with the Latics without a win in their previous three away outings, two of which were defeats, emphatic ones at that. They play too negative on the road for our liking and it should only take one goal for this game to be over.

Head-to-Head (Last 8):

Liverpool W: 6 Wigan Athletic W: Draw: 2

Liverpool dominate the h2h between the two with Wigan yet to record a victory over Liverpool since the Premiership was formed. Liverpool have, as well, won three out of four at Anfield but were pushed all the way in last seasons encounter, coming from 2-0 down to beat Wigan 3-2. A positive trait for Wigan fans to cling onto is that the Latics have scored in their previous two visits to Anfield.

Match Verdict: Liverpool to WIN – 1.36 BlueSquare

After a disastrous weekend, only a win will do Rafael Benitez. However, Wigan are a dangerous outfit as you never quite know what you’re going to get. Nevertheless, at Anfield, Liverpool should be far too strong, especially with Fernando Torres back in the fray, while Alberto Aquilani, a £20M signing during the summer, could start his first league game for Liverpool which, after a weekend to forget, should excite the fans. A home win for us, although we don’t think it will be a walk in the park.

Match Odds:

Liverpool – 1.36 BlueSquare

Draw – 4.80 Bet365

Wigan Athletic – 12.00 VCbet

SoccerBetting Value Tip: Fernando Torres FGS – 3/1 Bet365