West Brom v Liverpool

Barclays Premier League
Venue: The Hawthorns Date: Saturday, 2 April Kick-off: 1500 BST
Coverage: Watch highlights on Match of the Day; listen on BBC Radio Merseyside, Absolute Radio and local radio; text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles

TEAM NEWS

West Brom’s Peter Odemwingie and Youssouf Mulumbu are both available following recent muscle strains.

Somen Tchoyi is in Cameroon caring for his wife, who recently fell ill, while Carlos Vela is doubtful with jet lag.

Liverpool will make a late decision on captain Steven Gerrard, who is back in training following a groin operation.

Luis Suarez and Glen Johnson are both fit, while Jonjo Shelvey returns to the squad, but the game is expected to come too soon for Fabio Aurelio.

West Brom

Doubtful: Vela (fatigue)

Injured: Dorrans (ankle), Tchoyi (personal reasons)

Liverpool

Doubtful: Gerrard (groin)

Injured: Aurelio & Kelly (both hamstring)

MATCH PREVIEW

West Brom boss Roy Hodgson comes face to face with former club Liverpool for the first time since he parted company with them 85 days ago, after only six months in charge.

He’s such a good guy and a fantastic coach – it just didn’t work out for him at Liverpool. The players didn’t perform consistently for him. We, as players, maybe have to take responsibility Steven Gerrard, Liverpool captain

Hodgson’s time at Anfield was one of frustration for all concerned, with the former Fulham boss acknowledging that he had been unable to put his stamp on the squad, in what he deemed the most “challenging” months of his career. However, he has nothing but praise for the club’s fans for their passion and dedication; something he believes will one day help the Reds return to their former glories.

Several of those fans are dreaming that new dawn has already begun under the guidance of ‘King Kenny’ Dalglish – Liverpool have taken 20 league points from a possible 30 under their idol. Steven Gerrard and Martin Skrtel have both added their names to a growing list of admirers, highlighting Dalglish’s man-management skills for instilling a new-found confidence.

Ironically, West Brom have been enjoying a mini-revival of their own since Hodgson took charge six weeks ago. The Baggies are unbeaten in four games since he was handed the task of keeping the club up.

Hodgson’s face may not have fitted in at Anfield, but long-serving Albion assistant Michael Appleton has credited the 63-year-old with doing to the West Brom squad what Dalglish has done at Liverpool. Appleton claims the Baggies players have been galvanised under their new boss, giving the players momentum going into the rest of the season.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• West Brom have lost all nine previous Premier League encounters between the clubs. They are also yet to score a single Premier League goal against the Reds, who in turn have netted 25 times.

• If Albion fail to score they will set a new top-flight record of 10 consecutive games without scoring against particular opposition. They currently share the record with Everton, who failed to score in nine games against Liverpool between 1972-76.

• The Reds have won 12 successive league games against West Brom. Victory today would see them set a new club record of consecutive wins against another club.

• The Baggies’ last league win against Liverpool was 30 years ago, in an old Division One fixture in February 1981. Bryan Robson and Cyrille Regis both scored in a 2-0 win.

West Brom

• The Baggies are unbeaten in their last five league matches. It represents their best run of results since a six-match streak between October and November last year.

• A draw for Albion would see them equal their record Premier League points haul of 34.

• West Brom are looking to end a new unwanted Premier League record of 28 games without a clean sheet.

• Peter Odemwingie has scored 10 goals this season. He is one strike away from equalling Robert Earnshaw’s 2004-05 club record of goals in a single Premier League campaign.

Liverpool

• Only Chelsea can match Liverpool’s return of 19 points from the last 24 on offer to them.

• Dalglish’s men have kept five clean sheets in their last eight league games.

• Liverpool have lost three of four matches this term against last season’s promoted clubs. Their only win came in a 1-0 victory at home to West Brom at the end of August.

• The Reds have won seven of 15 games in all competitions since Roy Hodgson left the club. Hodgson won 13 of 31 games as Liverpool boss, drawing nine and losing nine (all nine defeats were in the league).

LEADING GOALSCORERS

West Brom

Odemwingie: 10 goals (10 league); Vela: 5 goals* (3 league)

*Includes 2 goals (0 league) for Arsenal

Liverpool

Kuyt: 10 goals (8 league); Gerrard: 8 goals (4 league);
Ngog: 8 goals (2 league)

NB. Carroll has scored 11 goals (11 league) for Newcastle; Torres scored 9 goals (9 league) for Liverpool before joining Chelsea.

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Martin Atkinson

Assistant referees: Peter Kirkup & Mike Mullarkey

Fourth official: Andy Woolmer

LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS

West Brom (D2-2 v Arsenal, h): Carson, Reid, Meite, Olsson, Shorey, Scharner (Cech 46), Mulumbu, Brunt, Morrison, Thomas, Odemwingie (Fortune 74).Subs not used: Myhill, Tchoyi, Tamas, Cox, Jara.

Liverpool (W2-0 v Sunderland, a): Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Agger, Kuyt, Meireles (Maxi 84), Lucas, Spearing, Carroll (Ngog 72), Suarez (Cole 89). Subs not used: Gulacsi, Kyrgiakos, Poulsen, Wilson.