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Liverpool will be hoping to resurrect their recent form slump when they welcome Hull City to Anfield on Saturday night. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 1:00am (AEDT).
The Reds sit at fifth on the English Premier League table heading into Matchday 9, but this is certainly no adequate reflection of their recent patchy form.
Just last week they took three points by the skin of their teeth at Loftus Road against QPR following two stoppage time goals including an own goal winner.
In addition to this, Wednesday morning saw them humiliated in their own backyard, conceding three goals, albeit to the current European champions, Real Madrid.
This match bills as an opportunity for Brendan Rodgers’ side to recapture the vein of form which took them all the way to second place last season. Bearing in mind the substantial changes the side has undergone since that achievement just five months ago, most notably the big money transfer of star striker Luis Suarez to Barcelona.
For Hull City, this is a chance to capitalise on the confidence lent to them care of a wonderful performance at The Emirates last week where a Danny Welbeck goal snatched two points from their grasp in stoppage time despite a fairly well executed game plan.
All eyes will be on whether or not Mario Balotelli (Liverpool’s exceedingly controversial and ridiculously out of form front man) will retain his starting spot after reacting childishly to his halftime substitution midweek against Real Madrid.
If he does, expect either a world class or equally lacklustre performance either way – he never fails to make headlines.
At the opposite end of the park, still relatively new Hull striker Abel Hernandez has been in blistering goal scoring form since his arrival at the KC stadium, goals from the Uruguayan could be on the cards, his turn of pace could give Martin Skrtel and Dejan Lovren big issues.
Hull City remain without their two first choice goalkeepers, Allan Mcgregor (Shoulder) and Steven Harper (arm), in addition to this they will also have to do without usual starters Robert Snodgrass (knee), Michael Dawson (Ankle) and Nikica Jelavic (knee). Whilst Liverpool continue to be without England striker Daniel Sturridge who was ruled out for a further month with a calf injury, as well as centre half Mamadou Sakho (thigh) and Jon Flanagan (knee).
Hull have never won at Anfield, their most recent meeting on this ground ended in a 2-0 victory to the Reds, whilst overall their last six Premier League encounters read as three Liverpool victories, one Hull victory and two draws.
The Tigers will be hoping history counts for nothing in this case.
The Reds could struggle here, they have slumped back into their old habits of losing games against weaker opponents and this one certainly falls into that category. As well as this, it has been difficult to see where the goals are going to come from of late, whilst Hull City converted four shots into two goals against the Gunners last week.
Prediction: Liverpool 1 Hull City 1
What will Brendan Rodgers change in an attempt to break the form slump? Moreover, what will succeed in breaking the slump?
Join The Roar this Saturday night at 1:00am (AEDT) for live score updates and debate in our live blog.
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