HomeFeatured ArticlesLiverpool vs Hull City Preview | Team News, Stats and Key Men

Liverpool vs Hull City Preview | Team News, Stats and Key Men

Hull City travel to Anfield on New Year’s Day to face a Liverpool team who have been left reeling after two defeats in four days. Away losses to two of their rivals for the title in Man City and Chelsea has left a sour taste their mouths considering they were top of the league on Christmas Day, only to be sitting in 5th before this game, showing how tight the league has been this year. Injuries have decimated the squad and with youth team players having to used to make up the bench, Brendan Rodgers will have one eye on possible new arrivals that can boost The Reds title bid. Having lost to Hull City a month ago, Liverpool will want to gain some revenge when the two teams come face to face again.

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Hull City on the other hand, will be brimming with confidence having just pummelled Fulham in their last match 6-0. Steve Bruce’s side have reached 23 points by the New Year, very impressive for a team who have just been promoted and sit in the top half of the table in 10th. Having been pegged back against Man United after leading 2-0, Bruce will be delighted that the result hasn’t affected his team’s confidence and will go into the game on Wednesday hoping to pull off a double against one of the league’s title contenders.

This fixture favours Liverpool more having won 12 of the 17 matches between the sides in all competitions. Although Hull won the last game between the two sides, they haven’t done quite so well at Anfield.  In the last meeting at Liverpool in 2009, Hull were hammered 6-1 with Fernando Torres notching a hat-trick.

Team News

Liverpool

Liverpool go into the game with a whole host of injuries but will be delighted at the news that Steven Gerrard has returned to full training and may feature in the game against Hull. Johnson, Sakho, Allen and Henderson all picked up injuries against Chelsea on the weekend and are all doubtful for the New Years Day clash bar Henderson who is likely to pass fit. Sturridge, Coates and Enrique are still on the sidelines whilst Jon Flanagan is again likely to miss out with a hamstring problem.

Hull City

Sone Aluko (calf), Robbie Brady (groin) and Stephen Quinn (hamstring) will all miss out on the trip to Anfield but other than that Steven Bruce has no more major personnel issues. He will have to choose who to play up front with Sagbo and Graham both vying for the lone striker position. Sagbo has only scored once having started a large proportion of Hull’s game but links well with the midfield, nonetheless Bruce may opt with Graham who has the poacher’s instinct to help nick a goal against The Reds especially during set pieces.

Interesting Facts

• Liverpool have scored at least 3 goals or more in their last six matches at home.

• Liverpool have also scored more goals this season at home than Hull have altogether this season.

• The last meeting between the two, which ended with Hull winning 3-1, was the first time they have ever beaten Liverpool.

Key Players

Liverpool: Jordan Henderson

Jordan Henderson has been playing great for Liverpool since Steven Gerrard’s injury and has been a crucial part in Liverpool’s midfield, creating chances and being heavily involved in the majority of Liverpool’s good work as well as goals. Along with Suarez, he has the joint most open play assists in the team with 5 assists and has created a total of 34 chances so far. His passing accuracy is another standout figure with 87% of his 963 passes being accurate and having 1262 touches which shows how heavily influential he can be. As well as the attacking play, a central midfield player must also be well rounded, helping out at the back to ensure the defence isn’t caught cold and Henderson has done more than his fair share this season with his 47 tackles, winning 35 of them. His only downfall has probably been that he hasn’t found himself on the score sheet regularly this season, having only scoring once in 31 shots at goal so will be hungry for a goal or two during this encounter.

Hull: Tom Huddlestone

After an incredible man of the match performance against Fulham, Tom Huddlestone will want to carry that form into this match. Having finally managing to notch himself a goal, his first in 32 months, it will be interesting what style of hair he will appear with in the game. Vowing not the shave his hair until he scored, the goal earned him a trip to the barbers for a trim. It will be a weight of his shoulder considering he has racked up 40 attempts so far this season including five in the last match. He has been Hull’s anchor man in midfield, similar to Gerrard’s role with Liverpool and created another five chances in his last match which take his total chances created for the season up to 35 with 1 assist. He has made the most passes this season for Hull with 970 passes with 79% of them being accurate. But as well as Henderson, he has also helped out at the back as well making 53 tackles with 36 of them being successful. The battle in midfield could be crucial so it will be interesting who comes out on top.

Prediction

With Liverpool’s incredible home form this season, it is hard to see past anything but a home win on Wednesday. Hull are no pushovers on their day but will have to be at their very best if they are to beat The Reds on their own turf. With Suarez and possibly Gerrard back in the team, I feel it will be too much for Steve Bruce and his men.

Prediction: Liverpool 2-0 Hull City 

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