Liverpool v Wigan preview

Published Feb. 11, 2011 7:16 a.m. ET

foxsports

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish will make a late decision on Steven Gerrard's availability after the captain missed England's midweek friendly victory with a groin problem. Centre-back Martin Skrtel is a doubt with a thigh problem which prevented him playing for Slovakia in midweek while Jonjo Shelvey has been ruled out for three months with a knee injury. Defender Martin Kelly, who was withdrawn from the England Under-21 squad with an ankle injury, is expected to be fit but Joe Cole (knee) will probably be on the sidelines again. Wigan defender Gary Caldwell could play with a mask to protect a fractured cheekbone at Anfield. Caldwell missed the victory over Blackburn at the weekend because of the injury but was given permission to train with the Scotland squad this week. James McCarthy is likely to be available after he was withdrawn from the Republic of Ireland squad as manager Roberto Martinez wanted him to rest his previously injured ankle. Liverpool (from): Reina, Kelly, Agger, Carragher, Johnson, Lucas, Gerrard, Rodriguez, Meireles, Aurelio, Kuyt, Suarez, Gulacsi, Skrtel, Wilson, Kyrgiakos, Poulsen, Jovanovic, Ngog, Pacheco. Wigan (from): Al Habsi, Pollitt, Kirkland, Gohouri, Stam, Figueroa, Watson, Diame, McArthur, Thomas, N'Zogbia, McCarthy, McManaman, Rodallega, Lopez, Gomez, S Caldwell, G Caldwell, Boyce, Di Santo, Salmon, De Ridder.