Mata and Silva have lit up the Premier League this season, impressing in a role behind their respective strikers at Chelsea and Manchester City. But, with four goals to his name this season - including an equaliser against Chelsea on Saturday - Martinez believes Gomez is capable of doing all the things his more illustrious compatriots are capable of. "Jordi has been working hard in training and has had to endure adversity more than any other player," Martinez told his club's official website ahead of Wednesday night's meeting with Liverpool. "Technically he is very gifted, in the mould of Juan Mata or David Silva, and it took our fans a bit of time to understand his game, but now I think you can see that understanding. "The crowd made him feel well, and when you feel loved you can allow your football to talk and that's what he is doing. It makes a big difference as a foreign player when you come in and you have that bond with the crowd, and that's what Jordi has." Wigan have not lost to Liverpool at the DW Stadium for four years, but Martinez believes this will be the strongest Liverpool side Latics have faced over recent years. "(They are) very impressive," he said. "I got the opportunity to see them live against Aston Villa and it gives you the impression they have a lot of very good players, they know what it means to play for Liverpool and have been there a long time. "Others are having a honeymoon period, they have very good pace with (Craig) Bellamy and (Stewart) Downing, and (Luis) Suarez who is in the moment of his career. "They have quality all over and this is probably the strongest Liverpool we'll have faced in the last three or four years." A poor start to the season means Wigan are still in the drop zone despite a recent upturn in form and, with that in mind, Martinez knows his men cannot afford to approach their meeting with the Reds looking for anything other than a win. "We don't have a choice," he added. "In any other season, as a mid-table team, you have that choice. But where we are, we have a very desperate need of points. "At the start of the season we were punished for dropping points when we shouldn't and now every game is an opportunity to get those points back."
