Mar 01, 2013 04:56 AM EST
Wigan vs Liverpool: Preview, Team News, Injuries, Predictions and Expected Lineups

With little to really play for, Brendan Rodgers will ask his Liverpool side to put in their best efforts as they travel to relegation-threatened Wigan in their English Premier League game Saturday.

Liverpool are currently ten points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, making their chances of grabbing a Champions League spot at the end of the season extremely slim at best.

The Reds are also out of all cup competitions, following the valiant exit to Zenit St. Petersburg in the Europa League. Rodgers, however, is upbeat of his side's prospects for the rest of the season, and will have a fresh squad at his disposal at the DW Stadium following a two-week break.

"We're going into the final run-in now and we really want to push on in these last 11 games," Rodgers told reporters.

"When you play as well as we did against Zenit, of course you want the next game sooner rather than later. But it wasn't to be.

"We had a period of time to recuperate physically and mentally. The players have been outstanding in training, some of the intensity and quality has been great to see from a coaching perspective.

"I really felt like the Liverpool manager after the Zenit game, having experienced a European night. I was disappointed that we didn't have more. In the future, we're looking to be fighting on more than one front.

"Certainly it gives us a reflective period to look at the league and focus solely on that, because that's ultimately the consistency we want to have.

"If we can come up with that over these closing months, it will provide a springboard for next season. Finish this season as strong as we possibly can, as high as we can, and then we'll be in a much better place come the summer to really push on."

While Rodgers has refused to throw in the towel in Liverpool's season, insisting there is still plenty to play for, it will be Wigan who have everything to lose when the two sides meet.

The Latics are currently in 17th, one place above the relegation zone thanks to their 3-0 win over Reading last weekend. However, they are still level on points with third bottom Aston Villa, with just one point separating Roberto Martinez's men from second bottom Reading.

Wigan are the masters of the late run-in to get themselves out of trouble, and Martinez hopes home comforts will play a factor.

"Our last two games should serve as a benchmark to what we're looking forward to in the coming weeks," Martinez said.

"It's important that we use our environment to our advantage. Two wins at home this season is a poor return, especially when you consider the performances we've seen at the DW Stadium.

"Now is the time to affect those small margins with the help of the fans, which could be the difference in complimenting a good performance with the right result.

"It's been a difficult and frustrating season in terms of results, but the level of performances has been very good, better than last season in fact.

"In that aspect we've seen big improvements in this campaign, but I've certainly seen a different focus and concentration from the group in the last two games, which is something we need to continue with.

"Our aim is to now replicate the levels shown against Reading and Huddersfield (in the F.A. Cup), and keep pushing one another forward as a group."

Liverpool are sweating on the fitness of Daniel Sturridge, who picked up a slight knock in training, but otherwise Rodgers has a healthy squad without counting long-term absentees Fabio Borini and Martin Kelly.

Wigan have been boosted by the return of Emmerson Boyce and Antolin Alcaraz, while Ryo Miyaichi is also close to a comeback.

Expected lineups: Wigan: Al Habsi; Scharner, Caldwell, Figueroa; Boyce, McCarthy, Maloney, McArthur, Beausejour; Kone, Di Santo.

Liverpool: Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Enrique; Lucas, Henderson, Gerrard; Downing, Sturridge, Suarez.

Prediction: 2-1 to Wigan

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