Liverpool-Wigan Athletic FC Preview

Mar 6, 2010 - 1:58 PM WALTER SIMON STATS European Football Writer=

LONDON (SE) - Ailing Wigan have laid out a green carpet for the visit of Liverpool to the DW Stadium on Monday but do not intend to extend the hospitality any further.

Wigan have re-laid the turf on the pitch they share with Rugby League club Wigan Warriors and defender Titus Bramble believes it is not before time.

Bramble said: "The pitch was terrible and I think it was getting to the stage where it was affecting the confidence of the players.

"You could never be sure where the ball was going to bounce and it got into your mind that anything could happen.

"The old pitch did no one any good. I know people say it is the same for both teams but we had to play on it every fortnight and it definitely affected us.

"We are a passing team under Roberto Martinez and if the pitch is full of divots and bobbles you cannot pass the ball properly. Hopefully this will all be sorted now."

Wigan have not won in seven matches and only once in 13 and face the increasing prospect as they slide down the Premier League table of being relegated after five years at the top level.

But Bramble said: "I am sure we will not be relegated and getting the new pitch makes me even more confident of staying up.

"This is a chance for us to halt the decline. Liverpool's visit is a massive game for us and after some poor results lately we have to pick ourselves up and get ready for one of the toughest games of the season.

"Now the pitch has been re-laid we have no excuses. We have to work hard and put some good results together."

Wigan boss Martinez is set to give 2.5 million pounds striker Victor Moses his first start since signing him from Crystal Palace and there will be late fitness tests for Charles N'Zogbia (knee) and Paul Scharner (groin).

Liverpool are still firmly on the fringes of a place in the Champions League despite a mediocre season by their own high standards.

They are competing with Tottenham, Aston Villa and Manchester City for the fourth qualifying place for next season's competition.

Liverpool have never lost to Wigan in eleven meetings but even with the return from injury of Fernando Torres they have not returned to their fluent, free-scoring best.

Rafa Benitez's team have failed to score in five of their last seven away matches, a fact which displeases the Liverpool manager.

Benitez said: "I think we are improving all the time but I know our record away from Anfield is not as good as it could be.

"We have to concentrate to make sure we will games like this one. Wigan are a good footballing team and they will be a test for us.

"Not long ago people were writing us off but now there is a great chance for us to qualify for the Champions League. That is where we want to be."

Fabio Aurelio is out for three weeks with a thigh strain but Daniel Agger should be fit after knee trouble.