Analysis:

After the Reds were humiliated by Manchester City on Monday Night Football, Roy Hodgson will be keen to get his first win as Liverpool manager here when they welcome WBA to Anfield.

Coming off a morale boostin 2-1 win over Turkish side Trabzonspor confidence in the team is now high. The win was sweet considering that Hodgson rested key players for the Europa League play-off tie and will welcome back the likes of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres for this match.

West Bromwich Albion recorded a much needed win over Sunderland, but they are expected to be battling against relegation this time around once again. On the opening day of the season, they were given a lesson in football as they were beaten 6-0 by Champions Chelsea.

Liverpool will be pleased that the stats are in their favour ahead of this tie. West Bromwich's last win over them came in 1967 and they have yet to score in eight Premier League meetings with the Reds.

As for the team news ahead of this match, Milan Jovanovic and Daniel Agger could also return to the side in place of Martin Kelly and Fabio Aurelio. Hodgson needs to decide whether to with the 4-4-2 formation used against City which means Torres with David Ngog or handing Christian Poulsen a Premier League debut in central midfield.

Javier Mascherano will be left out of the side after a fee for the player was agreed for the Argentina captain to move to Barcelona, while the midfielder's international team-mate Maxi Rodriguez could miss out with a virus.

The visitors West Brom will not have the services of defender Marek Cech for the visit to Anfield. The Slovakia international fractured his metatarsal in Tuesday night's Carling Cup win over Leyton Orient and is out for at least three weeks.

Meanwhile the trio of Jerome Thomas, Joe Matlock and Ishmael Miller are rated doubtful for this clash. Midfielder Thomas and defender Matlock are both suffering with foot injuries while striker Miller is not expected be fit until mid-September from his thigh strain.

Midfielder Giles Barnes replaced Thomas at half-time against the Black Cats and is likely to retain his place once again. Miller's continued absence means last weekend's matchwinner Peter Odemwingie is likely to start once again but Marc-Antoine Fortune could also feature up front after his switch from Celtic was completed on Friday.

Interestingly we will see the appearance of Goalkeeper and captain Scot Carson returning to face the club he once played with.

Take Liverpool and give the 1 3/4 ball here.

Cheers and good luck,
Cruiser

The Statistics :

The Pick :

Liverpool 3-0 West Brom

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

Take Liverpool to win.

HANDICAP BETTING :

Take Liverpool and give the 1 3/4 ball here. (main bet)