Premier League: Liverpool v Cardiff match preview

A look ahead to this weekend's Premier League fixture at Anfield

Luis Suarez (Getty Images)

A win for Liverpool, who sit two points behind leaders Arsenal, will see them go top of the table as Arsenal do not play third place Chelsea until Monday evening. The Reds are scoring goals for fun at the moment, with the 5-0 win at Spurs on Sunday hailed as their best performance under Rodgers.

Luis Suarez, who captained the side against Spurs last weekend, has scored 17 goals so far this season, more than any other player in the Premier League. The two sides have only met twice in the last 50 years, each time in the League Cup, with Liverpool prevailing on both occasions. Liverpool edged Cardiff 2-1 in round four of the competition in 2006-07, before toppling the Welsh side on penalties in the 2012 final, which ended 2-2 after extra time.

Cardiff, who lie in 15th place in the league, travel to Liverpool off the back of a much needed win against West Brom last weekend. Manager Malky Mackay was publicly criticised during the week by owner Vincent Tan after suggesting that he would be looking to bring in new faces in the January transfer window. Mackay’s future at the club is uncertain although he has recently ruled out the possibility of handing in his resignation - Tan has since reportedly sent an email to the Scot demanding he either resigns or faces the sack on Monday.

Rodgers, who worked with Mackay when he was managing Watford in 2008-09, added: "He's going to go on and become a big manager at a top club and I find it astonishing there's talk about him leaving there.”

Liverpool trio Steven Gerrard, Daniel Sturridge and Jose Enrique remain sidelined, while former Liverpool attacker Craig Bellamy will face a late fitness test before the match against the Reds.

KICK-OFF: Saturday, 12.45

PAST THREE MEETINGS:

Cardiff 2 (Mason, Turner) Liverpool 2 (Skrtel, Kuyt), (Liverpool win 3-2 on penalties) League Cup, February 2012.

Liverpool 2 (Nabil El Zhar, Gerrard) Cardiff 1 (Purse), League Cup, October 2007.

Liverpool 0 Cardiff 4, Division 2 1959.

STATS:

Cardiff have scored four goals in their last eight games.

Cardiff have failed to score in their last 4 away matches in the Premier League.

Liverpool have scored at least 4 goals in their last 4 home matches in the Premier League.

Liverpool have won 8 of their last 9 home matches in the Premier League.

Liverpool have been winning at both half time and full time in 8 of their last 9 home matches in the Premier League.

ODDS:

Liverpool to win: 1.18

Draw: 6.5

Cardiff to win: 15.0

TV: Live on BT Sport 1 at 12.45. Highlights on BBC’s MOTD at 22.20