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Wanderers go into the clash with the Merseysiders knowing that a win would take them above Liverpool in the league whilst the Reds will be hoping to claim victory to move themselves into fourth place to take advantage of the fact that fellow European chasers Charlton Athletic play a day later against Chelsea.
Sam Allardyce is hoping he can call upon the services of veteran Youri Djorkaeff after the Frenchman missed last week's win over Charlton due to hamstring trouble however fellow midfielder Stelios Giannakopoulos is doubtful with an ankle injury.
Bolton will be without injured trio Steve Howey (hamstring), Florent Laville and Ricardo Gardner (both knee) as well as their much coveted captain Jay-Jay Okocha who is still on African Nations Cup duty with Nigeria. Loan signing Jon Otsemobor is in line to face the club he is on loan from after the Reds failed to put in a clause to say otherwise whilst another new signing Dwight Pezzarossi is also named in the squad after getting international clearance during the week.
Liverpool will be missing Senegalese duo Salif Diao and El-Hadji Diouf as both are representing their country in the African Nations Cup. Emile Heskey is out with a hamstring injury but further good news for Gerard Houllier is that strike duo Milan Baros and Florent Sinama-Pongolle returned from injury in midweek to play for the reserves and could come into contention. Chris Kirkland has now recovered from a hand injury sustained against Bolton on Boxing Day and could replace French youngster Patrice Luzi on the substitutes bench whilst there is also a first team return for Vladimir Smicer.
Wanderers defeated Liverpool at Anfield earlier on in the season when goals from Mario Jardel, Jay-Jay Okocha and Youri Djorkaeff game them a 3-2 win over the Reds in the Carling Cup. However just over three weeks later the Merseysiders gained revenge in the league with a 3-1 win thanks to three headed goals coming from Sami Hyppia, Florent Sinama-Pongolle and Vladimir Smicer so at the moment it is even between the two sides. Last season Liverpool won 3-2 at the Reebok thanks to a last minute Emile Heskey strike after Ricardo Gardner and Ivan Campo had cancelled out two Milan Baros goals. The game should be an interesting clash with all to play for as both sides look to European Qualification.
PLAYED FOR BOTH
PETER BEARDSLEY
DICK EDMED
JOE HEWITT
ROGER HUNT
GEORGE KAY
SAMMY LEE
EPHRAIM LONGWORTH
JASON MCATEER
PHIL NEAL
JON OTSEMOBOR
MARK SEAGRAVES
PETER THOMPSON
JOHN WHEELER