Liverpool vs Hull City: Preview & Prediction

In-form Liverpool return to Anfield after two games on the road in all competitions, as Hull City visit Jurgen Klopp’s Reds on Saturday afternoon.

Following on from an impressive victory over Chelsea away at Stamford Bridge last Friday night, Liverpool are now sixth in the table, after two top-flight wins in a row.

Dejan Lovren and Jordan Henderson’s spectacular 25-yard strike put Klopp’s men in the ascendency at the interval, prior to Diego Costa pulling one back for the West Londoners on the hour, but the visitors held onto claim maximum points.

In what had been a mixed start to the season, the Anfield outfit have really come into their own in recent Premier League fixtures, and with an eye on continental qualification, and a return to Europe next term, results such as the triumph on Friday will certainly help the cause.

On Wednesday, Liverpool advanced to the EFL Cup fourth round following their comfortable 3-0 win over Championship side Derby County at the iPro Stadium, as efforts from Ragnar Klavan, Philippe Coutinho and Divock Origi secured progression.

They welcome Mike Phelan’s Hull City, who are looking to get back on track, having suffered a heavy defeat to Arsenal at the KCOM Stadium last Saturday.

Alexis Sanchez’s double in either half, which sandwiched Theo Walcott’s goal, were added to by Granit Xhaka’s long-range pile-driver in stoppage-time, after Robert Snodgrass pulled one back for the Humberside club.

A result that places Hull 12th in the standings upon their recent return to the top-flight, Phelan’s side are without a win in three games, after their impressive opening to the campaign.

However, the Tigers returned to winning ways on Wednesday, albeit in the EFL Cup away at Stoke City, defeating the out-of-form Potters 2-1 in Staffordshire.

Michael Dawson’s solitary goal in April 2015 provided Hull with all three points at the KCOM Stadium when the sides last played each other in the Premier League.

The Tigers’ key man, Snodgrass (Centre) – Photo: Mark Leech / Offside.

Team News:

Liverpool are set to welcome back goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, Dejan Lovren, Emre Can, James Milner and Sadio Mane into the starting line-up for the game at home to Hull City.

Fortunately, Klopp has no fresh injury concerns to worry about, the German could pick the same side that won at Chelsea in their last outing.

The injured quartet of Allan McGregor, Alex Bruce, Michael Dawson and Moses Odubajo remain the only long-term absentees from the Hull line-up.

Jake Livermore will also sit out the Anfield clash. The central midfielder is suspended following a sending off in last weekend’s Arsenal defeat.

League Positions: Liverpool – 6th (10pts); Hull City – 12th (7pts)
Last Meeting: Hull City 1-0 Liverpool – (April 28, 2015)
League Form: Liverpool – WLDWW; Hull City – WWLDL
Key Men: Liverpool – Philippe Coutinho; Hull City – Robert Snodgrass
Shoot Says: Liverpool 3-1 Hull City