PREVIEW: CARDIFF CITY v LIVERPOOL

The Bluebirds take on the Reds at CCS on Saturday

Cardiff City v Liverpool
Venue: Cardiff City Stadium
Date: Saturday, 22nd March, KO 3pm
Match-tag:#CARLIV (Live tweets on @CardiffCityFC)
LISTEN LIVE ON CARDIFF CITY PLAYER

Cardiff City welcome Brendan Rodgers’ title challenging Liverpool to Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday, the Reds’ first away trip to face the Bluebirds since 1959.

MATCH FACTS

-    Cardiff City have won their last five home league games against Liverpool, but the last of these was in August 1959.
-    Luis Suarez has become only the second player to score 25 Barclays Premier League goals for Liverpool in a single season (Robbie Fowler twice).
-    30% of Cardiff City’s goals have come from headers, the highest proportion of any team in the top division, while Liverpool (11) have scored the most in total.
-    Liverpool have conceded the highest proportion of headed goals (23%).
-    Cardiff City have scored the highest percentage of goals in the second half (74%), while Liverpool have scored the highest proportion in the first half (63%).
-    The Reds have kept consecutive clean sheets in the Premier League for the first time since September, but no-one has stopped them scoring since Arsenal in early November.
-    Cardiff City have scored 15 goals in their last three home league meetings with the Reds, winning 3-2, 3-0 and 6-1 between 1957 and 1960.

KEY PLAYER: Steven Gerrard



With a first Barclays Premier League title now within reach for long-serving captain Steven Gerrard, there will be few more determined to bring back a first top flight crowd to Anfield since 1990 than the Liverpool midfielder. Despite now occupying a deeper role in the Reds midfield, Gerrard has scored 10 goals in the league this season in 25 appearances.

ONES TO WATCH: Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge



Now often labelled the ‘S.A.S’ the front pairing of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge has proved to be the most potent attacking pairing in the Premier League this season. With both topping the league scoring charts with 43 goals between them, their record is better than fifteen club totals in the Premier League this season.

RECENT FORM (ALL COMPETITIONS):

Cardiff City: DLLLWL
Last time out: Everton 2-1 Cardiff City – Saturday, 15th March, Barclays Premier League.



An injury time goal from Seamus Coleman condemned Cardiff City to a 2-1 defeat at Goodison Park denying the Bluebirds an invaluable Premier League point in the cruellest of fashions.

Team - Cardiff City: Marshall, Caulker (C), Medel, Campbell, Kim, Noone (Daehli 62), Mutch (Whittingham 56), Cala, Theophile-Catherine, Fabio (Zaha 77), John. Subs not used: Lewis; Jones, Gunnarsson, Cowie.

Liverpool:  WWWLWW
Last time out: Manchester United 0-3 Liverpool – Sunday 16th March, Barclays Premier League.



A brace from the spot from Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez’ 25th Premier League goal of the season was enough to secure a dominant victory for the Reds at Old Trafford and push them to within four points of league leaders Chelsea with a game in hand. 

Team – Liverpool: Mignolet, Agger, Skrtel, Johnson, Flanagan, Sterling (Coutinho, 72), Gerrard (Lucas, 87), Allen, Henderson, Suarez, Sturridge (Aspas, 89). Subs not used: Jones, Cissokho, Sakho, Moses.

LAST COMPETITIVE MEETING:

2013/14: Saturday, 21st December 2013, Barclays Premier League – Liverpool 3-1 Cardiff City



City were consigned to a 3-1 defeat at home to Premier League table toppers Liverpool despite a spirited second half fightback and performance from the Bluebirds.

Cardiff City: Marshall; Theophile-Catherine, Caulker (C), Turner, Taylor; Medel (Campbell), Gunnarsson (Cornelius), Noone, Mutch, Whittingham; Odemwingie (Kim). Unused subs: Lewis; Hudson, Cowie, John.

Liverpool: Mignolet, Johnson, Flanagan (Kelly), Skrtel, Sakho, Lucas, Allen, Henderson, Coutinho (Agger), Sterling, Suarez. Unused subs: Jones, Toure, Alberto, Aspas, Moses.

REFEREE: Neil Swarbrick

One of only two referees yet to show a red card in the 2013-14 Premier League season, Swarbrick first took up refereeing at the age of 29 and has enjoyed a rapid rise up the officiating ranks since.

Swarbrick was last in charge of a match involving the Bluebirds in January, officiating the 4-2 defeat to Manchester City at Etihad Stadium.

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