Premier League Preview: Liverpool v Hull City

Liverpool will be out to gain a measure of revenge on Hull City when the two meet in the Premier League on Wednesday.

Hull recorded their first win over the 18-times English champions with a 3-1 victory in the December 1 fixture at the KC Stadium, and will be brimming with confidence following Saturday s 6-0 thrashing of Fulham.

Steve Bruce s side set a new club record for the biggest margin of victory in a Premier League game against the struggling Craven Cottage outfit, with all the goals coming in the second half.

Liverpool, who could welcome captain Steven Gerrard back from a hamstring injury, spent Christmas Day top of the table, but back-to-back away losses against Manchester City and Chelsea have seen them fall six points off the pace.

A return to Anfield will provide some cause for optimism, though, with Brendan Rodgers side having won eight of their nine Premier League games there this season.

Only Manchester City can better Liverpool s return of 25 goals on home soil this season, underlining the size of the task facing a Hull side who have taken just five points from nine away matches.

Hull s 3-1 victory at home to Liverpool preceded a run of five league matches without a win until the convincing triumph over Fulham, which came just two days after Steve Bruce s men had surrendered a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 against champions Manchester United.

Such inconsistent form has left Hull in a mid-table position, but the seven-point gap to the relegation zone affords last term s Championship runners-up a degree of comfort.

History leans heavily in the hosts favour this weekend, with Liverpool having won 12 of the 17 matches between the sides in all competitions.

On their last trip to the red half of Merseyside, in September 2009, Hull slumped to a 6-1 defeat, while in the previous season they had to settle for a 2-2 draw despite going 2-0 up after 22 minutes.

However, Liverpool s injury problems, though slightly eased by Gerrard s return to training on Monday, could afford Hull the chance to go one better this time.

Daniel Sturridge (ankle), Jose Enrique (knee), Joe Allen (abductor), Mamadou Sakho (hamstring) and Sebastian Coates (knee) are ruled out, while Jon Flanagan (hamstring) is doubtful.

That leaves Gerrard s potential return as well as the fact Jordan Henderson has shaken off a knock sustained in the defeat at Chelsea as the only positives from the Anfield treatment room.

Hull, on the other hand, have relatively few injury concerns.

Sone Aluko (calf) remains sidelined, while Robbie Brady (groin) and Stephen Quinn (hamstring) also look set to miss out.

It remains to be seen what hairstyle midfielder Tom Huddlestone will opt for after he ended his long goal-drought with the fourth against Fulham.

The midfielder pledged more than a year ago, while still at Tottenham, that he would not cut his hair until he scored.

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