STAT PACK: Another 'red' letter day?

FIVE league games without defeat and the Baggies will be fearless of any opponent, but in Liverpool this weekend, they face one of the Barclays Premier League's in-form teams, and the guys over at WhoScored.com have taken the time to look over the statistics ahead of the clash.

Over the past few weeks, though, Steve Clarke's men have provided performances good enough to compete with anyone in the league, remaining unbeaten despite facing the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal. Liverpool have fallen off the pace a little at the top, having won only two of their last five Premier League matches since winning their opening three fixtures. 

Albion will be buoyant ahead of the clash with the Merseyside club, against whom they have won four of their last five league meetings. The difference in quality between the two sides that was clear in previous years has diminished in more recent times, with only one place in the table separating the teams come the end of last season and the Baggies will have done much to convince fans they are ready to go one step further this campaign.

Last season the Baggies did the double over Liverpool in the league, winning both at The Hawthorns and at Anfield, without conceding a single goal in over 180 minutes of play. Back in August 2012, Clarke oversaw a 3-0 thrashing of Brendan Rodgers' team, as both men took charge of their respective clubs for the first time. Clarke again came out on top when the Baggies recorded a 2-0 away victory at Anfield in February this year.

Over the two clashes, Liverpool managed 41 shots, but were restricted to only nine shots on target, for which Ben Foster was more than a match, including a penalty save from Steven Gerrard, while at the other end, the Albion strike force was clinical, scoring their five goals from nine attempts on target.  

In front of Foster, Jonas Olsson and Gareth McAuley performed to an impressive level in both of last season’s clashes, and their back-to-back clean sheets against the Reds were far from coincidental. In blocking six shots between them over the two games, they certainly did their bit in stopping Liverpool's talented attackers.

McAuley also scored the opener at Anfield with yet another header from a Chris Brunt – who will no doubt give Liverpool something to think about from set-pieces on Saturday. 

The Baggies centre-backs have built up one of the best and most consistent partnerships in the Premier League and will be charged with halting the efforts of the on-fire duo of Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suárez, who have ten goals between them already this campaign. Having already stopped Arsenal's talented attackers earlier this season, as Olivier Giroud, Mesut Özil and Aaron Ramsey all left the Hawthorns goalless, McAuley, Olsson and co. should be confident of being able to keep SAS under control this weekend.

Albion have won their last three league meetings with Liverpool – including their last two visits to Anfield. The Baggies have scored six goals without reply during this period.  

Albion have not recorded four successive league victories over the Reds since Fred Everiss' side recorded five back-to-back wins between 1936 and 1938 (6-1, 3-1, 2-1, 1-0, 5-1). 

Steve Clarke's side are one of only three Barclays Premier League sides who are unbeaten away from home this season - with hosts Liverpool and table-toppers Arsenal also undefeated on the road.

Albion overcame Liverpool 5-0 in the first meeting between the two sides back in September 1894.

The Baggies have never won three successive fixtures at Anfield. 

Albion ran out 4-1 winners in their first visit to Anfield in December 1888 but their opposition was Everton rather than Liverpool.  

HOME: Barclays Premier League, Saturday, August 18, 2012, Albion 3 (Gera 43, Odemwingie 64 Lukaku 77) Liverpool 0

HOME: Capital One Cup, Wednesday, September 26, 2012, Albion 1 (Tamas 3) Liverpool 2 (Sahin 17, 82)

AWAY: Barclays Premier League, Monday, February 1, 2013, Liverpool 0 Albion 2 (McAuley 81, Lukaku 90) 

ALBION: LDWWDD 

LIVERPOOL: WDLWWD  

ALBION (v Stoke – away D 0-0): Myhill; B Jones, McAuley, Olsson (c), Ridgewell; Yacob, Mulumbu; Amalfitano (Morrison 62), Sessegnon, Berahino (Anelka 62); Anichebe (Long 75). Subs not used: L Daniels (gk), Brunt, Vydra, Dawson. 

LIVERPOOL (v Newcastle – away D 2-2) Mignolet; Toure, Skrtel, Sakho; Johnson (Sterling 83), Henderson, Gerrard, Cissokho (Luis Alberto 63); Moses; Sturridge, Suarez. Subs not used: Jones (gk), Agger, Allen, Kelly, Flanagan. 

More to follow.    

Jon Moss oversees Saturday’s game. The West Yorkshire official has refereed six games this season, dishing out one red and 21 yellow cards. Moss took control of Albion’s 2-0 victory at Anfield last season. 

Selected odds from Sky Bet:

Albion to win: 7/1

Liverpool to win: 4/11

Draw: 7/2

Victor Anichebe to score first goal: 10/1

Luis Suarez to score first goal: 7/2

Albion to win 2-0 for the second successive season: 40/1

If you fancy a flutter with the club's online betting partner, click here.

Tickets 

Tickets for this game sold out earlier this month. Supporters are urged not to travel to Anfield without a ticket.  

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