STAT PACK: Will Baggies go leftfield?

LIVERPOOL are this weekend's visitors to The Hawthorns, and here the guys over at football statistics website WhoScored.com crunch the numbers ahead of the clash.

The Barclays Premier League table is so tight at present a lot can change in a short space of time, and the Baggies might be 15th, but are still only two points off 11th. 

After entertaining Everton in his opening game, Pepe Mel is back on home soil and now faces the other half of Merseyside.

Everyone is talking about the Reds’ deadly strike force of Luis Suárez and Daniel Sturridge, but neither has ever netted at The Hawthorns and Mel will be hoping his side can extend that run on Sunday.

Albion have won three of their last four top-flight meetings with Liverpool and should certainly take confidence from recent clashes between the sides, including a resounding 3-0 victory in this fixture last season.

Liam Ridgewell starred in that game, picking up the WhoScored man of the match award and a rating of 8.3, and he was key in stopping that man Suárez, who was restricted to one of his worst ever WhoScored ratings - just 6.4. 

Ridgewell will be needed come Sunday as there will be no surprises if Liverpool dominate possession - but the visitors will have to be wary of the home team's attacking threat.

In each of Liverpool's five Barclays Premier League losses this season, the left-back they have come up against has been extremely important, on each occasion recording one of the highest WhoScored ratings on the pitch. 

While defensive duties will have affected those ratings, there is also the fact that teams often focus attacks down that flank against the Reds, possibly seeking to take advantage of a weakness in their opponents' defence. 

For example, when Chelsea overcame Liverpool just after Christmas, a vast proportion of their play (44%) came down the left, and Cesar Azpilicueta came away with a rating of 7.3. 

Ridgewell is undoubtedly capable of restricting Liverpool's forwards and as always, will be a key component for the Baggies this weekend.

* WhoScored.comis a unique website and one of the fastest growing in the sports industry, specialising in the in-depth analysis of detailed football data. Provided with unique stats, they compile and create comprehensive analysis on the major European divisions, including live match stats and player ratings. Follow  @WhoScoredand their editor-in-chief  @alitweedaleon Twitter.

Liverpool have scored in 12 of their last 13 away games, accruing 33 goals during that period. 

However, the Reds have kept just one clean sheet in their last ten on the road and have conceded 20.

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

Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge have netted 36 Barclays Premier League goals between them so far this term.

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

AWAY: Barclays Premier League, Saturday, October 26, 2013, Liverpool 4 (Suarez 12, 17, 55) Albion 1 (Morrison pen 66) 

ALBION: DDWLDL

LIVERPOOL: LLWWDW  

ALBION (v Villa – away L 4-1): Foster; Reid (Berahino 76), Lugano, Olsson, Ridgewell; Mulumbu, Yacob, Morrison; Anelka (Amalfitano 25), Anichebe (Vydra 80), Brunt. Subs not used: Myhill (gk), Jones, McAuley, Dorrans.

LIVERPOOL (v Everton – home W 4-1) Mignolet; Flanagan (Kelly 73), Skrtel, Toure, Cissokho; Coutinho (Luis Alberto 79), Gerrard, Henderson; Sterling, Suarez, Sturridge (Moses 72). Subs not used: Jones (gk), Aspas, Ibe, Smith. 

Joe Allen returns to the squad following an abductor problem. Glen Johnson and Jose Enrique remain sidelined.    

Kevin Friend oversees Saturday’s game. The Leicestershire official refereed Albion's 1-0 opening-day defeat by Southampton at The Hawthorns. Friend has dished out one red and 59 yellow cards in 19 games. 

Selected odds from Sky Bet:

Albion to win: 4/1

Liverpool to win: 8/13

Draw: 3/1

Victor Anichebe to score first goal: 9/1

Luis Suarez to score first goal: 11/4

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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