Middlesbrough v Liverpool
PREMIER LEAGUEVenue: Riverside Date: Saturday, 28 February Kick-off: 1500 GMT
Middlesbrough's fit-again forward Jeremie Aliadiere is set to make his first league start of 2009.
Chris Riggott (knee) and Didier Digard (thigh) remain sidelined.
Liverpool striker Fernando Torres is unlikely to figure as he struggles with an ankle injury but Steven Gerrard may earn a start after a hamstring problem.
The Spanish striker was substituted after 61 minutes of Liverpool's win at Real Madrid on Wednesday, while Gerrard came on in the closing moments.
Middlesbrough (from): Jones, Hoyte, Pogatetz, Wheater, Huth, Arca, O'Neil, Bates, Downing, Aliadiere, Tuncay, Turnbull, McMahon, Walker, Taylor, Emnes, Johnson A, King, Alves.
Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate:"We know we have a tough game on our hands but we go into it with renewed optimism on the back of Wednesday's FA Cup win against West Ham.
"We nearly always give Liverpool a good game and we should have got something at Anfield, leading when we did.
"If we can get the type of atmosphere we got against West Ham then we'll give them a good run for their money."
Benitez denies power struggle with Parry
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez:
"The title is harder after we were held to a draw by Manchester City on Sunday. But let us wait to see the situation after our next two games.
"We have a trip to Middlesbrough on Saturday and then Sunderland are at Anfield next Tuesday. If we can win both of those games, it will really boost us.
"After that we have a week without a game because of the next round of the FA Cup, before we play Real Madrid at home on 10 March.
"Let's see where we are by then because we then go to Old Trafford, a game we know we must win."
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BIG-MATCH FACTS
Second top plays second bottom at Anfield, as Middlesbrough chase their first win in 15 Premier League games, against a Liverpool side on a 15 match unbeaten league sequence. Only Manchester United match that, but they have drawn just two games and picked up 41 points over that period, whereas the Reds have drawn eight, and picked up just 29 points.
Both clubs were victorious on Wednesday night; Liverpool 0-1, away to Real Madrid in the Champions League, while 'Boro knocked West Ham out of the FA Cup with a 2-0 win at the Riverside.
The Reds have won three times as many league games as their North-East opponents (15 to five); Middlesbrough have conceded twice as many Premier League goals as their Merseyside competitors (36 to 18).
Liverpool are looking for three Premier League points on Teesside for the first time since a 1-2 victory on 16 March 2002, when Emile Heskey and John Arne Riise scored for the Reds, and Gareth Southgate replied for 'Boro.
Liverpool have drawn their last three visits to the Riverside.
Distance between the clubs: 143 miles (231 kilometres)
CLUB FORM
MIDDLESBROUGH
Club stats
19th 23 pointsHighest achievable after Saturday's matches: 17thLowest could fall: 20th
Best & Worst categories in 2008-09 Premier League
1. Drawn six and lost eight of 14 Premier League matches (six points out of 42) since defeating Aston Villa 1-2 at Villa Park on 9 November.
2. Not scored in four games, or 495 minutes (eight hours 15 minutes) of Premier League football.
3. Failed to score in eight of the last nine league matches, and netted just one goal in those nine outings; that being Alfonso Alves' effort in the 1-1 draw with Sunderland at the Riverside on 10 January.
4. Six points down on this same stage last season, when 12th in the table. The current total of 23 points after 26 is one point up on their return to the equivalent juncture of the relegation season of 1996-97.
5. Completed 14 top-flight matches since scoring more than one goal in a game.
6. Not won any of the 12 league games in which the opposition has scored first.
7. One of only two clubs without a Premier League victory in 2009; Hull is the other.
8. Drawn four and lost six of a winless 10 against 'Big Four' clubs. The 2-1 home win over Arsenal on 9 December 2007 is their only victory in 20 matches against the quartet of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United.
9. Not won in seven league games against North-West clubs, and not scored in five.
10. Still to play four of the top five in their 12 remaining league fixtures, including this one; must visit Arsenal and entertain Manchester United and Aston Villa. Of their relegation rivals, Portsmouth and Hull are still to come to the Riverside and Stoke are to be visited.
Fixtures
LIVERPOOL
Club stats
2nd 55 pointsHighest achievable after Saturday's matches: 2ndLowest could fall: 3rd
Best & Worst categories in 2008-09 Premier League
1. Won seven and drawn eight of 15 Premier League matches, since losing 2-1, away to Tottenham on 1 November; their only defeat in 33 league games.
2. The current total of 55 points after 26 games is eight points up on last season, and their best ever corresponding accumulation in a Premier League campaign. The previous best was 52 points in 1996-97 when they went on to finish fourth.
3. It is their most fruitful return for 21 seasons, since the title winning campaign of 1987-88.
4. Third in the Premier League's "Last Six Current Form" table with 10 points out of 18, trailing Manchester United (18) and Aston Villa (13).
5. Drawn all five league matches in which they have failed to score.
6. Failed to score in one of 11 Premier League outings; the goalless draw with Stoke at Anfield on 10 January.
7. Lost just one of 13 league games in which they've opening the scoring.
8. Won four and drawn three of an unbeaten seven away top-flight games; the 2-1 reverse against Tottenham at White Hart Lane on 1 November being their last league defeat on the road.
9. Won all three of this season's league fixtures against North-East clubs, won the last six against clubs from the region and lost only one of 20; the defeat being 2-1 against Newcastle at St James' Park on 10 February 2007.
10. This is the first of two Premier League fixtures against North-East clubs. A home clash with Sunderland follows, before the vital away trip to Manchester United and home match with Aston Villa.
Fixtures
KEY PLAYER NOTES
MIDDLESBROUGH
Squad profiles
Stewart DOWNING is the only remaining player to have started every one of Middlesbrough's Premier League matches this season.
If selected:-
Jeremie ALIADIERE will be making his 100th English league appearance (Arsenal, West Ham, Wolves and Middlesbrough) and 50th in a Middlesbrough shirt.
Julio ARCA will make his 250th appearance for an English club (Sunderland and Middlesbrough).
David WHEATER will be making his 100th club career appearance (Darlington, Wolves, Doncaster and Middlesbrough).
LIVERPOOL
Squad profiles
Jose REINA and Jamie CARRAGHER are the only remaining players to have been on the field for every minute of every one of Liverpool's Premier League matches this season.
Steven GERRARD is the club's top Premier League scorer with nine goals.
Fernando TORRES has scored four goals in three appearances against Middlesbrough, including a hat-trick at Anfield on 23 February 2008.
If selected:-
Ryan BABEL will be making his 50th Premier League appearance in a Liverpool shirt.
Yossi BENAYOUN will be making his 150th appearance for an English club (West Ham and Liverpool).
If on the field from the outset:-
GERRARD will be making his 300th Premier League start - all for the Reds.
HEAD TO HEAD
Liverpool are undefeated in eight Premier League meetings with Middlesbrough (four wins, four draws).
The Reds have scored just one league goal in their last six league visits to Teesside; that being Fernando Torres' equaliser in last season's corresponding fixture.
The Merseysiders have failed to score in seven of their last nine away Premier League meetings with Middlesbrough.
Home and awayLeague (inc PL): Middlesbro 37 wins, Liverpool 57, Draws 39Prem: Middlesbro 5 wins, Liverpool 13, Draws 9
at Middlesbrough onlyLeague (inc PL): Middlesbro 24 wins, Liverpool 20, Draws 22Prem: Middlesbro 5 wins, Liverpool 3, Draws 5
LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME
Middlesbrough 1-1 Liverpool12 January 2008 - Ref: Andre Marriner Middlesbrough scorer: Boateng 26Liverpool scorer: Torres 71
THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE
Liverpool 2-1 Middlesbrough23 August 2008 - Ref: Mike Riley Liverpool scorers: Pogatetz 86 og, Gerrard 90Middlesbrough scorer: Mido 70
REFEREE
Rob Styles (Waterlooville, Hampshire)
