Hull City vs Liverpool. Premier League.
MKM StadiumAttendance24,822.
Saturday 4 February 2017 14:03, UK
Liverpool will look to end their worst winless league run under Jurgen Klopp when they visit revitalised Hull City on Saturday.
Klopp's men have won only one of their nine games in all competitions this year and are without a victory in their last four league outings, which has dented their title challenge.
There were signs of improvement during the 1-1 draw with Chelsea in midweek, but that result kept them 10 points off Antonio Conte's league leaders.
Liverpool beat Hull City 5-1 in the corresponding fixture at Anfield earlier this season, registering 32 shots to Hull's two.
However, new Tigers boss Marco Silva has won all three of his home games in charge across all competitions since replacing Mike Phelan in January.
New boys Kamil Grosicki and Alfred N'Diaye will both feature in Hull's squad.
Andrea Ranocchia is also pushing for his first start for the Tigers after coming off the bench in the second half of his side's goalless draw at Manchester United in midweek.
Dieumerci Mbokani is available after returning from African Nations Cup duty but Ahmed Elmohamady is still absent and Lazar Markovic misses out against his parent club.
Forward Sadio Mane is set for his first Liverpool start since January 2.
The forward, who returned from the African Nations Cup earlier in the week, came off the bench against Chelsea on Tuesday but is now ready to go from the off.
Right-back Nathaniel Clyne continues to play with a rib injury but otherwise manager Jurgen Klopp has his strongest available squad.
Hull City have lost just one of their four previous home Premier League games against Liverpool, winning the last two (W2 D1 L1).
James Milner has been directly involved in six goals in his last six Premier League games against Hull City (five goals, one assist).
Hull are the only side yet to keep a clean sheet at home in the Premier League this season, conceding in all 11 games at the KCOM Stadium.
Klopp is on his longest run without a win in league matches since February 2015 when he was manager of Borussia Dortmund (a run of five).
Milner has converted three away penalties for Liverpool in the Premier League this season - only Steven Gerrard (8) in 2013/14 has scored more in a season for the Reds.
Hull's 0-0 draw with Manchester United on Wednesday saw them keep only the second clean sheet of the Premier League season - a joint-league low with Crystal Palace.
Only Sunderland (144) have allowed their opponents more shots on target this season than Hull City (138).
Liverpool have attempted more shots on target (143) and scored more goals (52) than any other Premier League team this season.
Hull have been playing well since the appointment of Silva. They haven't quite got all the results they wanted but they've been giving a decent account of themselves. The problem is the teams around them have been winning. Hull have had some difficult games but if they can get them out of the way, then there will be some winnable ones that follow.
You don't know what you are going to get with Liverpool. Because of the defeat to Swansea a couple of weeks ago they put themselves in the position where they needed to beat Chelsea. If they'd have beaten Swansea a draw would have been alright.
The problem is Chelsea are running away with this because of their results against the sides outside the top six. From the 15 games they've played against sides outside the top six, they've picked up 14 wins and a draw. That's incredible, and that's why they are where they are. The other top six sides, including Liverpool, are dropping points against the so-called lesser teams. I see that continuing for Liverpool this weekend with Hull snatching a draw.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (7/1 with Sky Bet)
Punters can get even money for the away side to win and over 2.5 goals to be scored in the match, with Hull to nick a 1-0 win 18/1 in the correct score market.
Roberto Firmino is 7/2 favourite to open the scoring, with Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi (both 4/1) close behind, while Abel Hernandez is considered the most likely threat for the hosts at 9/1.
There's £250,000 up for grabs again this weekend for simply predicting the six correct scores in the Premier League 3pm kick-offs. Enter your selections here.
