LIVERPOOL VS CARDIFF CITY: PREVIEW

Liverpool will be looking to move to the top of the Premier League, for the time-being at least, as they host Cardiff City at Anfield.

If Liverpool were to collect three points on Merseyside, they would leapfrog champions Manchester City, who travel to Tottenham on Monday night.

Liverpool are fresh out of their Champions League thrashing of Red Star Belgrade in midweek - with the Reds putting four past the Serbian side with no response.

Cardiff should also be brimming in confidence after their first win of the season last Saturday - also putting four past their opponents, Fulham.

The last time these sides met, a certain Luis Suarez scored a hat-trick: Cardiff 3-6 Liverpool (Source: Sky Sports)

TEAM NEWS:

Jurgen Klopp could reward Fabinho with his full Premier League debut after an impressive performance against Red Star on Wednesday.

The Brazilian midfielder could take advantage of Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita's injuries with the latter definitely sidelined and the former a doubt for the trip of Cardiff.

Sadio Mane is set to return to the Liverpool side after missing last weekend's win at Huddersfield; with the Senegalese international scoring in midweek.

Following their first win of the campaign, Cardiff boss Neil Warnock is unlikely to alter his side at all from the XI that beat Fulham last weekend.

Joe Ralls is still serving a suspension for the Bluebirds.

MANAGER'S COMMENTS:

Klopp was asked whether Liverpool would deploy the same system they started with against Red Star in the Champions League and also spoke on Fabinho, who impressed on the night.

"I don't know what you can expect," Klopp said. "It was good - it looked good. It was a game where it made sense to play like this, it wasn't just because of injuries.

"People were quite excited about Fabinho's performance. It was really good but he is still young and can, and will, improve.

"I was happy for him because even though I said it was no problem, I know for a player it was different.

"You want to be involved immediately but I wanted to wait until the right moment and that was the right moment."

Cardiff boss Warnock believes Liverpool are "virtually impossible" to beat at the moment wit the way they're performing.

"It is virtually impossible for any team in the current game (to beat the Reds)," Warnock claimed. "Their front three is probably the best front three in the world.

"We've all got to play at the top of our potential to give them a good game and hope they have an off-day."

But the 69-year-old hasn't given up hope of a positive result for the Welsh side on Saturday afternoon.

"I think we can go there and cause problems," Warnock continued. "I hope the lads are looking forward to it - it's a special place in football, a remarkable place. It's massive."

Source: Daily Express

STATS:

If Liverpool don't concede against the Bluebirds, they will set a club record of 10 consecutive clean sheets at Anfield.

Likewise, Alisson will become the second goalkeeper in Liverpool's history to keep seven clean sheets in their opening 10 starts.

Cardiff scored as many goals against Fulham last weekend as they did in their previous eight games in the Premier League this season.

The Bluebirds have struggled badly on the road, only scoring one goal in their last six Premier League away matches.

Warnock has lost all four of his away games as a manager in Liverpool, without his team scoring a goal.

BETTING ODDS:

Liverpool: 1/9

Draw: 10/1

Cardiff: 25/1