Football: Weekend guide to the Premiership: Liverpool v Sheff Wed

Last season: 2-1

LIVERPOOL WILL be looking for only their third home win in the Premiership since early September when they face Sheffield Wednesday this afternoon. Since beating Coventry at Anfield on 9 September, they have have won only four of 11 home games in all competitions, leaving them with their worst overall record for 44 years. Manager Gerard Houllier has the long-term injury problems of Steve McManaman, Oyvind Leonhardsen, Sean Dundee and Rob Jones to contend with and is unlikely to have many alternatives to the side that lost 1-0 at Wimbledon last Sunday.

Attempts to sign the veteran German defender Thomas Helmer have broken down due to contractual problems, and Houllier is still considering a move for Cameroon defender Rigobert Song, who has been training at the club this week.

Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Wilson looks set to name an unchanged line-up as his side seek their third straight win. Wilson has no fresh injury worries following the Owls' victory at home to Charlton last week, so the same starting XI are likely to keep their places for the sixth consecutive game.

LIVERPOOL (from): James, Carragher, Babb, Staunton, Heggem, Ince, Redknapp, Berger, Bjornebye, Owen, Fowler, Riedle, Harkness, McAteer, Friedel, Kvarme, Gerrard, Matteo.

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY (from): Srnicek, Atherton, Jonk, Walker, Carbone, Booth, Hyde, Sanetti, Cobian, Humphreys, Briscoe, Oakes, Hinchcliffe, Sedloski, Emerson, Magilton, Rudi, Alexandersson, Sonner.

Suspensions: None.

Referee: A Wilkie.