Some facts and figures ahead of today’s Premiership clash between Liverpool and Middlesbrough at Anfield, which kicks off at 12.45pm GMT.
Liverpool are aiming for a seventh successive victory in the league and a chance to stretch their unbeaten run to ten games in all competitions. Another clean sheet today would make it ten in a row in all competitions for the Reds, which would equal a club record set in 1988. They’ve kept a total of 11 clean sheets in the league this season. Boro’ have just two clean sheets from this season’s league fixtures, one of which was the opening day match at home to Liverpool, a goalless draw.
Middlesbrough’s Ugo Ehiogu was sent off after 74 minutes of that game. Bolo Zenden missed out on a return to the Riverside in the same fixture due to injury, and misses today’s chance of facing his old side after setting off for knee surgery in the USA.
The early kick-off means Liverpool have a chance to go 2nd, albeit temporarily, if they can win today. A defeat however could see them end up as low as sixth. For Boro’ the highest they can get is 9th, the lowest 15th in what is their 400th game in this league. It’s been a long time since Boro’ went home victorious from Anfield – the last time they won a league match at Anfield was in March 1976 when they beat the Reds 2-0.
Two goals from Liverpool today would see Middlesbrough move to 300 goals conceded overall in the Premier League. The last time Boro’ lost two games in a row was back in March, a run of 23 games, which would come to an end should Liverpool win. They’ve lost their last three away games in the league though and are hoping to avoid making it four today.
Liverpool’s last goal conceded was in October when they went out of the Carling Cup to Crystal Palace. Since that goal they’ve gone 13 hours 54 minutes without a goal against them. Their last goal conceded in the league was against Fulham a few days before the Carling Cup game. That was conceded in stoppage time making it a nice round nine hours since they last conceded in the league.
The extra games brought on due to being made to start in the first round of the Champions League qualifiers, along with the successful appearance in the Super Cup final, mean Liverpool have played more games than any other top-flight side. They’ve played 28 games so far and have extra games coming up next with their participation in the FIFA Club World Cup.
The only Premiership goals Liverpool have conceded at Anfield this season were in the 4-1 defeat by Chelsea. That was a game to forget for the Reds, as was the last game they lost when they were knocked out of the Carling Cup by Crystal Palace. Palace themselves were knocked out in the next round by Boro’.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink needs one more goal to make it 150 goals in England.
Head to head in the league, Liverpool have 53 wins to Middlesbrough 37, with 37 games ending all-square.