Liverpool vs. Wigan Athletic: Date, Time, Live Stream and Preview

It's amazing what a single win can do for a team's position on the table.

Going into this weekend's match, Liverpool are 13th with 12 points and Wigan is 14th with 11 points.

Liverpool have three losses on the season and six draws. Wigan Athletic have six losses on the season and two draws, but they also have three wins, one more than Liverpool.

Twice as many losses and only one point behind, that's the power of winning just one match in the English Premier League. Both teams desperately need a win to get their seasons on track before it's too late. 

Where: Anfield, Liverpool, England

When: Saturday, November 17, 10 a.m. EST

Live Stream: Fox Soccer2Go

Wigan: What They Need to Do to Win

Arouna Koné will have to bring his best against a Liverpool defense that is slowly getting back to last season's stellar form. 

Wigan's attackers will have to take advantage of the youth in the midfield if Brendan Rodgers decides to play Andre Wisdom at right back again. 

The more shots they can get on goal, the more they will rattle Brad Jones' cage, who has looked more and more comfortable each match. 

If Pepe Reina gets the nod from Rodgers, meaning he's fully fit after his injury, then perhaps Wigan can test his form.

Defensively, Wigan will have to contain Suarez for 90-plus minutes. Chelsea did a wonderful job shutting down Suarez for most of the game, but they left him alone for just a few seconds on the back post and it cost them two points. 

Wigan are coming off a loss against West Bromwich Albion last weekend but were able to beat Tottenham at White Hart Lane the week prior. They certainly have the giant-killer mentality, and Liverpool are far from the giant they used to be. 

Liverpool: They Need to Pick Up Three Points

Liverpool have to pick up wins, and Wigan are a team that they can ill-afford to drop points to.

Six draws on the season and a few giveaways have them sitting in the bottom half. For Liverpool, that is unacceptable. 

Liverpool are unbeaten in their last six outings in the Premier League, but they have only managed to win one of those three matches. 

Three points could potentially put them back in the upper half of the table this weekend, and that could be the spark they need to finish the year strong before the transfer window.

If Liverpool can put together a string of wins, they might find themselves in the top six or eight within striking distance of the coveted top four spots. 

That type of finish to the year will likely have an affect on their transfer moves in January. If the higher-ups see that Liverpool have a shot at getting a Champions League berth this season, they might be more inclined to loosen the purse strings. 

It all starts this weekend with Wigan. The goal is simple. Win at all costs. 

Prediction:

Liverpool win in typical Liverpool fashion, sloppily.

But a win is a win, and points don't get deducted for the manner in which you win.

Luis Suarez will pick out another goal, adding to his league-leading tally, and Steven Gerrard will get his third of the season, as he puts the game away.

Koné will make things interesting late in the game, but it'll be too little too late. 

Final Score: Liverpool 2-1 Wigan