Liverpool FC: 5 Things the Reds Can Do To Beat Wigan Athletic

Kenny Dalglish and his team must focus on the most immediate task in hand.

They need to beat Wigan Athletic in the Premier League—24 hours after Liverpool FC received word from the FA on Tuesday night that star striker Luis Suarez was to be banned for eight matches following allegations of racist language against Manchester United's Patrice Evra (via USA Today).

Last season, the Reds were unable to take three points from the DW Stadium—despite Wigan lying near the foot of the table. Indeed, they have not won at Wigan since 2007.

Three points and a third consecutive victory would aid Liverpool's push for a Top Four spot, particularly with fellow challengers Tottenham and Chelsea playing each other the day after Liverpool's game.

Here are five ways Liverpool can ensure another opportunity to make up ground, ensure the Top Four is not lost and beat Wigan Athletic.

Luis Suarez: Play Him If His Mind Is Right

With five goals in the Premier League and eight in all competitions, Luis Suarez is Liverpool's top scorer for the current campaign.

Aside from that, he is far and away Liverpool's best player on current form and the most reliable spark in the final third of the pitch.

The recent "guilty" verdict passed down on him came with a £40,000 fine and an eight-game suspension, but that is pending any possible appeal.

Should Liverpool and Suarez choose to go down that route, they will have the forward available for the Wigan game, and so Kenny Dalglish must check if the Uruguayan is in the right frame of mind to go out on the pitch and do his thing.

With him, the Reds have a better chance of winning, but they should really be able to see off Wigan regardless. It is better for Dalglish to be certain that Suarez can focus on the match rather than take a risk with including him.

Pressure the Wigan Athletic Central Defenders

Wigan Athletic defender Antolin Alcaraz is a fairly cultured style of player—happy with the ball at his feet and to bring it out of defence and strong in the air and able to put a tackle in.

Partner Steve Gohouri is strong, athletic, prefers to clear his lines and a versatile performer.

They have one thing in common though: the concentration and reliability of Titus Bramble. Drunk on vodka. Asleep.

Pressuring the defensive duo into quickly getting rid of the ball will inevitably aid Liverpool in their quest for three points. If they manage to launch it up-field, it is likely that the ball will return to the Reds: Usually Wigan will only leave a centre forward—and perhaps Victor Moses— higher up the field. But if the pressure is applied regularly and quickly, Alcaraz in particular is prone to trying to play his way out of trouble—often leaving himself exposed to being caught in possession.

With Luis Suarez, Craig Bellamy and/or Dirk Kuyt as key players in this type of approach, it would be no surprise to see those three line up in offensive positions for Liverpool.

Be Clinical!

After Liverpool scored two goals in the opening 15 minutes against Aston Villa, you could almost be forgiven for thinking that they had turned the corner in the chance conversion stakes and were about to hand out a real battering.

However, after that point, the Reds returned to their old habits and saw a succession of wasted chances to increase their lead. They remained unable to find the net three times against any opposition since the 3-1 win over Bolton in August—17 matches ago.

Luis Suarez struck the crossbar and the post, Charlie Adam saw an effort deflected just wide when perhaps Jonjo Shelvey was better placed to score, Shelvey himself saw an effort saved and another skewed well over the bar and even defender Daniel Agger got himself into a great position, only to see his header diverted wide at the start of the second half.

Ali Al-Habsi—the Wigan goalkeeper—is a very good shot-stopper, but tends to parry the ball out from inside his goal-frame rather than catch it or punch clear.

Following up chances, therefore, is a must for all attacking players, and hopefully Liverpool can put Wigan to the sword.

Retain the Defensive Solidity of the Last Two Months

Since the beginning of October, Liverpool have improved markedly on their defensive work, conceding just five goals in 12 games, and keeping clean sheets in all of their last four matches.

The latest run has coincided with a settled back five of Pepe Reina in goal, Glen Johnson, Martin Skrtel, Daniel Agger and Jose Enrique playing across the defence.

Wigan Athletic have not been prolific this season, with 15 goals scored in 16 Premier League games, but in Victor Moses and Jordi Gomez they do have creative players capable of making chances, as well as one or two set-piece specialists on their side.

A fifth consecutive shut-out for Liverpool would go an awfully long way towards determining a positive outcome from the match for the Reds.

Not Too Much Needs To Change from Liverpool's Previous Victory over Aston Villa

Two goals from corners and another clean sheet against Aston Villa were most welcome indeed, though in truth after Liverpool went ahead so early on in the game, the Midlands side offered no kind of threat at all.

A more stubborn and resurgent Wigan Athletic may be a different proposition altogether, especially following on from their late show against Chelsea which saw them snatch a point in the final minutes of the game.

Liverpool will likely go with almost the same side against Wigan Athletic, though I would perhaps be inclined to make the change of bringing in Dirk Kuyt in place of Stewart Downing on this occasion.

Should Luis Suarez not be available for selection, Kuyt would rather take his place, with Craig Bellamy playing the centre-forward's role.

Jonjo Shelvey did enough to suggest he will be given another opportunity to shine.

........................Reina

Johnson Skrtel Agger Jose Enrique

............Henderson Adam

Kuyt.............Shelvey.........Bellamy

......................Suarez

Subs: Doni, Carragher, Kelly, Coates, Maxi, Downing, Carroll.