West Brom-Liverpool Preview

Posted Saturday, April 21, 2012 by YAHOO Sport

LONDON (SE) - Roy Hodgson will return to Anfield on Sunday afternoon when his West Bromwich Albion team play Liverpool.

The West Brom manager was sacked as Liverpool manager last season, but could yet finish above the Anfield club with his new side and isn't expecting a friendly reception from the fans of his former club.

"There is no reason to give me a good reception because they didn't like me when I was there. I can't see they are going to like me now," said Hodgson. "There aren't that many people I worked with that are still there and people like Damien Comolli (director of football) have moved on. But it will be nice to see one or two players I worked with.

"I'm sure they will be in a buoyant mood. Their home form has not been that good so I think they will be concentrating on getting the three points and as close to fourth spot as they can.

"I don't see their FA Cup success having any bearing other than it will make them more confident and maybe take a bit of pressure off them in terms of the game. Had they lost the semi-final, then all the attention would have been on their home record, which hasn't been great this season."

Liverpool go into the game on the back of their FA Cup semi-final win over Everton, and manager Kenny Dalglish insists that their cup exploits won't distract the players from a strong league finish.

"They are coming off the back of a fantastic performance and result at Wembley on Saturday, but for us to think that it is finished would be wrong and we want to continue," said Dalglish. "It is not difficult for them to lift themselves. They are not complacent or arrogant. We are delighted we got the result at the weekend, but we will not get carried away.

"The players have been really professional in the way they have gone about their job and I am sure they will continue to do that from now until the end of the season in every game we play. They come in and are determined to do their training properly and they want to win every game on the pitch.

"They enjoyed the result (against Everton) but I am sure they will dust themselves down and try to get some positive results until the end of the season."

Liverpool are without Lucas Leiva (knee), while Charlie Adam (knee) is a doubt. The Baggies have doubts over Paul Scharner (illness), Jonas Olsson (groin), Marc-Antoine Fortune (hamstring) and Somen Tchoyi (illness), while Steven Reid (ankle) and James Morrison (knee) remain out.

Liverpool have won six straight league meetings against West Brom at Anfield and are unbeaten at home against the Baggies in the last 21 meetings - a run that stretches back to 1967. The Reds have won just one in six at home and are on course for their lowest ever number of home wins in a Premier League season. A win will mathematically guarantee West Brom's Premier League survival.