They face an Arsenal team that has been in the form that wins championships with nine wins in the past 10 matches. Arsenal have set an Emirates Stadium record of eight league wins on the bounce at home.
The Gunners must be heavy favourites this weekend, especially with Olivier Giroud grabbing nine goals in his past nine matches and putting a coat of gloss paint on his reputation.
Despite their arrogant and complacent display in losing at home to Monaco in the Champions League, Arsenal have been playing some sizzling football. The return of Aaron Ramsey from injury has boosted the Gunners, and Santi Cazorla is a tireless creator, while Mesut Ozil is looking fitter and sharper despite the bizarre episode in which he reported ill for the trip to Newcastle yet was seen in a German nightclub that very same evening.
Arsenal's only slight concern is that Alexis Sanchez's form has dipped a little, with only one goal in his past 12 matches.
Brendan Rodgers has been under some extra stress in recent weeks but must find a way to outsmart Arsene Wenger on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers must plot a successful strategy without the services of his key defender Martin Skrtel, who starts a three-game suspension. Indeed, his absence might be felt more keenly than that of the also banned Steven Gerrard, who might not have made the starting lineup anyway.
Then there is the muscle tear that has been troubling Daniel Sturridge and the club's clumsily handled impasse over whether Raheem Sterling will sign a new £100,000-a-week "treble-your-money" contract. Sterling went public this week insisting he was no "money-grabber," saying he was interested only in winning trophies. His apparent reluctance to sign any new deal can only mean he is not sure Liverpool are equipped to win things.
Either that, or Sterling wants to see what reinforcements are signed to make Rodgers' team genuine challengers next season. In any event, his contract runs to 2017 and his attempted charm offensive in giving a BBC interview without the club's permission is looking naive.
If Sturridge is ruled out for Saturday's game, it is possible that Sterling might be asked to play at the point of the attack. It is hard to imagine the manager opting for the out-of-favour Rickie Lambert or Mario Balotelli for such a big game.
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