Liverpool ready to punish faltering Leeds

Liverpool will be looking to hand Leeds United another painful lesson on Saturday when they return to the scene of one of their best performances last season.

An own goal by then Leeds defender Rio Ferdinand, one from Michael Owen and two from Emile Heskey enabled Liverpool to romp home 4-0 at Elland Road last February and another win is on the cards.

Liverpool are on a high after stringing together four consecutive league wins, while Leeds' form has slumped since their stirring 1-0 win over Manchester United in mid-September.

Terry Venables's side followed that up with a 1-0 defeat at Blackburn Rovers, an embarrassing 4-1 demolition by Arsenal at home and a 0-0 draw at Aston Villa.

Though still favourites, Liverpool have two major injury worries before their noon kick-off -- Heskey and Steven Gerrard.

Heskey was sent home from England's Southampton training camp with a groin injury, while Gerrard looks set to miss out after leaving the pitch on a stretcher following a knock on the hip in Wednesday's 2-2 draw with Macedonia.

"Thankfully it's not something which will keep me out for weeks and weeks," he told the Liverpool website.

GERRARD STRUGGLING

"I'm not ruling out the possibility of playing against Leeds, but I think it's fair to say I'm struggling. I'm in a bit of pain because I've had a nasty bang on my hip.

"I'll try my best for Saturday but it may have to be a case of waiting for Tuesday (in the Champions League) instead."

Reserve keeper Chris Kirkland is equally doubtful after being replaced midway through the first half of England's under-21 win over Macedonia on Tuesday with back trouble.

The better news for Liverpool is the recovery from injury of Dietmar Hamann, who played in Germany's 2-1 win over the Faroe Islands on Wednesday.

Liverpool, just two points behind league leaders Arsenal but four clear of Middlesbrough and Manchester United, need to keep the pressure on Arsene Wenger's champions.

The top two are also the only sides still unbeaten after nine games -- although Arsenal's run extends back to December 2001 and on Saturday they will expect to take all three points from Everton.

For Leeds, the home fans will welcome home a chastened Alan Smith after the striker's red-card at the end of England's draw with Macedonia.

Though praised for his performance by manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, the dismissal was an unwanted reminder of the talented player's temper.

Jonathan Woodgate's assured display in central defence at St Mary's was a lot more encouraging.

Two former Liverpool men are set to miss out on Saturday with Robbie Fowler, yet to recover from hip surgery, definitely ruled out and Leeds skipper Dominic Matteo a major doubt after keyhole surgery on a knee injury.

Currently ninth in the table, but behind Newcastle United and Chelsea only on goal difference and just a point adrift of Fulham, a win would bring Leeds' league position a lot closer to pre-season expectations, let alone provide a much-needed boost in morale.