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HOTLINE: 
Last week’s 1-0 win at Huddersfield extended their best ever start to a Premier League season and the 4-0 Champions League thrashing of Red Star Belgrade in midweek will boost their confidence ahead of the visit of a Cardiff side who enjoyed their first win of the season against Fulham last time out.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has never faced Neil Warnock and said: “I’m really looking forward to meeting him, I heard a lot. Cardiff deserve all our respect and they will get it.”
Meanwhile, Cardiff manager Warnock has hailed the hosts’ front three as “the best in the world”, conceding that his side are unlikely to leave Anfield with a positive result.
“It’s massive,” Warnock said of his unbeaten opponents. “It’s virtually impossible for any team in the current game.
“I think the front three is probably the best in the world. We’ve all got to play at the top of our potential to give them a good game and hope they have an off day.”
Team news
Liverpool have no fresh injury concerns but will remain without midfielders Naby Keita and Jordan Henderson, who are both out with minor hamstring issues.
Cardiff pair Harry Arter and Josh Murphy are fitness doubts, after the former suffered an ankle injury during last weekend’s 4-2 win over Fulham, while top-scorer Murphy picked up a knock in training this week.
Gary Madine could return to the squad after a virus, but Nathaniel Mendez-Laing (knee), Lee Peltier (shoulder) and Danny Ward (knee) remain sidelined with Joe Ralls serving the second game of a three-match ban.
Opta stats
- Liverpool and Cardiff haven’t met since the 2013-14 season in the Premier League – the Reds won both games, winning 3-1 at Anfield and 6-3 away from home.
- Cardiff’s last league win over Liverpool was in December 1959 in the second tier, a 4-0 victory at Anfield in Bill Shankly’s third league match in charge of Liverpool.
- There have been at least three goals scored in each of the last 10 meetings between Liverpool and Cardiff in all competitions, with 45 goals scored in total.
- Liverpool have lost one of their last 45 home Premier League matches against newly promoted teams (W35 D9), with that defeat against Blackpool in 2010-11 – they’ve won all seven under Jurgen Klopp at Anfield by an aggregate score of 21-2.
- Cardiff have lost 14 of their last 15 Premier League matches against ‘big six’ opposition (D1), conceding two or more goals in 12 of those games.
Merson’s prediction
Cardiff will be looking to get out of Anfield without any injures. It’s a case of concentrating on their next game. However, Neil Warnock’s side are a threat from set-pieces and have it in them to frustrate Liverpool.
These are the games where Liverpool can slip up, which is why Manchester City will win the league easily – they ease past these teams. Sometimes these games are a grind for Liverpool.
They will win this one but Cardiff will make it difficult.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0
