Liverpool are looking to equal a club record of 10 successive clean sheets set in the 1987/88 season whilst Daglish was boss.
Vital Quotes:
Benitez said: ‘Middlesbrough will be a difficult game but we must win it. It’s important to win before we go to Japan and keep ourselves in a good position. When we come back from Japan we will have two games in hand and it’s very important to win against Middlesbrough.
McClaren said: ‘Liverpool are a great team, full of quality. They are on a fantastic run at present so they will be favourites and their fans will expect them to win. It’s up to us to perform the way we know we can.
Liverpool Team News:
Dietmar Hamann is out with a heavily bruised leg. Bolo Zenden is still out with a knee injury and Darren Potter misses out with back problems. Sissoko is back in contention following his suspension, Xabi Alonso could also return.
News just in: Kewell has been named in place of Luis Garcia who is on the bench, and Xabi Alonso will start.
Team in full: Reina, Finnan, Riise, Hyypia, Carragher, Gerrard, Sissoko, Alonso, Kewell, Crouch, Morientes. Subs: Dudek, Cisse, Garcia, Josemi, Warnock.
Player to watch: Peter Crouch
Scored his first goal (or is that goals?) last week and causes defenders all sorts of headaches.
Middlesbrough Team News:
Emanuel Pogatetz is available following a minor niggle. Stuart Parnaby and Gaizka Mendieta both miss out. (from): Schwarzer, Jones, Bates, Riggott, Southgate, Ehiogu, Queudrue, Pogatetz, Boateng, Doriva, Rochemback, Morrison, Nemeth, Johnson, Kennedy, Yakubu, Hasselbaink, Viduka, Maccarone.
Player to watch: Hasselbaink
Seemingly getting back to some form and still a very capable and dangerous striker.
Match Facts & Stats
Last season: Liverpool 1-1 Middlesbrough
(Gerrard 52) (Nemeth 4)
Premiership record: Liverpool 9 wins, Boro wins 5, Draws 7.
Record At Anfield: Liverpool 6 wins, Boro wins 0, Draws 4
Ref Watch:
Steve Bennet, 12 matches, 3 reds, 49 yellows.
Match Prediction:
Home win for Liverpool. 1-0