It hasn’t been great recently, has it? After a bright start under Ashley, Mort and Allardyce things began to slide at Pride Park and we have never really recovered since. Michael Owen is injured again, we’re in the middle of what could realistically be called a “defensive crisis” and we’re in the bottom half of the table without having played any of the top four from the last few years. Uh oh – sound familiar?

It does, of course, but hopefully this time it’s different. Last season we managed to overcome Liverpool 2-1 thanks to Oba Martins and a cool Nobby Solano penalty down at the Gallowgate End and what a tonic a similar scoreline would be come Saturday at around 3pm. Let’s hope Gerrard was as bad as he was on Wednesday, let’s hope that this turmoil between Benitez, Hicks and Gillett has their minds on other things and let’s hope that our lads finally start showing some form.

I’m not entirely sure what we’ll see selected at St. James’ tomorrow as far as the home side goes, it will either be a 4-5-1/4-3-3 spearheaded by Martins, Viduka and Milner or a flat 4-4-2 with Milner and N’Zogbia on the flanks and the exciting Nigeria/Australia combination up front. Habib Beye looks set to deputise for our 3 injured centre-halves alongside David Rozehnal (just back from playing 180 minutes of international football on foreign shores) with Geremi getting back into the team in at right-back. I’d be surprised to see Enrique as anything more than a substitute, whatever formation we choose.

Apart from that we’ll either see Smith/Barton/Butt or Barton/Butt as the central unit… not exactly thrilling, but I suppose we’ll hear that Emre is “too tired” after his Turkey exploits of the past seven days or so (or find him on the left-flank!). Barton and Butt should be fresh and are two names you can guarantee will be on the teamsheet. An interesting choice between Given and Harper in goal is on the horizon again – Given every time for me - and it’s all setting itself up to be an entirely unpredictable afternoon. Ironic, then, that this scenario is all too predictable these days.

Then again, Owen hasn’t been playing at his best, and his injury will allow Oba to have a run in the side.

Unfortunately, I don’t think that we’ll be breaking Liverpool’s unbeaten run, and I can’t see anything other than all three points heading to Anfield. I just hope that it’s not as humiliating or depressing as the last home game against Portsmouth.

Torres should play and will probably wipe the floor with our patched up defence, especially considering half of them will be on the injury table come Saturday afternoon. If we manage to put a back four together, I can’t see them doing brilliantly which means we’ll have to rely upon Oba Martins and co to do the business upfront.

Martins will finally be given his chance over the next few weeks, it’s a shame it has come only in the wake of Michael Owen’s injury. He will show why he is the club’s top-scorer, as long as he links well with Mark Viduka.