Wigan teenager Victor Moses is closing in on his first start for Latics for the DW Stadium clash with Liverpool on Wednesday evening.

The Reds continue their pursuit of fourth place in the Premier League later and could be boosted by the availability of Glen Johnson who has been out since the end of last year with a knee problem (Wigan 9/2, draw 11/4, Liverpool 8/13).

But the excitement among home supporters will focus on January arrival Moses, the highly-rated forward who made the switch to Wigan from cash-strapped Crystal Palace.

Moses has yet to start a match for his new club but after impressing as a substitute it is thought boss Roberto Martinez will give him his chance against Liverpool.

Midfielder Charles N’Zogbia faces a late fitness test on a knee injury while midfielder Paul Scharner is also a doubt with a groin problem, although both are expected to be passed.

If Scharner and N’Zogbia make it then Wigan will have a virtually fully-fit squad to chose from, with just Ivorian defender Steve Gohouri ruled out with a back problem.

Liverpool should have centre-half Daniel Agger available after he picked up a knee problem last weekend while Ryan Babel and Alberto Aquilani – who cost over £32m between them - will probably have to make do with a place on the bench.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is worried relegation-threatened Wigan may try rough-house tactics against his Premier League top-four chasers at the DW Stadium on Monday (Wigan 9/2 draw 11/4 Liverpool 8/13 match betting).

The Spaniard is convinced the number of injuries picked up by players in the Premier League is proof that the English game is the most physical and is worried referees are under too much pressure to make the right decisions.

Latics are just three points above third-from-bottom Hull and in danger of being sucked into the relegation zone (Wigan 7/2 To Be Relegated).

Liverpool will take fourth spot if they come away with victory but Benitez has warned his players to expect a difficult night.

“The Premier League is always physical and they will want to keep going in this way,” he said. “It depends on the referees in the end. We have to analyse this carefully because it’s true we have too many serious injuries.”

He added: “I am a little bit worried about this, but there are people at the top who have to decide and to analyse what is best for the game.”

England right-back Glen Johnson, who has been out since the end of December because of a knee injury, could make his return.

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Arsenal struck with two late goals to close the gap on Premier League leaders Chelsea to just three points after a 3-1 success at Stoke, although the win came at a cost as Aaron Ramsey suffered a horrific leg injury.

The Gunners (now 11/4 to win the title) had to come from behind after Danny Pugh’s eighth-minute header from Rory Delap’s throw in, but Nicklas Bendtner levelled matters before half-time.

Midway through the second period, Ramsay suffered his injury for which Ryan Shawcross was sent off although the visitors left it late before making the extra man count.

Cesc Fabregas converted a last minute penalty after Bendtner’s through-ball struck Pugh’s arm before Thomas Vermaelen scored four minutes into stoppage time to seal the victory.

The result means there is a genuine three-horse title race following nine-man Chelsea’s 4-2 defeat at home to Manchester City earlier in the day, with the gap now down to three points.

Roberto Manccini’s men came-from-behind to inflict the league leaders’ first home defeat of the season, with Carlos Tevez and Craig Bellamy scoring twice for the Citizens and Frank Lampard bagging two for the Blues.

Juliano Belletti and Michael Ballack saw red for the home side who failed to extend their advantage over Manchester United - in action in the Carling Cup final on Sunday.

City (8/11 to win the Premier League W/O Big 4) meanwhile have of course strengthened their grip on a top-four place, pulling three points clear of Tottenham (3/1) and four ahead of Liverpool and Aston Villa (3/1), although Martin O’Neill’s men do have a game in hand.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has revealed that Fernando Torres is still not fully fit but will be on the bench for Thursday’s Europa League last-32 second leg clash with Unirea Urziceni (Unirea 7/2, Liverpool 3/4, draw 13/5 Midweek Euro Coupon) in case of an emergency.

The 25-year-old Spanish international, who has been absent for five weeks following knee surgery, played in the final 15 minutes of Sunday’s goalless draw at Manchester City.

However Benitez is refusing to rush him back for the Unirea clash in Romania on Thursday, despite only holding a 1-0 advantage from the first leg at Anfield, because he does not want to risk losing him for the Premier League run-in as the Reds continue their fight for fourth spot at home to Blackburn on Sunday (Liverpool 1/3, Blackburn 7/1, draw 16/5 90 Minutes).

“We knew we could use him against City. The idea was for 15-20 minutes but still he is not ready,” said Benitez.

“He needs match fitness and has to play and train, and we will see later on how he is coming along.

“He was doing very well with the physios and fitness coach. He is really happy.

“We decided to put him in the squad (against City) because he was training well last Friday. Now he can carry on and progress. He will be ready soon.”

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Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has denied he has had a big fall-out with Craig Bellamy and insists the striker could play against former club Liverpool on Sunday (City 11/8, Liverpool 8/5 the draw 9/4 on totesport’s weekend coupon).

Newspaper reports on Friday suggested the Wales international, who has been out injured recently with a knee injury, was involved in a heated row with the City coach after he reportedly refused to train with a member of Mancini’s Italian staff

The coach then apparently told the former West Ham ace to leave the training ground and not return for three months.

However, Mancini, speaking at his weekly press conference, has denied the reports and claims Bellamy is in his thoughts to face Liverpool in what is being billed as a top-four decider at Eastlands on Sunday.

The City boss said: “Today Craig is here, working with the physio. It was the same yesterday.

“These things (an argument) can happen in a job. I don’t have problems with Craig. I spoke with him in the office and read that I shouted at him. But I didn’t. We just spoke face-to-face.

“He is having treatment at the training ground and if the knee is okay, he will be available for Sunday.”

City are currently a point clear of Liverpool with a game in hand as the race for fourth intensifies.

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes the Gunners will not find it easy against Porto (2/1 to qualify for the next round) in the Champions League on Wednesday.

The north London outfit travel to the Estadio do Dragao having not won on either of their previous visits and with the home side having not lost their in the league all season.

While Chelsea (4/1 to be outright winners of the Champions League) and Manchester United (15/2) both won at Porto (50/1) last year Arsenal (8/1) know they will be up against when they face the 2004 European Champions.

Their task hasn’t been made any easier by an injury to Andrey Arshavin who picked up a hamstring problem during the game against Liverpool (7/1 to win the Europa League) on Wednesday and will now miss the trip to Portugal.

Alex Song and Eduardo are also doubtful for the game and with Robin van Persie already sidelined the Gunners options will be stretched thin again.

While Wenger acknowledges that his side may been seen as favourites he insists he won’t be taking anything for granted.

“From the outside, sometimes you are seen as favourites, but that does not matter,” the Frenchman said.

“Porto have been consistently in the Champions League and you know you will get a tough game, so I will not be surprised.”

While Wenger will want his side to take something from Wednesday’s game he will be well aware that Porto’s (6/4 to win in the match betting) form away from home is less than impressive with Arsenal (6/4) having beaten them 4-0 the last time they met at the Emirates Stadium.

Rafael Benitez has revealed vice captain Jamie Carragher is likely to miss Liverpool’s Europa League tie against Unirea Urziceni on Thursday (Liverpool 1/7 Unirea Urziceni 4/1 - To Qualify).

The experienced defender picked up an adductor injury in the 1-0 Premier League defeat by Arsenal on Wednesday but is expected to return next Sunday when the Reds take on fellow top-four hopefuls Manchester City (Man City 4/7 Premier League - Without Big 4).

Benitez told the official club website: “I am not sure if he will be available for Thursday against Unirea, but maybe he will have a chance against City.”

Sotirios Kyrgiakos is suspended for the next two Premier League games and Glen Johnson remains on the treatment table, meaning Benitez could be facing a defensive crisis.

The Spaniard has also said he does not expect leading goalscorer Fernando Torres to return from a knee injury against Roberto Mancini’s men next Sunday.

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Standard Liege striker Milan Jovanovic has confirmed he will join Liverpool (7/1 favourites with Totesport to win the Europa League, Standard Liege 66/1) on a free transfer in the summer.

Reds boss Rafa Benitez had identified the Serbia international as the sort of player to improve his striking options next season and it appears he has got his man.

The 28-year-old, who had also been linked with AC Milan, Juventus and Valencia, rejected the chance to join Real Madrid last year and says he has signed a three-year contract at Anfield because Liverpool are “one of the biggest teams in Europe”.

He told Belgian newspaper Sporza: “We have reached an agreement for three years, with the option to extend with another season.”

“I opted to sign for Liverpool because they’re one of the biggest teams in Europe - definitely in the top 10.”

Benitez, however, looks set to miss out on Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh, who was another player the Spanish coach had hoped to land on a free transfer over the summer.

The Morocco international is expected to join Arsenal instead, who Liverpool meet at the Emirates in a crunch top-four clash on Wednesday night (Arsenal evens, Liverpool 11/4, the draw 12/5 on Totesport’s midweek match list.

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Skipper Steven Gerrard has urged his Liverpool side (5/2 for the win) to build on the Merseyside derby win over Everton when they travel to Arsenal (10/11) on Wednesday night.

The Reds ended the Blues’ recent good run in the Premier League thanks to Dirk Kuyt’s only goal of the game on Saturday and they will now be looking for a repeat at the Emirates.

The Gunners’ own solid form has come undone in the last couple of weeks following losses to Manchester United and Chelsea, but Gerrard is refusing to get too carried away as he looks to hang on to at least fourth place in the table.

The England star told the Echo: “You always enjoy beating your local rivals but it was the way we did it that was really satisfying, particularly after losing a man after half an hour.

“Now we have got to take that high into the next game. It’s a tough one, Arsenal away always is.

“But we have used beating Everton as a platform in the past and we’ve got to do it again. We want to extend our run and go on to better things.”

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Arsene Wenger has admitted every game between now and the end of the season is “vital” for Premier League title-chasers Arsenal (Arsenal 16/1 Premier League - Outright).

Didier Drogba scored twice on Sunday at Stamford Bridge to complete a 2-0 win for Chelsea and take his tally for the season to 22 - and 12 in 12 against the Gunners.

The defeat – off the back of their 3-1 humbling by champions Manchester United last weekend – means the north Londoners have now lost six Premier League games and are nine points adrift of leaders Chelsea.

Next up is another difficult fixture on Wednesday against in-form Liverpool (Arsenal 10/11 draw 9/4 Liverpool 5/2 Premier League match betting) but Wenger has promised his players will fight until the end.

“We are not in the best of positions but we will not give up,” said the Frenchman.

“It is vital against Liverpool but it was vital today and we still have lost.”

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