Reds target 2008-09 record goal haul

The Reds have scored 76 league goals so far this season - one fewer than their best ever tally in the Premier League.

Rafael Benitez's men hit 77 during 2008-09 en route to finishing four points off the top of the table - and with nine games remaining, Brendan Rodgers' current crop stand in good stead to go one further.

This fact is just one of a host of figures which has been provided by club statistician Ged Rea ahead of our clash against Cardiff City – scroll down to read more...

The last time the teams met in Cardiff was August 1959. Cardiff won 3-2. Danny Molloy scored two own-goals in Liverpool's favour. It's the only time an opposition player has netted twice for the Reds in a game.

The match in 1959 was the Reds' fifth successive league defeat at Ninian Park and the sixth defeat in seven visits - the other game was a draw. 

Liverpool's last win at Cardiff was on April Fools' Day 1929 - winning 2-1 with Harry Race and Bob Done scoring. That is the Reds only win in the last nine visits.

The Reds only other league victory at Cardiff came in December 1924. Liverpool have never kept a clean-sheet in the league against Cardiff in Wales.

The Reds have failed to score in six of their 13 league visits and have netted 12 times in total. Their biggest defeat at City came in December 1957 when they were beaten 6-1 in the Second Division.

Home and away, Liverpool have won two of the last 10 league meetings. There has never been a goalless draw in 31 games played between the sides in all competitions.

The only hat-trick in the fixture came from Harry Chambers in a 5-1 win at Anfield in 1922 while no Cardiff player has scored three in a game against the Reds.

Joe Allen's first ever goal in senior professional football came against Cardiff for Swansea in a 2-2 draw in April 2009.

Raheem Sterling made his debut for Liverpool two years ago this coming Monday as a substitute against Wigan Athletic.

They have amassed 62 points this season - more than any other Premier League campaign after 29 games. After scoring five goals in their opening five league games, the Reds have scored 71 in the last 24 games.

They are three goals short of recording 150 in the league under Brendan Rodgers. Their tally of 147 has come in 67 games.

Under Rodgers Luis Suarez has found the net 48 times in 57 Premier League appearances.

The Reds are the top-flight's only unbeaten team in the league in 2014. Their 10 games have produced 8 wins and two draws, scoring 32 times in the process.

For the first time since 2008-09 Liverpool's top three league scorers have all reached double figures. That season Steven Gerrard finished with 16, Fernando Torres 14 and Dirk Kuyt 12.

The next penalty Gerrard takes will be his 50th for Liverpool - he has scored 40.

At home this season, Cardiff have won five, drawn four and lost six of their 15 games.

Craig Bellamy came on as a substitute for Liverpool against Cardiff in the 2012 League Cup final. Bellamy in two spells with Liverpool made 79 appearances, scoring 18 goals.

Cardiff have scored 23 league goals this season - only Crystal Palace with 19 have scored fewer.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has managed City in the Premier League 10 times. They have taken seven points out of a possible 30 with two wins and a draw.

When Malky Mackay was dismissed as manager on December 27, Cardiff had 17 points from 18 games and were in 16th position, one point above the drop zone. They are currently 19th - three points from safety.

As a player Solskjaer faced Liverpool 11 times, scoring three goals. He was on the winning team on five occasions.