Liverpool v Charlton

There might be an air of irrelevance about Charlton's final Premiership game for at least a season on Sunday, but the Addicks have at least two reasons to continue their battling end to a seventh straight campaign in the top flight.

Though the focus is already on Championship football and whatever the club has to do to secure an immediate return to the Premiership, Alan Pardew will ask his players for one last effort when a turbulent 2006/07 concludes against Liverpool at Anfield (3pm).

Ever since his arrival on Christmas Eve, professionalism has been high on Pardew's list of priorities, and he will be keen to ensure his team bows out of the top flight in exactly the same manner that his courageous Addicks almost stayed in it.

The Premier League's merit payment system also means that the far from small matter of £500,000 is still up for grabs as Charlton can snatch 18th position from Wigan Athletic, who face a tough final outing at Sheffield United.

The attitude of Charlton's army of supporters against Tottenham Hotspur on Monday night made it clear that the club's efforts to avoid the drop have been appreciated by the fans, and a big performance at Anfield this weekend would only underline the fact that Charlton have gone down fighting.

Of course, Anfield isn't the ideal place to attempt to pull off that performance, especially considering the current mood of Rafael Benitez's fast-improving Liverpool.

The opposition

Chasing a second Champions League title in three seasons, not many people would disagree with the notion that Liverpool have taken a considerable stride in their quest to haul themselves up alongside Manchester United and Chelsea, even if they will finish the Premiership campaign some 20 points shy of the champions.

Rafa Benitez

The Reds' recent form in the Premiership has been affected by their European campaign, with Benitez fielding weakened teams either side of Liverpool's memorable penalty shoot-out victory over Chelsea - the most recent case being far from well received by Charlton connections.

Addicks fans were not too bothered when a Liverpool second string went down against Portsmouth at Fratton Park, but fielding a similarly under-strength outfit gave Fulham a glaring opportunity to secure their Premiership status at Craven Cottage over the weekend, and didn't go down so well.

What Benitez will do this weekend is anyone's guess, but reports suggest a final appearance for the Reds for striker Robbie Fowler, subject of an unofficial 'Fowler Day' among fans (so bring your nose plasters), while Jerzy Dudek could be between the sticks as several stars are rested ahead of Champions League final duties on May 23rd.

Both of those afore-mentioned reverses were away from home though, when Liverpool's season has been built around a fantastic nine months at Anfield.

Only champions Manchester United can boast a better home record than Liverpool, and it was also the Red Devils that inflicted Liverpool's only home defeat of the season - John O'Shea nicking an injury-time winner at Anfield in March.

Defensively, however, Liverpool are out on their own on home soil, and if you were wondering what Bobby Zamora, Benni McCarthy, Gabriel Agbonlahor, O'Shea and William Gallas have got in common - they're the only players that have managed to breach the Liverpool defence at Anfield this season.

Head to head

There's not many prizes for guessing that the Addicks don't have the most impressive of records at Anfield, but neither have the Valley men disgraced themselves on Merseyside.

Shaun Bartlett's strike in April 2004 secured Charlton's only Premiership win in seven trips to Liverpool, but the Addicks earned a battling draw last season and also came away with a point after a six-goal thriller in the club's first ever Premiership journey to the ground in September 1998.

Likely line up

Darren Randolph

While Pardew might be tempted to give experience to some of his younger charges, who could well be in line for a more prominent first-team involvement next season, he will be loathe to field too under-strength a side against a team of Liverpool's quality.

Goalkeeper Darren Randolph looks likely to get the nod to make his Charlton debut in goal with Scott Carson ineligible due to the constraints of his loan, and Lloyd Sam could also be involved after his eye-catching cameo against Spurs, but the youth contingent is likely to end there.

In defence, Ben Thatcher is available again after suspension, and, if involved, Alexandre Song and Zheng Zhi will feature in the final game of their loan spells.

It will obviously go down as a season of disappointment, but the famous Charlton spirit was there until the end.

If Pardew can channel that determination next season and blend it with other factors required to overcome the rigours of Championship football, then the Addicks should be back where they belong, in the Premiership, come 2008/09.

Keep the faith.