He can boast two wins and four draws as a manager against the Reds, although did get the hammering of his career at the hands of Rafa Benitez's men in the FA Cup.

Bruce hopes the impressive run can continue on Saturday as 13th place Latics resume action after the current international break.

It might be they have to cope without Amr Zaki though, as a torn calf muscle kept the top-flight's joint leading scorer out of Egypt's game against Djibouti last night.

Bruce told the Evening Post: "I've a decent record against Liverpool in the league, although I got my biggest hiding of my life off them in the FA Cup.

"Rafa Benitez hasn't beaten me yet in a league game and obviously that is a record I'd like to still be in place on Saturday night.
"Football sometimes throws up these statistics. I've a good record when facing Liverpool but I've done very poorly in games against Middlesbrough."

Bruce first faced Liverpool as Birmingham manager in the 2004/05 campaign, completing the double over them with a 1-0 win at Anfield and 2-0 at home.

The next season both league games ended in draws, 2-2 and 1-1, although the Merseysiders thrashed Birmingham 7-0 at St Andrews on their way to winning the FA Cup.

Last term, Bruce was in the visitors' dugout twice at Anfield, Birmingham securing a 0-0 draw in September, before Latics drew 1-1 there on January 2, a month after he took the reins at Wigan.

With Liverpool second in the table and unbeaten this season, this weekend's game seems to be the toughest test yet for Bruce.

He said: "I watched them against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League and they played very well that night.

"Liverpool were also very impressive in the second half at Manchester City the other week, coming back from 2-0 down to win 3-2.

"They've got a very decent squad, and in Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres they have two world class players.

"Anyone who has those two in their team is a force. Liverpool are very competitive, powerful and strong...whether they can mount a title challenge, let's see.

"But they are probably more ready than they have ever been."

Latics' build-up to the trip to Anfield will be rushed to say the least, Bruce probably just having Friday's training session with the majority of the squad due to the midweek international fixtures.
And it's probable that Wilson Palacios, Maynor Figueroa and Antonio Valencia – a rumoured January target for Benitez – won't be back until Friday night.

On the international front, Emile Heskey is set for his 50th England cap against Belarus on Wednesday night.

He played all of Saturday's 5-1 win over Kazakhstan at Wembley, setting up the fifth goal for Jermain Defoe.
Jason Koumas featured in Wales' 2-0 victory over Liechtenstein and should start against Germany on Wednesday night.

Palacios and Figeuroa helped Honduras to a 3-1 win over Canada, but there was almost egg on the face for Paul Scharner.
He was in the Austria side held to a 1-1 draw by the Faroe Islands.