Sorry Livorno are still just two points adrift of safety despite suffering three straight defeats, and they go into this game searching for a morale-boosting win to kick-start their season. Meanwhile, Parma continued with impressive displays as they defeated Torino at home, extending their unbeaten run to eight matches in all competitions.

Livorno sinking deeper and deeper

Pre-season predictions are proving spot on when Livorno are concerned, considering the Stadio Armando Picchi outfit have yet to show they deserve to play at this level. The general impression is club management have failed to attract quality players in the summer transfer window and unless they make that right in January, Amaranto will almost certainly go down. The only good news is that the team are still mere two points adrift of safety, but they have to start winning soon or else the gap will continue to increase. Livorno are clearly all over the place at the moment, having won just one of last fifteen fixtures and picked up one point from last seven, so they don’t really have much to hope for before the clash with in-form Parma. The absence of key midfielder Pasquale Schiattarella is also going to affect the hosts, especially since they don’t really have a decent replacement for the 26-year-old. Given the circumstances, Amaranto have no choice but to attack their more illustrious opponents, but that will make them exposed to swift counterattacks that have become Parma’s speciality.

Key midfielder Pasquale Schiattarella misses out through suspension, whereas starting defender Andrea Coda is out injured.

Parma continue to impress

Parma have been on a major uptrend over the last few years and it is only a matter of time before they mount a serious challenge for European positions in Serie A. The squad have been getting stronger season after season, with Antonio Cassano and Walter Gargano the marque signings this summer. As a result I Ducali quickly climbed to the top half of the standings and they have not looked back ever since. Parma ended the first part of the season with a six-match unbeaten run, although four straight draws in the league left something to be desired. Nevertheless, Roberto Donadoni’s charges started the New Year with a 3-1 triumph over high-flying Torino, who had recorded three straight league victories prior to the match at Ennio Tardini. And with Parma now set to face out-of-sorts Livorno, this will feel as an excellent opportunity for the team to record a rare away win, as the 1-0 triumph over Napoli remains their only victory on the road in the current campaign.

Walter Gargano and Massimo Gobbi return from injury and suspension respectively, but Mattia Cassani is banned and Daniele Galloppa is injured.

Verdict

Livorno are currently on a three-match losing run and extremely low on confidence, so no doubts the hosts will face all sorts of problems against in-form Parma. Il Ducali may not have been too impressive on the road, but having beaten Napoli away and looking really good at the moment, they should be considered favourites here.

Top pick: Parma Draw no bet   1.70 (7/10) @ Coral

Alternative pick 1: Under 2.5 goals   1.73 (8/11) @ Stan James

Alternative pick 2: Away win   2.45 (29/20) @ BetVictor