PER Frandsen may have to settle for a place on the substitutes' bench when Wanderers resume their Premiership survival battle at Liverpool on Saturday.

The Dane - a frontrunner for Player of the Year after a string of consistently impressive performances - is available again after suspension.

But he will not get a place in the starting line-up if Sam Allardyce stands by the players who performed so well against Manchester United last time out.

Ivan Campo impressed in the midfield anchor role as Wanderers put in a performance Allardyce hailed as "the best of the season" until the late defensive lapse that cost them two precious points.

And with loan signing Florent Laville impressing on his debut alongside Gudni Bergsson at the heart of the defence, the manager may be inclined to stand by the midfield and defensive units of his derby line-up when he selects his team to face the Worthington Cup winners.

Wanderers go to Anfield desperate for points to ease their relegation pressures, which have intensified with Birmingham and West Ham gaining back-to-back wins. But Allardyce, who is expected to give Salva Ballesta his first start in place of the sidelined Henrik Pedersen in attack, has been encouraged by his team's form in recent weeks even though they have won only once in seven games.