test2wa

Serie A

A revved-up Genoa are eager to face strugglers Livorno on Sunday in Tuscany.

The Grifoni have claimed seven points out of a possible nine in their last three matches and have climbed into sixth place.

The good form has fuelled hopes among the fans the team can make a run this season at a top-four finish to reach the Champions League.

Genoa's players had a bad string of results earlier in the campaign but look to be back to their best and they want to keep the momentum going ahead of their Italian Riviera derby against city rivals Sampdoria the following week.

"We have put new diesel in our engine," said Genoa midfielder Francesco Modesto. "We're very ready.

"The derby? For the time being I see it still far away. I would prefer that the attention is concentrated on the away match in Tuscany which will be very difficult.

"It would be very important to take back home the three points."

Livorno will have to do without midfielder Francesco Tavano for Sunday's clash against Genoa.

Tavano was expected to return to action this weekend having recovered from a muscular problem only to suffer a recurring injury this week which will keep him sidelined for at least a month.

To make matters worse for coach Serse Cosmi, defensive trio Romano Perticone, Mirko Pieri and Nelson Rivas are still sidelined with injury, while midfielder Cristian Raimondi serves a one-match ban.

Despite his team being plagued by injury woes, Cosmi believes they can make life difficult for Genoa.

"The team has been training well during the international break," he said.

"There is no reason why we cannot do well against Genoa.

"The team is growing game by game and we are determined to climb out of the relegation zone as soon as possible."

The Amaranto go into this weekend's match on the back of two straight defeats which have left them in 18th position on nine points, and only goal difference separates them between salvation and relegation.

Cosmi, who replaced sacked Gennaro Ruotolo a month ago, has attached no importance to those losses and is confident his team will soon be rewarded for their performances.

"In the four games I have been in charge of Livorno, we have taken six points," said Cosmi.

"We were at the foot of the table and now we have nine points, just one place behind safety."

However, the Amaranto will have to show a vast improvement in attack, with just four goals struck in 12 games.

The visitors are without injured Bosko Jankovic, Ivan Juric, Houssine Kharja and Sokratis Papastathopoulos.

Moreover, midfielder Omar Milanetto serves a one-match ban but defender Giuseppe Biava returns from suspension.

The good news for Genoa coach Gian Piero Gasperini is that goalkeeper Marco Amelia returns to action.

Amelia has recovered from a muscular injury that saw him miss the last three games.