Asante Kotoko - Liberty Professionals preview: Hosts hope to maintain top spot as Hearts & AshGold mount hot chase.

The defending champions will have to beat Liberty on Saturday in order to protect the top spot they have held right from week one of the 2013-14 Ghana Premier League.

Kumasi Asante Kotoko are targeting their eighth win of the season as they go into their week 10 fixture against Liberty Professionals.

The champions suffered their second defeat of the season after losing 2-0 to Kpando Heart of Lions last weekend, and are under pressure not to drop points this weekend.

Coach Mas-Ud Dramani’s men have had a 100% record at home this season but must find a way of containing an unpredictable Liberty Professionals side.

Liberty have not had a good defense per the statistics after the first nine matches. They have conceded 10 goals which cancel out the 10 goals they have scored.

The Dansoman lads must work on their defense if they want to leave Kumasi with at least a point.

The Porcupine Warriors have also scored 10 goals, representing an average of 1.1 in each of the nine matches played by both teams so far.

Asante Kotoko would start as favourites based on both form and past meetings