EUROPA LEAGUE: LIVERPOOL V ANZHI MAKHACHKALA 25th October KO 20:05 (Setanta Sports 1)

Luckycharms_74

Merseysiders look to bounce back from Udinese defeat

Following their previous Group A loss at Anfield, Brendan Rodgers' men are in need of three points against the big-spending Russian outfit to ease their fears of not advancing.

With the eagerly anticipated Merseyside derby with Everton on the horizon, Brendan Rodgers will again look to rotate his squad for the Europa League as he prepares for the visit of in-form Russian moneybags Anzhi.
Rodgers' hand has been forced somewhat by the injuries to Pepe Reina (hamstring), Martin Kelly (knee) and Fabio Borini (foot), all of whom would have surely played in this fixture. The likes of Steven Gerrard, Daniel Agger, Martin Skrtel, Joe Allen and Raheem Sterling could all be rested.

In their place should come fringe squad members such as Jamie Carragher, Sebastien Coates, Jose Enrique and Stewart Downing. However, without any other senior striker available to them, Luis Suarez looks set to lead the line once again for the Reds.

Big-spending Anzhi, led by former Netherlands and Russia coach Guus Hiddink, have impressed in the Russian league this season and currently top the standings by two points from CSKA Moscow.

Hiddink could make only one change from the starting XI that secured a 2-1 victory over title rivals Spartak Moscow at the weekend, with France international midfielder Lassana Diarra (knee) dropping out.

In Christopher Samba and Yuriy Zhirkov the Dagestan outfit have players who will have competed at Anfield before, while their attack is set to be spear-headed by African legend Samuel Eto'o, reportedly the highest-paid player in world football.

DID YOU KNOW?

* Stewart Downing may have failed to either score or assist in the Premier League since arriving at Anfield, but the winger has contributed a goal and three assists in Europe this season.
* Liverpool won this competition under the guise of the Uefa Cup back in 2001 as part of a "treble" season that included both FA and League Cup triumphs.
Brad Jones is set to make only his eighth start for Liverpool despite arriving in the summer of 2010, three of those have come in the Europa League.
* The last time Liverpool played Russian opposition came in the 2005 Uefa Super Cup final, where two Djibril Cisse goals helped see off CSKA Moscow in a 3-1 victory.
* Anzhi are on a four-match winning streak and are currently unbeaten in all competitions since August 12.
Samuel Eto'o is currently this season's Europa League top goalscorer, with seven strikes to his name.
* Anzhi centre-back Christopher Samba once lined up as a lone striker for Blackburn in their 4-0 defeat at Anfield in April 2009.
* This is Anzhi's first participation in European competition since the 2001-02 season, where they were defeated by Scottish side Rangers. The match was chosen to be played on a one-legged affair at a neutral venue in Warsaw, Poland due to the unstable situation in Chechnya.
* Anzhi's Yuriy Zhirkov only started once against Liverpool during his two-year spell at Chelsea, coming at Anfield in a 2-0 home victory courtesy of a Fernando Torres (who now plays for Chelsea) double.

paddy kerins

Luckycharms_74 wrote: »

* Liverpool have only won six games at home in the whole of 2012, none of which have been in European competition.

We beat Gomel at home in the qualifier. Fabulous Borini scored one of the 3 goals

DARK-KNIGHT

3-0 to liverpool

5starpool

I can honestly see an away win here.

DARK-KNIGHT

5starpool wrote: »

I can honestly see an away win here.

Really can't see that happening Liverpool are due a huge performance..

klose

It does not come bigger then Thursday nights under the lights!

It'll be a tough game with Anzis form of late so if I was offered a draw now it take it tbh! Always good to see the younger lads and bench players play together, love the drastic rotations he puts in for cup games!

Blatter

Can't wait to watch Eto'o play again, it's been a while.

DARK-KNIGHT

Blatter wrote: »

Can't wait to watch Eto'o play again, it's been a while.

Fabulous player.. Brilliant with barca!!!

What form is he showing at new club?

Blatter

DARK-KNIGHT wrote: »

Fabulous player.. Brilliant with barca!!!

What form is he showing at new club?

Banging them in this season after a slow year by his standards last season. 13 goals in 17 appearances so far this campaign.

5starpool

DARK-KNIGHT wrote: »

Really can't see that happening Liverpool are due a huge performance..

If it's just one, they should save it for the derby on Sunday.

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater

I have to say I'd take a draw right now

RasTa

Shall be placing a large bet on Anzi, Although will wait for the lineups before doing so.

Dave147

Can't turn down Anzhi at 2/1 knowing Liverpool are playing Everton at the weekend.

Luckycharms_74

paddy kerins wrote: »

We beat Gomel at home in the qualifier. Fabulous Borini scored one of the 3 goals

Ah balls. That's what I get for copy and paste from that sh1t football site goal.com.

whatawaster

Should be a second string tonight and we should lose, but the younger ones might surprise us again

Jones
Wisdom
Coates
Skrtel
Robinson
Henderson
Shelvey
Sahin
Assaidi
Downing
Yesil

ThunbergsAreGo

whatawaster wrote: »

Should be a second string tonight and we should lose, but the younger ones might surprise us again

Jones
Wisdom
Coates
Skrtel
Robinson
Henderson
Shelvey
Sahin
Assaidi
Downing
Yesil

Likely team i reckon

Anzhi at 5/4 Draw no bet are very tempting and low risk.

They will be well up for it i reckon

gafferino

Bring it on the Yesil kid! Would love to see him start.

mike65

Liverpool will be playing a near full strength side as far as I can see.

Would still give Anzhi the edge though.

gafferino

Why do you think they will be playing near full strength?

klose

We probably have to put out a fairly strong team seeing as they've brought their full squad and on a good run. Id to for

---

jones
Glenjo--skrtel--Coates--Enrique

---

Allen-Henderson

---

shelvey
Downing---Suarez--assaidi

Will be interesting to see what's kind of team it will be anyways. Looking forward to it.

mike65

Colin Pascoe, Rodgers right hand man dropped a hint to that effect and http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/oct/24/liverpool-anzhi-makhachkala-europa-league

klose

The rumored team source being Twitter (I know) is Jones in goal, the usual back 4 of late midfield of gerrard Sahin and shelvey and a front 3 of downing suarez and assaidi.

Decent team that not sure how the midfield would play out there, maybe Sahin sitting?, don't want gerrard playing a full 90. Yesil is rumoured to be on the bench aswell

whatawaster

Henderson should be the first name on the team sheet

Turtyturd

whatawaster wrote: »

Henderson should be the first name on the team sheet

To put him in the shop window? :pac:

Rekop dog

Russian teams are pretty dire on the road which will be of some comfort to Liverpool, they did get a point at the Friuli but Udinese left their big hitters on the bench that game so not as good a result as it seems.

Morzadec

whippedcream wrote: »

The rumored team source being Twitter (I know) is Jones in goal, the usual back 4 of late midfield of gerrard Sahin and shelvey and a front 3 of downing suarez and assaidi.

Decent team that not sure how the midfield would play out there, maybe Sahin sitting?, don't want gerrard playing a full 90. Yesil is rumoured to be on the bench aswell

Don't really like the sound of that midfield either and agree that Henderson should be playing, as he's looked decent enough playing in the centre without too much responsibility to get forward. He was excellent against YOung Boys and from what I heard, decent enough against Udinese.

The balance is strange and there's no need to play Gerrard here when we have Shelvey out there

DaveSuarez

I'd take Gerrard out of that team and put Henderson in and anybody instead of Downing.

Washington Irving

DaveSuarez wrote: »

I'd take Gerrard out of that team and put Henderson in and anybody instead of Downing.

Cole? :pac:

Luckycharms_74

SaulGoode9 wrote: »

Cole? :pac:

lolz even little Joe

Luckycharms_74

Richard Buxton ‏@Richard_Buxton_
LFC line-up confirmed: Jones; Wisdom, Agger, Skrtel, Johnson; Gerrard, Sahin, Shelvey; Assaidi, Downing, Suarez
Subs: Gulacsi, Henderson, Carragher, Allen, Sterling, Suso, Yesil.

kitakyushu

Sorry, slightly O/T question here but I don't see a "Europa League' general thread.

I see tonight Groups G-L have 8.05pm k/o's and A-F have 6pm. I was wondering do all 48 teams have to submit to an early kick-off for at least one of their three home games during the group or are the A-F's always late and the G-L always early? Thanks.

Very strong team from Rodgers.

I'd rather play the U-16's and play full strength v Everton.

Luckycharms_74

Have my bet done :P

Leiva

Really not arsed for some reason just hope all players (especially Suarez) come out unscathed.

Wouldn't mind seeing Yesil get a good bit of game time as I really rate the fella.

5starpool

kitakyushu wrote: »

Sorry, slightly O/T question here but I don't see a "Europa League' general thread.

I see tonight Groups G-L have 8.05pm k/o's and A-F have 6pm. I was wondering do all 48 teams have to submit to an early kick-off for at least one of their three home games during the group or are the A-F's always late and the G-L always early? Thanks.

It's every second game I think. Liverpool's first game was 8.05, second one 6.00, third one 8.05.

Luckycharms_74

Luckycharms_74 wrote: »

Have my bet done :P

Stay away from Bookies.

That same bet is 41/1 with betfair

G.K.

Hendo should be in there and playing Suarez is imo a mistake.

Luckycharms_74

rarnes1 wrote: »

Stay away from Bookies.

That same bet is 41/1 with betfair

Ah balls robbing PP ba5tards :P

G.K.

G.K. wrote: »

Hendo should be in there and playing Suarez is imo a mistake.

Definately. A needless risk.

Bray Header

Is this on anywhere but setanta lads?

Phoenix Park

rarnes1 wrote: »

Very strong team from Rodgers.

I'd rather play the U-16's and play full strength v Everton.

Absolutely, such a stupid short-sighted decision by Rodgers playing Suarez. One fit striker at the club.. ah sure we'll just play him EVERY game, he'll be fine, nevermind a Sunday derby, long-haul flights and games 3600 metres above sea level.

Whether he bangs in 3 tonight or none, this is foolish.

Leiva

rarnes1 wrote: »

Definately. A needless risk.

Could really come back to bite us as the dog in the street knows we are starting to show some league form and an injury now to our only quality striking option would leave major egg on people's faces.

Luckycharms_74

Bray Header wrote: »

Is this on anywhere but setanta lads?

Its on ITV4 (only for sky not UPC)

Rekop dog

Needless risk? Why not try having a decent bash at the Europa league. Team won't be getting a CL place this season so why would you rest players for a league campaign where Europa league spot is the only realistic target where you'd end up resting players again next season. Its a senseless cylce. Give the lads the chance to experience going deep in a major competition

5starpool

Rekop dog wrote: »

Needless risk? Why not try having a decent bash at the Europa league. Team won't be getting a CL place this season so why would you rest players for a league campaign where Europa league spot is the only realistic target where you'd end up resting players again next season. Its a senseless cylce. Give the lads the chance to experience going deep in a major competition

I mostly agree with this. We would be resting them to try and qualify for a competition next season that we would be resting them in.

Jesus Wept

I looked twice. TWICE.

Washington Irving

Stronger team than I would have liked, particularly the back four. Interesting midfield though, shouldn't have any problems getting bodies forward anyway

Coates not even on the bench, Rodgers must be saving the local lads for Sunday :pac:

Phoenix Park

Rekop dog wrote: »

Needless risk? Why not try having a decent bash at the Europa league. Team won't be getting a CL place this season so why would you rest players for a league campaign where Europa league spot is the only realistic target where you'd end up resting players again next season. Its a senseless cylce. Give the lads the chance to experience going deep in a major competition

But if you don't break top 4 you never break that same cycle. We're highly unlikely to get top 4 but with literally no striker if anything happens Suarez we'll do well to finish top 10.

Personally i don't view the Europa League as a "major competition". The league will always be our bread and butter to me anyway. Personally i find the EL almost an inconvenience when we are so threadbare up front.

Rekop dog

Rekop dog wrote: »

Needless risk? Why not try having a decent bash at the Europa league. Team won't be getting a CL place this season so why would you rest players for a league campaign where Europa league spot is the only realistic target where you'd end up resting players again next season. Its a senseless cylce. Give the lads the chance to experience going deep in a major competition

Ultimately I'm saying playing Suarez is a needless risk as he's the only half striker we have at the club until Jan.

The rest of the team has cover, bar DM but he's rested Allen.

Morzadec

Whatever about the Suarez debate, I can understand it. We really have no other viable options as a centre forward and Rodgers clearly wants to win this game and thinks that Suarez is able to play consecutive games.

However I'd be a bit peed off if I was Coates. He's performed well this year and at his age needs games like this to gain experience. I'm sure he was expecting to play tonight and with Anzhi's big centre forward Traore playing it would make sense to play him here.

I also think not utilising Henderson here is a mistake. Leave Sahin and/or Gerrard for the weekend and use Henderson, especially if you are not going to play Allen. Again for me, like Coates, Henderson has done enough in the two preceding Europa League games to keep his place. I hope this doesn't dent their confidence

The balance of that midfield is strange also and it'll be interesting to see how well we keep the ball.

mike65

Two attacking midfielders is interesting or plain reckless, we'll see which.