Liverpool Make Champions League Return Against Group Minnows

Liverpool will be under pressure to see off Group B minnows Ludogorets Razgrad tonight, with tricky ties against Real Madrid and Basel just around the corner. Their opening encounter sees Brendan Rogers` side return to Champions League football after an absence of five years, with Bulgarian side Razgrad making their debut in the group stage of the competition.

Twenty to one (betfair) says that Ludogorets, a cub formed only 13 years ago, can pull off the mother of all surprises and defeat the Reds at home, though the Eagles have already overcome adversity to make it this far. Managed by former Slavia Sofia defender Georgi Dermendzhiev, the team knocked out Steaua Bucharest on penalties despite their goalkeeper receiving a red card in the final minute of extra time. Romanian defender Cosmin Moti replaced Vladislav Stoyanov between the sticks and saved two spot-kicks to see his club into the group stage draw. By denying a goal-scoring opportunity Stoyanov kept his side in the match, though his actions have seen him suspended for tonight`s tie. Youngster Georgi Argilashki is his replacement.

It would be unthinkable, however, to see a similarly bizarre outcome at Anfield with Liverpool looking to make amends after their 1-0 defeat at the hands of Aston Villa on Saturday (13th September). The Reds are best priced 2/9 with boylesports, ladbrokes and paddy Power to introduce their opponents to Champions League football by handing them a defeat. betway are offering 7/1 on a draw. Rogers` side must go about their task without the suspended Lazar Markovic whilst midfielders Emre Can and Joe Allen still receive treatment for their respective ankle and knee injuries. Daniel Sturridge is also sidelined, still yet to recover from the thigh strain he picked up whilst on international duty with England.

Down the other end of the field, defender Martin Skrtel is not expected to start for the home side. A knee problem has seen the Slovakian sit out of the Merseyside team`s last two matches with Rogers telling journalists that the clash had come just too soon for the centre-back. Like Sturridge, fellow England international Glen Johnson is also out after injuring his thigh in the Reds` 3-1 Premier League loss to last season`s title rivals Manchester City.

Scousers of the red persuasion will be delighted to hear of the return of Raheem Sterling, however. The youngster`s willingness to take on defenders missed as he was rested for last week`s game against Villa. Nineteen-year-old Sterling has already appeared on the scoresheet twice this season in a comprehensive 2-1 home win over Southampton and a 3-0 drubbing of Tottenham at White Hart Lane. The Jamaican-born star is 11/8 (bet365, betfred, Totesport) to continue his fruitful run at any time during the match and 11/2 to break the deadlock (bet365, betfair, Betvictor, william hill). For those with extreme confidence in the winger`s finishing, 33/1 is the price on Sterling taking away the match ball.

After a home humiliation at the hands of Villa, with Rogers concluding that his newly assembled side lacked quality, we believe that Liverpool`s strikeforce will be looking to put a number of goals past 23-year-old second-choice keeper Argilashki. A correct score prediction of 3-0 looks good value at 7/1 (Betvictor, paddy Power, william hill), whilst the braver punter may be enticed to pick up odds of 21/2 (Betvictor) on a 4-0 home triumph.

For those of you expecting Ludogorets to score at least one, their best chance has to be with Marcelinho. Coral are offering a generous 16/1 on the club`s 2013/14 top scorer netting at Anfield.

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16/09/2014     © Frixo 2024