Liverpool Need Win Against Minnows Ludogorets

Liverpool head over to Bulgaria to face Ludogorets Razgrad in the Champions League tomorrow (26th November) looking to avoid recording a fifth straight defeat in all competitions. Despite being the minnows of the group, A PFG champions Ludogorets are in good form, unbeaten in five in their domestic league and have far from disgraced themselves in their debut Champions League campaign.

Dani Abalo thought he had rescued a point for the home side in their initial clash against the Merseyside club, the midfielder hitting one past Simon Mignolet in the closing minutes to cancel out Mario Balotelli`s 82nd minute deadlock breaker. It was not to be, however, with Gerrard converting a penalty awarded deep into injury time to see the game finish 2-1.

The result was the same against Spanish giants Real Madrid, though it was Georgi Dermendzhiev`s team who opened the scoring six minutes into the match. Marcelinho`s effort saw the press prepare `David 1-0 Goliath` headlines before Cristiano Ronaldo successfully scored a penalty and Karim Benzema hit the winner 15 minutes from time.

With Basel`s Geoffroy Serey Die dismissed in the 18th minute, Ludogorets finally earnt themselves a win. Yordan Minev struck in squeaky bum time to give the 13-year-old club their first Champions League victory. The reverse fixture was less successful, however, the Eagles shipping four goals against Paulo Sousa`s Super League champions.

In contrast to the relative success of Dermendzhiev`s side`s season, they also sit in second place in the A PFG, Brendan Rogers` Liverpool have failed to recapture the form that saw them finish as Premier League runners-up. What`s more, as well as sitting in 12th position in the top tier of English football, the Merseyside club have failed to pick up a point or score a goal in Europe since their last-gasp victory at home to Razgrad.

The Reds lost out by one goal in Basel, and shipped four over their two games against Real Madrid losing 3-0 at home, and 1-0 away at the Bernabeu. The odds on ducking this trend are firmly in Liverpool`s favour, however, with the home side a massive 18/5 with betfair to keep a clean sheet.

Indeed, Liverpool are the favourites to return to the North West with all three points, both Betvictor and Matchbook offering evens on an away win. Coral have 10/3 the price of a Ludogorets upset, whilst a draw is available at 11/4 with bet365.

A win for the Anfield outfit and Basel losing in Madrid would see the two clubs level on points with progression being decided in the final group match on 9th December. A Basel victory, or a failure to win in Bulgaria tomorrow would see Liverpool unceremoniously exit the competition.

Daniel Sturridge`s third consecutive injury (thigh) means that under-pressure Rodgers` is still without his star striker. The Northern Irishman must now decide whether or not to play Rickie Lambert, who scored his first goal of the season against Crystal Palace on Sunday Mario Balotelli, who missed the Palace defeat due to a groin strain or useful substitute Fabio Borini.

Betbright make Italian Balotelli the 8/5 favourite to score at anytime whilst Lambert is best-priced 9/5 (32red, 888sport and unibet) to score in back-to-back games. Former Sunderland loanee Borini is 40/17 (32red, 888sport, unibet) to hit the back of the net for the Pool.

Defenders Jose Enrique (knee) and Mamadou Sakho (thigh) are both expected to be sidelined, whilst Jon Flanagan (knee) and Suso (groin) are long-term absentees.

Ludogorets, who would see themselves closer to a shock progression to the knockout rounds with a victory tomorrow night, are without goalkeeper Ivan Cvorovic, who is suffering with a shoulder complaint.

Top scorer Abalo is 18/1 with bet365 to score the opener.

Go To bet365

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25/11/2014     © Frixo 2024