Bordeaux v Liverpool - Match preview and odds

Europa League

Football
Published: 16/09/2015

Bordeaux v Liverpool - Match preview and odds

Thursday September 16, 18:00pm - Nouveau Stade Bordeaux

Europa League Group B

The European football schedule continues on Thursday as the group stages of UEFAs second-tier competition gets underway. English hopes lie in the hands of Liverpool and Tottenham, with the former kicking off first, away to Bordeaux in the southwest of France.

Jekyll and Hyde

The burning question for many observers on Thursday will be: which Liverpool team will turn up? The side that performed so competently to win away at Stoke and earn a draw at Arsenal in the league, or the team that capitulated at home to West Ham and failed to trouble a vulnerable Man United team at Old Trafford.

Since arriving at the Anfield club, Brendan Rodgers has failed to make an impact in Europe and is now facing increased scrutiny over his team’s league credentials. As the second longest-serving manager in the Premier League, he cannot complain about the time he has been afforded or the financial backing he has received. With the funds that have been invested, Liverpool’s owners and fans can rightly expect their team to be competing on all fronts. A win at Nouveau Stade Bordeaux would certainly go some way towards appeasing the travelling Merseyside faithful.

Paris boost for Girondins

In contrast to Liverpool’s current downbeat demeanour, the French team are full of Gallic spirit having secured a 2-2 draw away to PSG on Friday night. It was their third away stalemate of the season and puts them on six points in Ligue 1 with five games played. In total, Bordeaux have lost just three of their last 15 games in all competitions.

Team news

Brendan Rodgers can be expected to make wholesale changes for this game as he attempts to combine squad management with tactical experimentation. Brazilian midfielder Philippe Countinho missed the league game at Old Trafford through suspension but will be available for this clash. Meanwhile, James Milner and Christian Benteke will be left out along with Jordan Henderson who has travelled to the USA for further treatment on his foot.

Players that could be given an opportunity to impress include Divock Origi, Jordan Rossiter and Connor Randall while Alberto Moreno and Mamadou Sakho could also be reintroduced to the starting XI. Daniel Sturridge has returned to full training but is not expected to take part.

Bordeaux Coach Willy Sagnol has no injury concerns and is likely to stick with the team that showed real commitment to win a point in Paris.

Recent form

Bordeaux: DWLDW

Liverpool: LLDWW

Betting odds and tips

While Liverpool are no longer a force to be reckoned with in Europe they will still start this game as favourites.

They may be short of world class talent but they do have strength in depth in most positions. With such a squad at his disposal, Brendan Rodgers should be capable of fielding a team that can take all three points back to Merseyside. bet365 are offering a price of 7/4 on the away win.

In the anytime goal scorer market, Divock Origi can be backed at 17/5 with 888sport. The Belgian forward has plenty experience of playing in the French league and could be handed his first start by Rodgers

Go To bet365
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Any odds displayed within this article were correct at the time of publishing (16/09/2015) but are subject to change.

16/09/2015     © Frixo 2024

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