MX23RW : Wednesday, November 6 00:34:26| >> :120:6917:6917:
[monks data]
Liverpool logo
Europa League | Round-Of-32
Feb 19, 2015 at 8.05pm UK
 
Besiktas

1-0

Balotelli (85' pen.)
FT(HT: 0-0)

Preview: Liverpool vs. Besiktas

Sports Mole looks ahead to the Europa League round of 32 opening leg between Liverpool and Besiktas.

The juggling act starts for Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool on Thursday evening as they play host to Besiktas in the first leg of the Europa League's round of 32.

The Reds started this season in the Champions League, but a third-placed finish behind Real Madrid and Basel in the group stages resulted in Rodgers's men being demoted to Europe's second competition.

Now, as his side battles to seal a return to the Champions League next term, Rodgers will have to find the right balance between ties on a Thursday night and Premier League matches on a Sunday afternoon.

Those circumstances could result in some alterations being made to the starting lineup ahead of the trip to Southampton at the weekend.

Mario Balotelli, Dejan Lovren and Glen Johnson have been tipped to earn recalls, but Steven Gerrard, Raheem Sterling and Lucas are all carrying knocks and may well not be risked.

Lazar Markovic will also play no part at Anfield because of a suspension, which he has been handed as a result of the red card that he received last time out in Europe against Basel.

Meanwhile, the visiting Turks will be without senior goalkeeper Tolga Zengin because of a knee injury, but Demba Ba is fit and available to lead the attack.

On Ba's previous visit to Merseyside last April, the Senegalese frontman benefited from a Gerrard slip to score for Chelsea, who ran out 2-0 victors. It was a result that went a long way to ending Liverpool's hopes of securing a first league title since 1990.

His current employers, though, did not have such good luck during their last trip to Anfield in 2007. The two sides met in the group stages of the Champions League, with Rafael Benitez's Liverpool running out 8-0 winners. It's a scoreline that remains Besiktas's heaviest European defeat.

In total, Liverpool have met Turkish opposition on 10 occasions, winning five times and drawing twice.

Liverpool:

Form in Europa League: WLDWLW
Form in all competitions: LWWDWW

Possible starting lineup: Mignolet; Lovren, Skrtel, Sakho; Johnson, Moreno, Henderson, Can; Ibe, Balotelli, Sturridge

Besiktas:

Form in Europa League: DDWWDW
Form in all competitions: WWDWLW

Possible starting lineup: Gonen; Kurtulus, Ramon, Franco, Nukan; Hutchinson, Kavlak, Sosa, Sahan; Tore, Ba

Sports Mole says: 2-0


ID:205975: cacheID:205975:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5060:No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Steven Gerrard of Liverpool celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Everton at Anfield on January 28, 2014
Read Next:
Preview: Everton vs. Liverpool
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
1Lazio33009
2Spurs33009
3Anderlecht33009
4Ajax32107
5Frankfurt32107
6Midtjylland32107
7Galatasaray32107
8Bodo/Glimt32107
9Lyon32016
10Rangers32016
11Olympiacos32016
12FCSB32016
13Fenerbahce31205
14Porto31114
15Slavia Prague31114
16Real Sociedad31114
17Roma31114
18Hoffenheim31114
19AZ31023
20Man Utd30303
21Plzen30303
22Ferencvaros31023
23Elfsborg31023
24Malmo31023
25Braga31023
26Besiktas31023
27FC Twente30212
28Union SG30121
29PAOK30121
30Ludogorets30121
31Nice30121
32RFS30121
33Athletic Club00000
34M. Tel Aviv30030
35Dynamo Kiev30030
36Qarabag30030


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!