Liverpool hope to strike form in Russia
Liverpool has been winless in the three games since its last Europa League match, where a Stewart Downing goal earned a 1-0 win at home to Anzhi. The obvious threat for Anzhi is former Inter Milan and Barcelona player Samuel Eto’o, purportedly the highest paid footballer in the world. Regular Liverpool center backs Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel will be tasked with stopping him.
However, Liverpool may be tempted to field 1.96-meter Sebastian Coates in central defence despite his relative inexperience, to counter the potential aerial threat of 2.03-meter striker Lacina Troare. Close behind Liverpool and Anzhi are Udinese and Young Boys, who have four and three points, respectively. If Udinese win and Liverpool don’t, the Italian side will move ahead of them.
In Group B, leader Atletico Madrid will be looking at the game against Portugal’s Academica — bottom of the group with one point — as a chance to bounce back from a loss to Valencia at the weekend, the club’s first defeat in 23 games.
The defending champions should have two-time Europa League top-scorer Radamel Falcao in the team, despite the forehead injury he got against Valencia.
Elsewhere in the group, Plzen hosts Hapoel Tel-Aviv. Fenerbahce have relied on their away form to take them to the top of Group C, and are at home
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