Liverpool should swiftly put the weekend behind them and channel any frustration in the direction of the visiting Rangers, because the Champions League marketing campaign continues beneath the Anfield lights.
Liverpool vs. Rangers
Champions League Group Stage (3) | Anfield
October 4, 2022 | 8pm (BST)
After practically three weeks with no sport, there was loads of expectation positioned on Liverpool’s return however their displaying towards Brighton solely noticed Jurgen Klopp‘s facet choose up from the place they left off.
The Reds are removed from the all-conquering facet all of us admired final season they usually’ll have to have the bit between their tooth towards what will probably be a spirited Rangers facet.
Listed below are 10 key issues to know forward of Tuesday’s kickoff.
1. Historic assembly
Extremely, this conflict is the first-ever aggressive assembly between the 2 sides, regardless of a shared historical past of 130 years!
The 2 golf equipment have performed out 10 friendlies in that point, although, the final coming in 2011 when Kenny Dalglish took his facet to Ibrox and Fabio Aurelio scored an personal aim.
The truth is, the Reds’ solely earlier European Cup assembly with a Scottish opponent was in 1980/81 once they beat Alex Ferguson’s Aberdeen 5-0 on mixture within the final 16, occurring to raise the cup.
2. Acquainted faces
Rangers is residence to ex-Reds Ryan Kent and Ben Davies, the previous left Anfield in 2019 and has since performed 185 video games for the Scottish membership with a return of 31 targets and 51 assists.
Davies, however, solely left on a everlasting deal this summer season and has since made a complete of 4 appearances, amounting to 157 minutes.
The centre-back has been named on the bench in each of the Gers’ Champions League video games this season however a suspension to James Sands may open the door for a begin, whereas Kent has performed the total 90 in defeats to each Ajax and Napoli.
“Ryan Kent has had an amazing improvement since transferring to Scotland and Ben Davies is simply beginning out on his journey with Rangers, so it will likely be good to come back up towards them,” Klopp mentioned in August.
3. Any gamers returning for the Reds?
Previous to the go to of Brighton, Liverpool have been buoyed by the coaching return of Ibrahima Konate, Caoimhin Kelleher and Calvin Ramsay.
It left Andy Robertson, Curtis Jones, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain because the absentees, which stays the case for this fixture.
Konate may make his return to the matchday squad for the primary time because the Neighborhood Defend, although, whereas Kelleher may additionally be named to permit Klopp to call a 12-man bench.
The harm checklist is much more palatable lately, let’s hope it stays that method for a while!
Liverpool squad in coaching on Monday
Goalkeepers: Alisson, Kelleher, Adrian, Pitaluga, Mrozek
Defenders: Van Dijk, Matip, Konate, Gomez, Phillips, Alexander-Arnold, Tsimikas, Ramsay
Midfielders: Thiago, Fabinho, Henderson, Milner, Arthur, Elliott, Bajcetic
Forwards: Salah, Diaz, Firmino, Jota, Nunez, Carvalho
4. A handful of adjustments from Klopp?
Klopp has lengthy burdened the necessity for consistency when trying to discover rhythm and outcomes however it might come as no shock if adjustments are available on Tuesday night.
Many will probably be looking for Trent Alexander-Arnold‘s title on the staff sheet, whether or not that be within the XI or on the bench and one wouldn’t be shocked if Joe Gomez takes his place.
Harvey Elliott, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez may additionally come into the facet to clean up the midfield and the ahead line – Liverpool should, on the very least, match Rangers’ power.
Predicted Reds XI: Alisson; Gomez, Matip, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Fabinho, Elliott, Thiago; Salah, Diaz, Nunez
5. Kent and Davies each to begin?
Whereas Giovanni van Bronckhorst has overseen a pointless Champions League marketing campaign so far, within the Scottish Premiership his facet have received six, drawn one and misplaced certainly one of their first eight video games.
It leaves them simply two factors behind leaders Celtic they usually arrive at Anfield off the again of two victories, towards Dundee United (2-1) and Hearts (4-0).
Ahead Antonio Colak would be the man to observe, having already scored 11 targets this season, however the Gers have been liable to particular person errors and that would very nicely be their undoing.
Alfredo Morelos will come into competition for this match, as too former Southampton midfielder Steven Davis, however Rangers have quite a lot of accidents to cope with – with John Souttar and Filip Helander out and doubts over Tom Lawrence and Kemar Roofe.
Potential Rangers XI: McGregor; Tavernier, Goldson, Davies, Barisic; Lundstram, Davis, Jack; Tillman, Colak, Kent
6. How is Group A shaping up?
After two matches, Napoli at present sit on the high of Group A due to a full complement of factors, with Liverpool occupying second spot over Ajax, with each groups on three factors.
With two successive defeats, Rangers sit on the backside of the desk having but to attain a aim whereas conceding seven.
Whereas this match takes place at Anfield, Ajax host Napoli in what will probably be an attention-grabbing tie to keep watch over such are the tight margins at what would be the midway stage.
7. Do you know?
It’s been certainly one of these type of seasons to this point whereby Liverpool have seemed a shell of their former selves.
We’ve all been attempting to place a finger on what is precisely the basis trigger however it seems a fruits of things has led us right here, and the Reds love making life more durable for themselves – as was the case vs. Brighton.
And whenever you learn that Liverpool have now solely led at half-time in three of their final 20 video games in all competitions, and two in ten video games this season, it solely provides to the frustration and bewilderment.
The Reds have to rediscover the artwork of beginning fast and being alive from the primary whistle, not after the opposition have scored.
8. “Defending is an artwork”
Talking to the press, Klopp touched on Liverpool conceding the identical aim time and time once more this season and why the shortage of depth is opening the gaps as much as the opposition:
“We concede now related targets, let me say it like this, the place they undergo the identical gaps.
“The particular downside now we have is that now we have a very courageous method of defending often, and when the timing in our defending just isn’t good, then we go away a spot open.
“That was all the time the case, by the best way, however due to the stress we placed on the boy on the ball, no person actually recognised it, as a result of we closed it with depth, if you’d like.
“Now we have to be extra compact. Now we have that in our thoughts, we all know that, however within the second it’s going nicely, you do it and also you do it once more. We mentioned it final week, I believe, that defending is type of an artwork.”
Let’s hope the Reds have a masterpiece in retailer for us towards Rangers.
9. We’ve seen this referee earlier than
The referee for the event is Clement Turpin (FRA) and the Reds final encountered him within the Champions League ultimate again in Could.
It was the fourth time Turpin has overseen a Liverpool sport and the primary defeat beneath his watch with two victories and one draw for the Reds in his earlier three video games courting again to 2015/16.
Turpin has refereed one Rangers sport, a 4-2 win at Borussia Dortmund within the Europa League final February.
10. How can you watch?
Liverpool vs. Rangers is to be proven reside on BT Sport 2 within the UK, with protection beginning at 6.30pm (BST) forward of the 8pm kickoff.
However when you fancy some biased commentary then This Is Anfield’s matchday reside weblog is the place to be! Henry Jackson will preserve you entertained with all of the updates, and, hopefully, loads of aim bulletins for the Reds from 7.15pm.
Simply win, please!
