Liverpool travel to Ibrox to take on Rangers for their next UEFA Champions League group game on Wednesday night.
Liverpool succumbed to a 3-2 defeat against Arsenal at the weekend, and they will be desperate to bounce back with a positive result here. The Reds managed to beat Rangers 2-0 in the reverse fixture, and they will fancy their chances of getting a good result here.
Liverpool are currently second in Group A with six points from three games. A win here will give them a great chance of booking their place in the knockout rounds of the competition, especially if the other results go their way. Napoli are currently on top of the group with nine points, and they will face Ajax on Wednesday.
As for Rangers, the hosts have lost all three group games in the UEFA Champions League so far and are at the bottom of the group with zero points. The Scottish giants will look to salvage some pride here, and they will know that a positive result here can keep their European hopes alive.
Ajax are third in the group with three points. If they lose to Napoli and Rangers win their game against Liverpool, the Scottish outfit might have a chance of finishing third and dropping down the Europa league.
Team News & Tactics
Rangers
Rangers will be without a number of key players due to injury problems. The hosts are without the services of Kemar Roofe, and Ianis Hagi. Filip Helander, Tom Lawrence, Jon McLaughlin and John Souttar are sidelined with injuries as well. But James Sands has served his suspension and is set to return.
The Scottish giants are likely to continue with the usual 4-2-3-1 formation. Experienced goalkeeper Allan McGregor will keep his place between the sticks. Meanwhile, the back four should comprise James Tavernier, Connor Goldson, Sands and Borna Barisic.
Ryan Jack and John Lundstram are expected to start at the base of the midfield. Both players will be expected to break up Liverpool’s play and shield Rangers’ back four.
Malik Tillman, Steven Davis and former Liverpool attacker Ryan Kent will start in behind the striker. Antonio-Mirko Colak, who has nine goals in his last ten games, will spearhead the Rangers attack against Liverpool.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): McGregor; Tavernier, Goldson, Sands, Barisic; Jack, Lundstram; Tillman, Davis, Kent; Colak
Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp has a lengthy injury list to contend with as well. Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will miss out after not being included in the Champions League squad. Meanwhile, Luis Diaz, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joel Matip picked up injuries in the game against Arsenal and are set to be sidelined here.
On a positive note, Andrew Robertson is back in full training and could return to the starting eleven. In addition, summer signing Calvin Ramsay could deputise in the absence of Alexander-Arnold. Klopp is likely to persist with the 4-4-2 system that he employed in the last two matches.
Jürgen Klopp confirmed Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luis Diaz will require scans on the respective injuries they sustained at Arsenal on Sunday.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 9, 2022
Ibrahima Konate is expected to part partner Virgil van Dijk at the heart of Liverpool’s defence in the absence of Matip. Robertson and Ramsay should come into the starting eleven as the full-backs.
It will be interesting to see if Ramsay can produce a solid defensive performance and force Klopp to consider him as a starter, especially after a number of poor defensive displays from Alexander-Arnold.
In the midfield, Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota are likely to operate as the wingers. Thiago Alcantara will partner Fabinho at the heart of the Liverpool midfield. Jordan Henderson was poor against Arsenal, and he failed to break up to play and win the ball back for his side. So Fabinho will hope to resume normal service during midweek in place of the Liverpool captain.
Roberto Firmino and Darwin Nunez were both on the score sheet against Arsenal, and they are likely to partner each other in the strike pairing against Rangers.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Alisson; Ramsay, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson; Salah, Thiago, Fabinho, Jota; Nunez, Firmino
Key Stats
- Rangers have failed to win 26 of their last 29 matches in the UEFA Champions League.
- Liverpool have scored at least two goals in 13 of their last 16 matches in the UEFA Champions League.
- Rangers have failed to score in their last three Champions League matches.
- Rangers have conceded at least two goals in their last three matches in the Champions League.
- Liverpool have failed to win seven of their 12 matches across all competitions this season.
Player to Watch
Darwin Nunez
Darwin Nunez has been impressing Klopp in training 👀 pic.twitter.com/ereBvQHpOW
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) October 9, 2022
Nunez was impressive against Arsenal, and he managed to get on the scoresheet as well. He has had limited opportunities to showcase his qualities this season and will be fired up against Rangers. The Uruguayan international also performed at a high level in the reverse fixture, and he is our man to watch.
Prediction
Rangers 1-2 Liverpool
Rangers will look to put their best foot forward here and salvage some pride in front of their fans. However, the gulf in quality between the two sides is substantial, irrespective of Liverpool’s recent struggles. The away side should be able to come out on top at the end of a keenly-contested affair.