Liverpool will host Qarabag FK at Anfield on Wednesday night, looking to book their place in the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League.
Liverpool are fourth in the UEFA Champions League standings with four wins from their last five European outings ahead of the game vs Qarabag FK at Anfield on Wednesday night. They will be confident they can get the job done here.
The Reds were quite impressive against Marseille last week, and they will certainly fancy the chances of getting a good result here. Meanwhile, the visitors are coming into this game on the back of three wins and three defeats from the last six matches in all competitions. This will be an uphill challenge for them.
Qarabag will be the underdog heading into this contest, and it remains to be seen whether they can pull off an upset. Liverpool are the better team, and they will be expected to grind out a comfortable victory. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Liverpool
The home team will be without Giovanni Leoni (knee), Conor Bradley (knee), and Alexander Isak (fracture). Liverpool are likely to start in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Qarabag FK, with Alisson Becker in goal.
Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez will start as the full-backs. They will look to help out at both ends of the pitch. Meanwhile, Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk will form the central defensive partnership.
As for the midfield unit, Ryan Gravenberch will start alongside Dominik Szoboszlai in the double pivot, aiming to add control and composure to the team. Alexis Mac Allister will look to create opportunities for teammates in the final third.
Finally, Hugo Ekitike will spearhead the Liverpool attack vs Qarabag FK at Anfield on Wednesday night, with Florian Wirtz and Mohamed Salah on either side of him. So, Cody Gakpo will be a backup option on the bench.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, van Dijk, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch; Salah, Mac Allister, Wirtz; Ekitike
Qarabag FK
Kady Borges is the only injury worry for the away side. Qarabag FK will start in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Liverpool, with Mateusz Kochalski in goal.
Matheus Silva and Elvin Cafarquliyev will start at full-back, looking to protect the central defenders and hit Liverpool on the break. Bahlul Mustafazada and Kevin Medina will pair up at the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Marko Jankovic and Pedro Bicalho will start in the double pivot in the middle of the park. They will look to win the ball back for their side and protect the back four.
Joni Montiel will bring creativity to the team in the final third and look to link the midfield to the attack. Abdellah Zoubir and Leandro Andrade will start on the flanks. They will look to add pace and flair to the team during transitions. Finally, Camilo Duran will lead the line for Qarabag vs Liverpool on Wednesday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Kochalski; Silva, Mustafazada, Medina, Cafarquliyev; Jankovic, Bikalho; Andrade, Montiel, Zoubir; Duran
Key Stats
- Liverpool have picked up two wins from their last six matches in all competitions.
- Qarabag FK have won three of their last six matches across all competitions. They have conceded 12 goals in that run.
- Liverpool have conceded in four of the last six matches in all competitions.
- Since Arne slot took charge of Liverpool in 2024, the Reds have the highest win percentage in the UEFA Champions League (76.5%), winning 13 of their 17 European games under the Dutchman.
- Qarabag have won the joint-most points from losing positions in the UEFA Champions League this season (7 – level with Barcelona), including coming from behind to win 3-2 against Eintracht Frankfurt in their most recent game in the competition.
Player to Watch
Hugo Ekitike
The French international has done quite well since joining Liverpool, and he is our key player to watch out for. The visitors have looked mediocre, defensively, in recent weeks, and Ekitike could cause all sorts of problems for them. Ekitike will look to find the back of the net and create opportunities for his teammates. Liverpool will depend on him to step up in the final third and produce a defining performance.
Prediction
Liverpool 3-1 Qarabag FK
Both teams will look to pick up a win here, and the clash is likely to be exciting. Neither side is defensive in their approach, and this could be an open game with plenty of chances. Liverpool have enough quality and depth to grind out a good result here.
The hosts should be able to exploit the team’s defensive vulnerability and find the back of the net easily. A comfortable win for the home team is on the cards here. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 win for Arne Slot and his charges.
