Liverpool will play hosts to Red Bull Salzburg at Anfield on Wednesday night hoping to bounce back from their 2-0 loss against Napoli last month. The Reds will come into this UEFA Champions League match after securing a hard-fought 1-0 win over Sheffield United while Salzburg managed to beat Austria Wien by a 4-1 scoreline in their last outing.
With so many attacking players on show in midweek, this European encounter has the makings of an entertaining clash.
Talking Tactics
The Merseyside giants are expected to opt for a 4-3-3 formation as they look to dominate possession and create some decent goal-scoring opportunities going forward. The Reds frontline has left a lot to be desired with their performances over the past few matches. Hence, they would hope to put in a much-improved display against their Austrian opponents in midweek.
Salzburg could lineup in a 4-2-2-2 formation as they look to keep things tidy at the back and will seek to hurt Liverpool on the break. Both Hwang and Koita might have to find a way to cause some problems for Klopp’s defenders that kept a clean sheet versus the Blades last weekend.
Team News
Liverpool
Alisson Becker is still recovering from his calf injury and won’t play a part in this clash. Xherdan Shaqiri can also be ruled out of this match due to a calf problem. However, Klopp will be boosted by the return of Naby Keita who might have to settle for a spot on the Liverpool bench.
Liverpool Predicted XI
Adrian; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip, Virgil Van Dijk, Andrew Robertson; James Milner, Fabinho, Georginio Wijnaldum; Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane
RB Salzburg
Antoine Bernede and Alexander Walke are both unavailable for this encounter away at Merseyside. However, the Salzburg duo Marin Pongracic and Hee-Chan Hwang have both recovered from their respective injuries and will be ready to face the European champions on Wednesday.
RB Salzburg Predicted XI
Cican Stankovic; Rasmus Nissen Kristensen, André Ramalho, Maximilian Wöber, Andreas Ulmer; Enock Mwepu, Zlatko Junuzovic, Takumi Minamino, Dominik Szoboszlai; Hee-Chan Hwang, Sékou Koïta
Key Men
Liverpool
The Liverpool front three of Mane, Salah and Firmino will once again be expected to make the difference on Wednesday night. Both Alexander-Arnold and Robertson will also need to have a good game from the full-back positions if the Reds are to earn maximum points from this European contest.
RB Salzburg
A lot will ride on the young shoulders of Koita who will lead the line for Salzburg alongside the South-Korean striker Hwang Hee-chan. Both players will need to work their socks off if they are to stand any chance of scoring against an in-form Liverpool defence in midweek. Salzburg goalkeeper, Stankovic has to be at his best if his side are to stop the Reds from wreaking havoc in the final third.
Odds
The bookmakers have made Liverpool heavy favourites to secure a win against the Austrian champions after they were priced at 3/10. The draw is listed as 9/2 while Salzburg are 15/2 underdogs ahead of this European showdown at Anfield.
