Liverpool vs Besiktas Preview

Liverpool vs Besiktas Preview

Liverpool host Turkish side Besiktas in their first leg tie of the Europa league last 32 as they look to add another European trophy to their long history.

 

Things have really been looking up lately for Liverpool of late. Another win last weekend and the Reds haven’t lost a game in normal time in the last fifteen games. Daniel Sturridge is back and is firing, even Mario Balotelli scored a goal. All is well at Anfield.

 

They welcome a Besiktas side who are top of their league in Turkey and have won their last four games. They bring with them a familiar face in Demba Ba, who in his last visit to Anfield scored the goal to sink Liverpool’s title hopes.

 

Besiktas will not have fond memories of Anfield. On their last trip to the red half of Merseyside they hammered 8 - 0 in the Champion’s League.

 

Liverpool’s Champion’s League campaign was poor. We all know it and the Reds will want to make amends in the Europa league. There is more incentive to win the competition this year with the winner automatically gaining a Champions League place regardless of league position. With a tough challenge to make up their slow start in the premier league Liverpool may take this competition very seriously.

 

A key player in the game will likely be Raheem Sterling who is likely to return to the side. Besiktas manager Slaven Bilić has recently stated that he thinks Raheem Sterling will become the Premier league’s best player.

 

Liverpool will be without Serbian international Lazar Markovic who has been banned for four games after his red card against Basel. This seems particularly harsh for something that I didn’t even think was a red card in the first place. He will however be missing for both legs of the tie.

 

Likely to return in his place is Jordan Ibe who was cup tied during the weekend. He has been performing well in the league and seems the obvious replacement for Markovic.

 

Daniel Sturridge seems set to make his European debut for the club, two and a half years after joining Liverpool. Changes to the side will likely be minimal despite a tough game away to Southampton on Sunday.

 

The match will likely be a tight first leg where neither team wants to give anything away. I do however predict Liverpool to nick this one 1 - 0. I wouldn’t be surprised if Liverpool concede a silly away goal from a set play though.