Liverpool would hope to maintain their hold onto further progression in the UEFA Champions League as the Merseysiders make the trip to Budapest to square up against RB Leipzig.
Having secured a well-earned 2-0 win the first time around at the same venue, Jurgen Klopp’s men face an in-form Leipzig side on the back of what has been a devastating collapse for the Reds in domestic action.
Defeat on Sunday afternoon to Fulham on their own patch was their sixth such loss while turning out on the once-fortress-like Anfield pitch and with ambitions of a top-four finish looking increasingly bleak, Champions League football is bound to take priority for Klopp and Co. heading into Wednesday night’s fixture.
Jurgen Klopp rang in as many as seven changes for his side that turned out against Fulham over the last weekend and it remains to be seen whether the Liverpool FC gaffer would seek to make wholesale changes once again when going up against RB Leipzig.
The Merseysiders had emerged victorious in the first game between the two sides largely through a well-balanced style of play, something that has gone missing in recent weeks and Leipzig’s form ahead of the midweek clash suggests that the Bundesliga club would hope to make the most of a faltering Liverpool FC unit.
Since the defeat handed out to Julian Nagelsmann’s Leipzig outfit last month by the Reds in the first of the two-legged tie, the Germans have bounced back in the swiftest of fashion, notching up four wins in a row in top-flight action and making the forthcoming contest one to look forward to.
WHEN & WHERE?
Next up, a return to @championsleague action 🔴
Half-time in the tie, we need to keep focused and together 👊 #LFCRBL pic.twitter.com/8k6fTCFQqm
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 8, 2021
Date: Wednesday 10 March
Time: 7:30 PM GMT
Venue: Puskás Aréna
TEAM NEWS
Ozan Kabak back in training at Kirkby today. No sign of Roberto Firmino. #LFC
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceLFC) March 9, 2021
Roberto Firmino looks increasingly doubtful to make the matchday squad come Wednesday night after missing out on team training in recent days.
The Brazillian forward had been absent from the Fulham defeat as well, with Diogo Jota taking his spot in the frontline and the latter seems certain to do the same against Leipzig.
Fabinho should return to the XI in place of James Milner after the veteran midfielder had been handed a rare outing last time around in Premier League action.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Sadio Mane are two more regulars who are in the fray to reclaim their spots after being benched for the weekend tie at Anfield.
Ozan Kabak’s fitness levels would be evaluated ahead of Wednesday night’s game following the on-loan defender missing out on the Fulham defeat due to a knock.
KEY BATTLE
Diogo Jota vs Ibrahima Konaté
Jota came very close to netting a goal on his much-awaited return to the pitch last Sunday against Fulham but the visitors’ No.1 Areola produced a terrific save to deny the Liverpool FC forward’s thunderous volley.
Come Wednesday night, the 23-year-old Jota would be right in the mix to get on his goalscoring best just three games into his return from a knee injury that had robbed him of a brilliant start to life on Merseyside.
Leipzig’s formidable backline has consisted of Konaté and with the Frenchman reportedly on Liverpool FC’s wishlist ahead of next summer, all eyes would be on the centre-back going head-to-head against Jota.
MATCH PREDICTION
Liverpool 2-1 RB Leipzig
We expect the Reds to edge out their forthcoming opponents in a game that could prove to be a closely contested encounter at the Puskas Arena in Budapest.
Champions League should take centre stage for Jurgen Klopp and Co. after their recent outings in domestic action proving disastrous and a win against Leipzig in the midweek clash could be a major boost for the under-fire Merseysiders.
