Liverpool welcome Rangers to Anfield in a blockbuster Battle of Britain in Group A of 2022-23 UEFA Champions League.
Victory would see Liverpool stay second in the group, whereas Rangers could move off the foot of the table with a win.
Team News
Ibrahima Konate could return for Liverpool after recovering from a knee injury, although he is set to face a late fitness test after having been absent for the last two months.
Andrew Robertson (knee) is nearing a first-team return but won’t be risked until he is declared match-fit by club doctors.
Curtis Jones (leg), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (hamstring), Naby Keita and Calvin Ramsay (both unspecified) remain ruled out.
Rangers will have Ben Davies available after he was substituted at half-time in Saturday’s domestic win over Hearts for tactical reasons, following his return from injury.
Tom Lawrence (knee) and Kemar Roofe (calf) are doubtful and won’t be risked unless declared match-fit, although Roofe was initially left out of Gers’ Champions League squad list but further injury issues has necessitated his elibility.
James Sands (suspension), Jon McLaughlin (unspecified), Filip Helander (foot), John Souttar (knock) and Nmandi Ofoborh (illness) are ruled out.
Ianis Hagis and Filip Helander are both ineligible after being left out of Rangers’ Champions League squad, following lengthy injuries.
Stat Attack
- This is Liverpool’s first competitive meeting against Rangers in all competitions.
- Rangers are visiting Anfield for the very first time in all competitions.
- Liverpool have lost just one of seven home matches against Scottish opposition in all UEFA competitions (W4, D2, L1).
- Jurgen Klopp’s Reds have lost just one of their last four home matches in the Champions League (W2, D1, L1), having lost 1-0 to Inter Milan in March 2022.
- Rangers have kept just two clean sheets in six Champions League matches this season (W2, D1, L3).
Prediction
After Saturday’s rocky performance in their 3-3 draw against Brighton, Jurgen Klopp faces tricky decisions with his Liverpool squad following a dreadful defensive display which deservedly would of handed them defeat by a horrific result on any other day.
Their attack though showed aggressiveness and fighting spirit – especially when pushing up the flanks to unleash passes into the central third, which is one positive which they can build upon here given their forward quality.
Rangers meanwhile were clinically ruthless in their mauling of Hearts but they now must bring that quality into this match if want to stand any chance of advancing, yet they have had a few hours extra rest which could be key as the match wears on.
Liverpool though need to bring their best attacking football because if they start like they did on Saturday and Rangers can adopt an aggressively quick attacking style, I do worry for them especially as this is essentially a Battle of Britain clash between two teams in need of a win.
I though do have a feeling that Liverpool might be able to scrape a result but a clean sheet is probably unlikely if they aren’t solid defensively.
Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Rangers
Result: Liverpool 2-0 Rangers
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