Rangers welcome Liverpool to Ibrox in a blockbuster Group A clash in 2022-23 UEFA Champions League.
Although Rangers would remain bottom of the group even with victory, Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s Gers can boost their hopes of avoiding a complete pre-Xmas exit from all UEFA competitions as defeat here would eliminate them from contention for Champions League knockouts.
Liverpool meanwhile will remain second with a win and close in on securing qualification for the knockout stage.
Team News
Kemar Roofe could make his first appearance of the season for Rangers after recovering from a lengthy calf injury, although he wasn’t risked against St Mirren on Saturday in their 4-0 win.
Tom Lawrence (knee) is again doubtful and won’t be risked unless he is declared match-fit,
Filip Helander (foot), John Souttar (knock) and Nmandi Ofoborh (illness) are again ruled out.
Ianis Hagis and Helander are both ineligible after being left out of Rangers’ Champions League squad, following lengthy injuries.
Liverpool will be without Luis Diaz until December after the winger suffered a knee injury in Sunday’s Premier League defeat at Arsenal.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (ankle) is another absentee following Sunday’s loss as Curtis Jones (leg) and Andrew Robertson (knee) are again considered as doubts.
Arthur Melo (muscle), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (hamstring) and Naby Keita (unspecified) remain absent.
Stat Attack
- Rangers lost their only previous Champions League meeting against Liverpool by a 2-0 result, which came last week at Anfield.
- Liverpool are visiting Ibrox for the first time in a competitive fixture.
- Rangers have lost three of seven previous home matches against English opposition across all UEFA competitions (W2, D2 L3).
- Liverpool are unbeaten in five of seven previous away matches against Scottish opposition in all UEFA competitions (W3, D2, L2).
- Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s Gers are to score in the Group Stage of Champions League this season, in which they have conceded nine goals without reply.
Prediction
Knowing that defeat would see them eliminated from this season’s Champions League, Rangers simply have to deliver a more aggressiven game than they produced at Anfield but their defensive record has been poor and top-scorer Antonio Colak is yet to show his quality in this group.
Liverpool meanwhile reverted to their leaky defence at Arsenal with some shocking defensive marking and lacked pace at times, which has to be a concern coming into this clash amidst their excellent fighting spirit to twice restore parity in the eventual defeat.
Alexander-Arnold and Diaz’s injuries though are big blows for a team currently below par in quality but this is a chance to reset quickly, and if they play like they did at Anfield then Liverpool should have enough to beat Rangers.
Prediction: Rangers 0-2 Liverpool
Result: Rangers 1-7 Liverpool
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