Liverpool vs Qarabağ – Match preview and team news | OneFootball

Anfield hosts a decisive European encounter on Wednesday as Liverpool welcome Azerbaijani champions Qarabağ FK for the final matchday of the league phase.

The stakes are clear for Arne Slot’s side. A victory guarantees an automatic spot in the Round of 16, allowing them to bypass the congested February play-off round. The Reds aim to respond immediately after a frustrating domestic defeat to Bournemouth.

Their continental form remains imperious, however, following a clinical 3–0 win at Marseille last week. Incidentally, the match marks a minor historical footnote. Qarabağ becomes the first opponent beginning with ‘Q’ to face Liverpool, leaving ‘X’ as the only letter missing from the club’s European opposition list.

Liverpool vs Qarabağ – Match preview and team news

Team News

Liverpool

Arne Slot faces a major defensive selection crisis with only one fit senior centre-back available. Joe Gomez is ruled out with a hip injury sustained at the weekend, joining Alexander Isak, Conor Bradley, and Giovanni Leoni on the absentee list. Meanwhile, Ibrahima Konaté remains on compassionate leave. Consequently, Wataru Endo is expected to drop into the heart of the defence alongside Virgil van Dijk. On a positive note, Federico Chiesa has returned to training and is available for selection.

Qarabağ

The visitors arrive with mixed availability. Highly-rated youngster Dastan Satpayev is a major doubt after missing their previous European outing, and winter arrivals Lucas Africo, Jaako Oksanen, and Sebastian Zeballos are all ineligible for this stage. Manager Gurban Gurbanov significantly rotated his squad in their recent domestic loss to Kapaz, resting 11 players to ensure a fresh XI for the trip to England.

Form

Liverpool

The Reds currently sit fourth in the Champions League standings, having won 71% of their continental matches this season. Notably, none of Liverpool’s last 33 group/league phase games in UEFA competition has finished in a draw, a streak dating back to December 2020. Furthermore, the team has won 13 of their last 14 Champions League home games at Anfield. They will look to bounce back from a disappointing 3–2 defeat at Bournemouth that damaged their domestic title hopes.

Qarabağ

Known as the “Horsemen,” the visitors currently sit 18th in the league phase and are aiming to secure a play-off spot. They have proven to be dangerous opponents, recently drawing with Chelsea and defeating both Eintracht Frankfurt and Copenhagen at home. However, English soil has traditionally been difficult for them, as Azerbaijani clubs have lost all previous away games in England by a combined score of 13–1.

Predicted Lineups

Liverpool Predicted XI: Alisson; Frimpong, Endo, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Jones, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Ekitiké

Qarabağ Predicted XI: Kochalski; Silva, Mustafazada, Medina, Cafarquliyev; Jankovic, Bicalho; Andrade, Montiel, Zoubir; Duran

How to watch Liverpool vs Qarabağ?

In the UK, the match will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 2. Coverage begins at 19:30 GMT on television and via the discovery+ app.

Read more- ‘We’re going to win it’ – Arteta makes promise to Arsenal fans following Man Utd defeat

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