Europa League Qualifier Preview: Rabotnicki Skopje - Liverpool

BEWARE THE UNDERDOG

Roy Hodgson prepares for his first competitive game as Liverpool manager on Thursday when his side travel to Macedonia to take on Rabotnicki Skopje in the Europa League third qualifying round.

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Liverpool have been forced back into competitive action in the middle of their pre season as a result of last year’s disastrous league campaign under Rafael Benitez in which they finished in seventh position.

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• Hodgson: Playing Gerrard and Carragher against FK Rabotnicki would have been 'complete folly'
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However, with the arrival of new manager Roy Hodgson, eleven weeks after he led his former club Fulham out in the Hamburg Stadium against Athletico Madrid in last year’s Europa Cup final, the club is surrounded by a new found optimism.

Hodgson has quickly made his mark at the club and the signing of Joe Cole looks to be an astute move in the market already.

The news that Steven Gerrard has pledged his imminent future at Anfield is also a huge bonus for Hodgson, whilst it also appears that Fernando Torres has been convinced that his future lies with Gerrard and co.

Liverpool know that this is just the beginning of a tough season as they attempt to change around their fortunes, and with an expectant set of supporters who are accustomed to European success this competition will prove to be an important one, if and when they qualify into it.

Hodgson will know that this isn’t going to be an easy competition to win with the likes of Porto, Juventus and Manchester City all battling it out to make the final, which takes place in the newly built 50,000 seated Aviva Stadium in Ireland on May the 11^th.

But this is the first small step on the road to that final and Hodgson will know his team will have to be professional against this unknown Macedonian side or risk facing an extraordinary upset.

Rabotnicki Skopje based in the capital of Macedonia, finished runners up in the Makedonska Prva Liga last season and are managed by Zoran Stratev.

This is undoubtedly the biggest game in their 73 year history, although Liverpool supporters would be mistaken for thinking that this team has no European experience at all.

The three time Macedonian champions faced Premier League opposition in the form of Bolton Wanderers in 2007,  and after holding the English side to a 1-1 draw in the first leg at home, they lost by a single goal at the Reebok Stadium, losing the tie 2-1 on aggregate.

Their squad has a strong South American flavour to it, the Macedonians; also known as the ‘Romantics,’ have a 24 man squad containing six Brazilian players.

LIVERPOOL TEAM NEWS

Roy Hodgson has resisted the temptation to play his England quartet Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Glen Johnson and Joe Cole in this match, putting his faith in the youngsters and fringe players in a game that Liverpool can’t afford to slip up in.

Liverpool fans will have the opportunity to watch some of the next generation as new signing Jonjo Shelvey is expected to make another Liverpool start following his switch from Charlton Athletic whilst Tom Ince, David Amoo, Lauri Dalla Valle, Nathen Ecclestone, Peter Gulacsi and Martin Hansen are all named in the squad.

The squad does have some experience and proven quality to it with the inclusion of the defensive trio Martin Skrtel, Daniel Agger and Sotirios Kyrgiakos, with playmaker Alberto Aquilani hoping this will be the start of an improved and injury free season following his move from Roma last year.

David Ngog who has expressed his determination to remain at Liverpool is the main striker in the squad and will be looking to impress Hodgson who had been willing to listen to offers for the French striker.

The Merseysiders had hoped to call on more first team players for this match but have decided to leave World Cup stars Fernando Torres, Dirk Kuyt, Maxi Rodriguez and the unsettled Javier Mascherano at home to gain more rest for the tougher matches that lie ahead following their hectic summer schedule.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Liverpool

Promising centre back Danny Wilson is another new signing at Liverpool having completed a £5million switch from Rangers earlier this month.

Wilson, 18, is undoubtedly one for the future but has obvious potential, having already represented Scotland under-21’s and captaining the under-19 side.

His breakthrough at Ibrox came last season when he featured in 14 games for the SPL champions, performing impressively in the absence of the injured Madjid Bougherra.

Rabotnicki

The main threat from Rabotnicki comes in the form of their Brazilian striker Wandeir who has a respectable amount of European experience since he moved to Europe from Brazilian side Cruzeiro.

After featuring for Cruzeiro he made the move to the Macedonian side Cematarnica, where a goal ratio of more than one every two games saw him become one of the leading players in the country.

After a brief spell at FK Vardar he moved on loan to two European clubs firstly the German club Kickers Offenbach and then the Portuguese club Naval.

At his current club he has notched seven goals in 19 appearances and will be someone that the Liverpool defence must be wary off.  

PREDICTION

Liverpool will surely have too much quality at their disposal for Rabotnicki despite a number of first team absences.

Roy Hodgson will know it's imperative to get his reign off to a good start, no matter who the opposition is and a convincing early season victory should set the Merseysiders up for an assault on regaining their top four spot in the coming months.

Liverpool will have to be professional and possibly grind out a result but they will kick start their European campaign with a comfortable victory tonight.

Rabotnicki Skopje 0- 3 Liverpool

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