Played
December 6, 2012 11:30 PM IST
Stadio Communale Friuli — Udine
Referee:‬ Duarte Nuno Pereira Gomes‎
Attendance:‬ 7650‎
 
 
Jordan Henderson 23′

Udinese - Liverpool Preview: Reds need win in Italy to reach Europa League knockout stage

The hosts are eliminated from the Europa League but possess the lethal finishing of Antonio Di Natale at home and Brendan Rodgers faces a challenge to secure progression

By Arthur Virgo

More On :  Liverpool, Udinese, Udinese vs Liverpool
Thai Brendan Rodgers Liverpool
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  PROBABLE LINEUPS

UDINESE

Brkic
Heurtaux, Danilo, Coda
Faraoni, Pereyra, Badu, Lazzari, Armero
Fabbrini, Di Natale
LIVERPOOL

Jones
Wisdom, Skrtel, Coates, Downing
Henderson, Shelvey, Sahin
Suso, Suarez, Assaidi

Brendan Rodgers has rotated his squad ahead of his previous Europa League matches, with defenders Andre Wisdom, Jamie Carragher, left-sider Stewart Downing, midfielders Jordan Henderson and Jonjo Shelvey and winger Oussama Assaidi featuring in four or more of their five Group A games so far.

Luis Suarez may lead the line up front, having incurred a suspension for Sunday's Premier League trip to West Ham, with forward Fabio Borini (foot) and defender Martin Kelly (knee) still unavailable through injury.

Udinese are without right-back Dusan Basta (cheek fracture) and centre-backs Maurizio Domizzi and Mehdi Benatia have been out through injury. Willians is suspended, while fellow midfielders Andrea Lazzari and Giampiero Pinzi are recovering from injury but could make a comeback in this fixture.

Striker Luis Muriel (broken leg) is out, so Antonio Di Natale could be joined by Diego Fabbrini or Matias Ranegie.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • The Zebrette are on an unprecedented three-game European losing streak in Group A, conceding eight in the process, having never lost more than two games in a row in Europe prior to their Matchday 5 defeat away to now-qualified Anzhi Makhachkala. 
  • Francesco Guidolin's side entered the Europa League having lost their second successive Champions League play-off but now lie ninth in Serie A, although they recorded an emphatic 4-1 win over Cagliari on Sunday.

  • Liverpool are ahead of Young Boys in second place on head-to-head record and would qualify for the Europa League knockout stage with a win. A draw would also take them through, provided that the Swiss side do not win at home against qualified Anzhi and overtake the Reds on points.

  • The Reds would be out with a defeat at the Stadio Friuli, even if Young Boys lose, as the Swiss side would then be top of a three-way head-to-head involving both Liverpool and Udinese.

  • Udinese have won two of their four fixtures against English sides in European competition, losing both legs of the 2011-12 Champions League play-offs to Arsenal but beating Tottenham in the 2008-09 Uefa Cup group stage in addition to their win in October over Liverpool.

  • The Reds have won eight of their 24 European games against Italian teams, drawing five and losing 11 - including four of their nine matches away against Italian teams.

  • Liverpool have faced Italian teams in five finals of Uefa competition, losing three and winning twice on penalties for the European Cup against Roma in 1984 and against AC Milan in the 2005 Champions League.

  • Udinese reserve goalkeeper Daniele Padelli played for Liverpool in 2007 on loan from Sampdoria, appearing alongside Jamie Carragher, Daniel Agger and Steven Gerrard in the final match of the season against Charlton, his only game in their colours.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Udinese 1-2 Liverpool
    18.59 %
  • Udinese 0-2 Liverpool
    17.3 %
  • Udinese 1-3 Liverpool
    10.91 %
Head to Head
Europa League ‎(EL)‎ 06-Dec-2012 Udinese 0 - Liverpool 1
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Europa League ‎(EL)‎ 05-Oct-2012 Liverpool 2 - Udinese 3
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Last Five Matches
Udinese
12-May-2013Udinese 2 - Atalanta 1ITA1
09-May-2013Palermo 2 - Udinese 3ITA1
05-May-2013Udinese 3 - Sampdoria 1ITA1
27-Apr-2013Cagliari 0 - Udinese 1ITA1
21-Apr-2013Udinese 1 - Lazio 0ITA1
Liverpool
12-May-2013Fulham 1 - Liverpool 3EPL
05-May-2013Liverpool 0 - Everton 0EPL
27-Apr-2013Newcastle 0 - Liverpool 6EPL
21-Apr-2013Liverpool 2 - Chelsea FC 2EPL
13-Apr-2013Reading 0 - Liverpool 0EPL
Odds
Team News
Available Squads
21Daniele PadelliGoalkeeper
5DaniloDefender
26Giovanni PasqualeDefender
75Thomas HeurtauxDefender
6Marco FaraoniDefender
7BaduMidfielder
27Pablo ArmeroDefender
37Roberto PereyraMidfielder
66Giampiero PinziMidfielder
13Mathias RanégieStriker
-Diego FabbriniStriker
1Zeljko BrkicGoalkeeper
17Mehdi BenatiaDefender
-Filippo BerraDefender
-Marco FrisonDefender
-Massimiliano ReinthalerMidfielder
10Antonio Di NataleStriker
43Davide MarsuraStriker
25José Reina PaezGoalkeeper
2Glen JohnsonDefender
3José EnriqueDefender
23Jamie CarragherDefender
37Martin SkrtelDefender
8Nuri SahinMidfielder
14Jordan HendersonMidfielder
19Stewart DowningMidfielder
24Joe AllenMidfielder
30SusoMidfielder
7Luis SuárezStriker
1Bradley JonesGoalkeeper
16Sebastián CoatesDefender
47Andre Wisdom Defender
10Joe ColeMidfielder
31Raheem SterlingMidfielder
33Jonjo ShelveyMidfielder
11Oussama AssaidiStriker
Results
Group A Matchday 6
Times In IST
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Libor Kozák Libor Kozák
Striker
Lazio 		10 0
Ó. Cardozo Ó. Cardozo
Striker
Benfica 		8 3
Rodrigo Palacio Rodrigo Palacio
Striker
Inter 		8 0
Eto'o Eto'o
Striker
Anzhi 		7 2
Edinson Cavani Edinson Cavani
Striker
Napoli 		7 2