UEFA Europa League
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Played
February 21, 2013 8:05 PM GMT
Anfield — Liverpool
Referee:‬ B. Kuipers‎
Attendance:‬ 42735‎
 
28′ Luis Suárez
Hulk 19′
43′ Joe Allen
 
59′ Luis Suárez
 

Liverpool - Zenit Preview: Reds looking to overturn two-goal first-leg deficit

Brendan Rodgers’ side will to need to be at their best at Anfield if they are to qualify and overcome a Russian outfit packed full of star players including forward Hulk

By Shane Farrington

More On :  Liverpool, Zenit Saint Petersburg, Liverpool vs Zenit Saint Petersburg
Hulk, Liverpool
Andrew Powell
  PROBABLE LINEUPS

LIVERPOOL

Reina
Johnson, Agger, Skrtel, Enrique
Gerrard, Lucas, Allen
Sterling, Suarez, Downing
ZENIT ST PETERSBERG

Malafeev
Anyukov, Neto, Hubocan, Lombaerts
Witsel, Danny, Denisov
Shirokov, Kerzhakov, Hulk

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers will be forced to make at least two changes from the side which beat Swansea City 5-0 on Sunday - with both Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho cup-tied after appearing in Europe earlier in the season for Chelsea and Inter respectively.

Martin Skrtel could come in to face his former club in place of Jamie Carragher, while Joe Allen and Raheem Sterling may well also get an opportunity to impress from the start. Fabio Borini misses out after being ruled out for the rest of the season after dislocating his shoulder against the Swans.

For the visitors, Luciano Spalletti could well name the same starting line-up as that which started the first-leg tie in Russia. This would mean scorer Sergey Semak will again have to settle for a place on the bench.

Axel Witsel is poised to start in midfield alongside Danny and Igor Denisov, while Hulk will again be expected to support Aleksandr Kerzhakov by coming in from his wide position.

  DID YOU KNOW?

  • Liverpool have lost three games in the Europa League this season - with fellow Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala and Serie A outfit Udinese joining Zenit in beating the Reds.
  • Martin Skrtel made 92 appearances and scored three goals for Zenit before moving to Anfield in 2007.
  • The Reds have won the Uefa Cup (now the Europa League) three times - back in 1973, 1976 and 2001.
  • Aleksandr Korsakov (pictured right), has an impressive scoring record for the club - he has netted 52 times in 94 matches so far.
  • Zenit won the Uefa Cup back in 2008 - when they beat Rangers 2-0 in the final at Manchester City’s stadium.
  • Current boss Luciano Spalletti has been in control of the club since taking over in December 2009. He has previously managed a host of Italian sides including Sampdoria, Udinese and Roma.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Liverpool 3-0 Zenit Saint Petersburg
    35.39 %
  • Liverpool 4-0 Zenit Saint Petersburg
    10.29 %
  • Liverpool 4-1 Zenit Saint Petersburg
    10.08 %
Head to Head
UEFA Europa League ‎(EL)‎ Feb 21, 2013 Liverpool 3 - Zenit Saint Petersburg 1
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UEFA Europa League ‎(EL)‎ Feb 14, 2013 Zenit Saint Petersburg 2 - Liverpool 0
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Last Five Matches
Liverpool
May 19, 2013Liverpool 1 - QPR 0EPL
May 12, 2013Fulham 1 - Liverpool 3EPL
May 5, 2013Liverpool 0 - Everton 0EPL
Apr 27, 2013Newcastle 0 - Liverpool 6EPL
Apr 21, 2013Liverpool 2 - Chelsea FC 2EPL
Zenit Saint Petersburg
May 19, 2013Zenit Saint Petersburg 3 - Volga Nizhny Novgorod 1RUS1
May 12, 2013Rostov 1 - Zenit Saint Petersburg 1RUS1
May 4, 2013Zenit Saint Petersburg 4 - Alania Vladikavkaz 0RUS1
Apr 28, 2013Kuban 2 - Zenit Saint Petersburg 2RUS1
Apr 21, 2013Zenit Saint Petersburg 1 - Krasnodar 0RUS1
Odds
Returns: Liverpool £16.15 PaddyPower Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Returns: Draw £670.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Zenit £2510.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Team News
Available Squads
25José Reina PaezGoalkeeper
2Glen JohnsonDefender
3José EnriqueDefender
5Daniel AggerDefender
23Jamie CarragherDefender
8Steven GerrardMidfielder
14Jordan HendersonMidfielder
19Stewart DowningMidfielder
21Lucas LeivaMidfielder
24Joe AllenMidfielder
7Luis SuárezStriker
42Peter GulacsiGoalkeeper
16Sebastián CoatesDefender
47Andre Wisdom Defender
30SusoMidfielder
31Raheem SterlingMidfielder
33Jonjo ShelveyMidfielder
11Oussama AssaidiStriker
16Vyacheslav MalafeevGoalkeeper
2Alexander AnyukovDefender
6Nicolas LombaertsDefender
-NetoDefender
14Tomás HubocanDefender
10DannyMidfielder
15Roman ShirokovDefender
25Sergey SemakMidfielder
27Igor DenisovMidfielder
28Axel WitselMidfielder
29HulkStriker
30Yuri ZhevnovGoalkeeper
3Bruno AlvesDefender
4Domenico CriscitoDefender
-Milan RodićDefender
20Viktor FaizulinMidfielder
9Alexander BukharovStriker
11Aleksandr KerzhakovStriker
Players to Watch
Luis Suárez
Luis Suárez
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 7
Games Goals YC RC
8 4 1 0
The 26-year-old has struggled to replicate his superb Premier League form in the Europa League so far this season - with just two goals from his seven appearances in Europe. With Daniel Sturridge cup-tied and the Reds needing goals to progress, a lot will be expected from the Uruguayan and he will be hoping to grab the goals to fire his side into the last 16.
Hulk
Hulk
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 29
Games Goals YC RC
4 2 0 0
The Brazil international joined the club for big money from Porto last season and has shown signs of his quality. His powerful shots from distance - including from free kicks make him a real threat, and with Liverpool desperate to keep a clean sheet, the Reds defenders are likely to have to keep him quiet to thwart the Russian side’s hopes of progressing.
Prediction
The hosts head into the match on the back of a convincing win in the Premier League but are likely to face a much tougher task in the Europa League. The first goal could be important and if the visitors can grab an away goal then that could well be enough to send them through. Liverpool to win on the night but Zenit to progress overall.
Editor's Prediction
Liverpool 3
Zenit 1
Results
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