Champions League: Liverpool has all the tools to take three points against Genk
The Reds are back to European action and the adventure of retaining their Champions League championship continues. Their next appointments… Genk.
Not a team to get carried away with when on your travels (taking their Napoli fixture into consideration) but certainly the least favourite of the group and the most likely to take the most knocks.
Thanks to the Belgian side, Group E is now wide open with them even having an outside chance of still qualifying. Napoli displayed why nobody should be heading over to the Luminus Arena in a casual fashion. A stalemate was achieved by the leaders and the worst team of the group.
Genk did enough to soak up all of Napoli’s pressure and wore them down, waiting for their chance to get in on goal. Mind you, they nearly ended proceedings with three points but were just unlucky to not hit the ball in the back of the net.
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Liverpool’s game plan
Jurgen Klopp needs to dip into the rest of his squad. Salah was pictured in full training ahead of their Champions League clash but heading in the opposite direction, Joel Matip and Trent Alexander-Arnold were not present.
In the weekend’s draw to arch-enemy, Man United, the Reds’ “second team” did the business after Klopp made changes to personnel. Players who were out are now fit and ready for selection.
The so-called “second team” are quality players and could cement a place in the starting 11. That’s if they get proper opportunities. Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Joe Gomez, even Dejan Lovren needs to be looked at by the manager.
Perhaps Klopp can try a different central partnership? They haven’t attempted to see what life without Virgil van Dijk would be like, so why wait to find out? Why not try out all the plan B’s, and C’s when coming up against opponents it can be done when facing?
Group E’s situation
Liverpool sits in second place thanks to goal difference. They sit equal on points with the team below them (Red Bull Salzburg) and a single point below Napoli. Liverpool’s hosts sit in last place with hope.
A win for the home side and they sitting in a pretty comfortable position. If they lose, the job to upset the group will become theirs. The leaders travel to a difficult place. They take on the side with the highest goal tally (9). In Red Bull’s last home fixture, they put six past Genk.
Next. Adam Lallana was never backed. dark
This is a big worry for the visitors and an encounter the Reds will be hoping for a draw. However, Napoli were far from impressive on their travels to Belgian. A win for Salzburg is high on the cards.