Published on: Dec 10, 2019 12:19 am IST|Updated on: Dec 10, 2019 6:36 pm IST
SAL vs LIV Dream11: Liverpool’s Champions League defence will be on the line when they visit Austria for the last group game against Red Bull Salzburg at Red Bull Arena Salzburg, with the defeat likely to end their European ambitions for the season.
The Reds are sitting at the top of Group E, ahead of 2nd placed Napoli and Salzburg, with just three points separating all three going into the last round. Each of them has an equal chance of qualifying for the knockout stage, while one team will have to contend with a place in the Europa League, including Liverpool.
What does each team need to qualify?
Red Bull Salzburg: The hosts will qualify if they beat Liverpool by any scoreline. Be it 1-0, 2-1, or 3-2, whatever, they just need to beat the visitors. Any other result, even a draw will see them demoting to Europa League. This is the one and the only scenario for them.
Liverpool: The Reds will clinch a spot in the next round if they avoid the defeat at Red Bull Arena Salzburg, while a win will see them finishing the first round as group winners irrespective of the result at Napoli.
Liverpool can also qualify even after a defeat in this match if Genk produces the ultimate upset at Stadio San Paolo, and beat the Naples. In that case, Red Bull Salzburg will go through as group winners while Liverpool will qualify as the second-placed team.
Napoli’s case: Napoli are almost guaranteed to qualify. If Liverpool beat Salzburg, Carlo Ancelotti’s men will be in the knockout draw, even if they themselves lose the game at Genk, which is highly unlikely considering how the Belgian side has played so far.
But if Salzburg are winning the game, Napoli will have to collect all three points from their match.
Host: Red Bull Salzburg Visitors: Liverpool Competition: UEFA Champions League Match Venue: Red Bull Arena Salzburg Capacity: 30,188 Match Timing: Tuesday, December 10, @11:25 PM
Dream11 Football Prediction – Odds checker: Red Bull Salzburg to win: 3.75 (11/4), Probability to happen: 26.67% Liverpool to win: 1.85 (17/20), Probability to happen: 54.05% Draw: 4.00 (3/1), Probability to happen: 25.00%
Red Bull Salzburg team news: The hosts will go into the game without Alexander Walke, Antoine Bernede and Patrick Farkas. Sekou Keita, meanwhile, will be evaluated before the game.
Salzburg star players: First-choice goalkeeper Cican Stankovic is back from a long injury layoff and will start in goal.
Erling Braut will definitely be the focal point of attack but don’t rule out the likes of Patson Daka, who has 13 goals in 16 league games, and Hwang Hee-Chan and Takumi Minamino.
Liverpool team news: Star midfielder Fabinho, centre-back Joel Matip and right-back Nathaniel Clyne remain out due to injuries. Adam Lallana has been ruled out of this game as well after sustaining a knock against Everton.
That said, Gini Wijnaldum returns to the squad following an absence at the weekend game against Bourneluith, due to a knock, while centre-back Dejan Lovren is also a part of the travelling group.
Here is Liverpool 19-man squad:
Goalkeepers: Alisson, Adrian, Kelleher Defenders: Van Dijk, Gomez, Robertson, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren Midfielders: Henderson, Wijnaldum, Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Keita, Jones Forwards: Firmino, Mane, Salah, Origi, Shaqiri
How Liverpool may line-up?
Provided Lovren is fit to start, the backline will consist of the usual suspects, with Alisson in goal, Arnold and Robertson on the wing-back positions, while Van Dijk will be in the heart of the defence. If the Croatian fails to shake off the knock, Joe Gomez will start the match.
Klopp’s main problem is the midfield, but it’s a good problem to have. Naby Keita got his long-overdue start at the weekend, and he literally put on a show, scoring a goal and providing a world-class assist to Mohamed Salah, as did Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who broke the deadlock at Dean Court. But Gini Wijnaldum is back and he will start alongside Jordan Henderson, and that leaves only one spot in the midfield, and both Keita and OX will battle for it.
Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane will reprise their respective roles in the front three.
Red Bull Salzburg: Erling Haaland: 08 goals Hwang Hee-Chan: 03 goals Takumi Minamino: 02 goals
Liverpool: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: 03 Goals Mohamed Salah: 03 goals Sadio Mane: 02 goals
Dream11: who to pick?
Roberto Firmino is an irreplaceable part of Jurgen Klopp’s system, but Dream11 gives all the weight to the goals, and in that sense, Erling Haaland could be a better option here, along with Hwang Hee-Chan, and Takumi Minamino.
If you have to pick between Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, go with Mane. No need for a defensive midfielder here. Chamberlain can be a game-changer.
Red Bull Salzburg: Stankovic (GK), Kristensen, Onguene, Wober, Ulmer, Mwepu, Junuzovic, Szoboszlai, Minamino; Daka, Haaland
Liverpool: Alisson (GK), Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Salah, Firmino, Mane
It’s a tricky tie for Liverpool, but the team is experienced at this level now and should finish the job here.