Liverpool v Rubin Kazan
Thursday October 22, 20:05
Live on BT Sport 2
At the football cathedral that is Anfield, the congregation waits for
its new spiritual leader to give his first sporting sermon.
Newly-installed Reds boss Jurgen Klopp is already being
revered as a saviour, and by his own admission, he is yet to do
anything to justify such adulation. The way Klopp has been embraced by
Liverpool fans speaks to his charisma, but also to how desperate Reds
supporters were to see a change after Brendan Rodgers' tenure ground to a
shuddering halt.Thursday October 22, 20:05
Live on BT Sport 2
The weekend's goalless draw at Spurs, which was the German coach's first game in charge, featured some encouraging signs. The full-throttle pressing that Klopp routinely demanded at Borussia Dortmund was in evidence, but Liverpool's untidy work when in possession shows there is a long road ahead. As Klopp well knows, running and fighting is important, but composure is also vital. Without the injured Daniel Sturridge and Christian Benteke, Liverpool had to rely on the talented but raw Divock Origi, and they were grateful to keeper Simon Mignolet for some wonderful saves. That said, a point away to a Spurs team in great form was a satisfactory start to Klopp's reign.
Whatever you think of Kloppmania (the Bundesliga geek in me has been screaming "we liked him first!"), there's no doubt that the atmosphere at Anfield will be spine-tingling. The malaise that had developed this season has already been lifted, and the visit of Rubin Kazan gives the club a great chance to capitalise on the feel-good factor.
Rubin Kazan have carved out a solid European pedigree in recent seasons, but savage cost-cutting means those days appear to be a distant memory. Most of the key players who helped the team regularly win games in the Europa League have gone, with Turkish veteran Gokdeniz Karadeniz the last man standing of the old guard. Rubin were abysmal in a 2-1 defeat at Sion, and they were then held to a goalless draw at home by a limited Bordeaux team.
In the Russian Premier League Rubin Kazan are 12th in the 16-team league, and they have lost four of their six away games. In a bid to counter Liverpool's pressing, I suspect Rubin will look to defend deep, restricting the hosts' ability to find space on the counter-attack.
Liverpool are beset by injury problems, with Benteke, Sturridge, Danny Ings and Roberto Firmino all on the sidelines in attack, and skipper Jordan Henderson still missing from the midfield. That said, Adam Lallana and Divock Origi both had encouraging games at White Hart Lane, and Klopp has expressed his admiration for both players. I'd expect both to start, although Philippe Coutinho may be kept in reserve.
Sometimes too much is made of atmosphere when it comes to affecting games, but I actually think this is a game where Klopp's Anfield bow will give his players an added boost. Rubin are struggling on the road, and are a shadow of the side they once were. I'd like to think I'm not getting swept away by the romanticism of Klopp's arrival, but even if I am, I still think Liverpool should comfortably pick up their first win of this season's Europa League.
Recommended Bet
Back Liverpool -1.5 on the Asian Handicap at 2.30
