Skip to main content

Liverpool v Sion: Reds far from mighty, but they'll be strong enough

By
Liverpool v Sion
Thursday, 20:05
Live on BT Sport Europe
With his constant references to "outstanding character" and his love of phrases that even David Brent would reject, Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers isn't a hard guy to parody, but no-one at Anfield is laughing much these days. Although Rodgers appears to have the unflinching support of the club's owners FSG, his recent suggestion that there is a conspiracy to oust him smacks of a man who is feeling the heat.
Liverpool's 3-2 victory over Aston Villa on Saturday has repaired some of the damage done this season, but only a string of successes will now placate a disaffected block of the fan base. Given the febrile atmosphere surrounding the club, and the fact that Liverpool were held to a 1-1 draw at Bordeaux a fortnight ago, this clash with Sion must be regarded with the utmost seriousness.
Luckily for Liverpool, their Swiss visitors are also having a tumultuous campaign. Sion have lost their last two matches in the Swiss Super League, prompting their often outspoken chairman Christian Constantin to declare that his players should be ashamed of themselves. Constantin has pulled the trigger on a string of coaches, and you sense the chamber is loaded for the current incumbent Didier Tholot.

Away day woes for Sion
Sion are finding life tough on the road, and have won just one of their five away games. Finding the net has been a big problem away from home, with just five goals scored.
With a Merseyside derby on the horizon, it would be a big surprise if Rodgers was to field a full-strength side, but that doesn't mean he can't select an XI well capable of sweeping aside Sion. Although the visitors do have some experienced campaigners like defender Vilmos Vanczak and attacking midfielder Carlitos, there should be nothing there to frighten even a weakened Liverpool side.
"But they needed penalties to beat Carlisle!" I hear you cry. Well yes, that was an awful display, but I think Liverpool's weekend win over Villa has injected some much-needed confidence into the group (using the word 'group' shows I've been listening to Rodgers too much). Despite Sion's win over Rubin Kazan, I just don't fancy them away from home, and I think Liverpool will have a clutch of players keen to impress ahead of that trip to Goodison Park. Liverpool's current home record doesn't lend itself to backing an Anfield victory but, man-for-man, the hosts are a far stronger outfit.
Ahead of this kind of fixture, Liverpool would normally be shorter than 1.60, so I think that's a good price for the home win. We can boost that to above evens by backing the hosts -1.0 on the Asian Handicap, which gives us our stake back if Liverpool win by a single goal, but pays out in the event of a bigger margin of victory.

Recommended Bet

Back Liverpool -1.0 on the Asian Handicap at 2.02

Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

Atletico Madrid v Borussia Dortmund: In-form Germans will score again

By
Atletico Madrid  1.84  v Borussia Dortmund  5.10 ; The Draw  3.75 Tuesday 6 November, 20:00 Live on BT Sport Extra Borussia mark themselves out as contenders with Atletico thumping The reverse fixture produced one of the shock results in the last round of  Champions League  games, as Borussia Dortmund thrashed Atletico Madrid 4-0 at home. Dortmund's margin of victory against such an experienced European outfit, famed for their defensive solidity, was a major show of intent and marks them out as real contenders to win the competition. At the weekend they continued their fine form with a 1-0 win at  Wolfsburg , which stretched their unbeaten record this season (P17 W14 D3 L0). Lucien Favre's  side are now four points clear at the top of the Bundesliga, which is the same number that currently separates Atletico Madrid from the La Liga leaders Barcelona. A 1-1 draw at Leganes over the weekend, stretched Atletico's unbeaten run in their d...
Post a Comment
Read more

Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Dortmund: Eagles to build a wall in Berlin

By
Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Dortmund Saturday 27 May, 19:00 Live on BT Sport ESPN Eintracht Frankfurt This time last season, Eintracht Frankfurt were  fighting for survival  in a Bundesliga playoff against second-tier side Nurnberg. Fast forward a year, and they are preparing for their first major cup final since 2006, having finished well clear of relegation trouble this term. Having steered the Eagles through that playoff against Nurnberg, coach  Niko Kovac  set about galvanising not just the squad, but the entire club. Working with sporting director Bruno Hubner and former Germany striker Fredi Bobic,  Kovac has injected new life into an organisation that was drifting. Youngsters like defender  Jesus Vallejo  and forward Ante Rebic have been brought in on loan to good effect, and astute pickups like holding midfielder Omar Mascarell and forward Branimir Hrgota have become effective cogs in the machine. Although Frankfurt have twice...
Read more

Real Madrid v Plzen: Back hosts' scoring struggles to continue

By
Real Madrid  1.09  v Plzen  40.00 ; The Draw  15.00 Tuesday 23 October, 20:00 Live on BT Sport ESPN Lopetegui on brink as Madrid malaise continues Ordinarily this match would almost be guaranteed to be a routine home win that had the potential to be embarrassing for the visitors, but these are not ordinary times at  Real Madrid . The Spanish giants are now without a win in their last five games (D1 L4), after losing 2-1 at home to Levante at the weekend.  Marcelo's  72nd minute goal broke a painful spell of 481 accumulated minutes without a goal. Unsurprisingly,  Julen Lopetegui  is under huge pressure and it would be no surprise if he were sacked before this match takes place on Tuesday. If he survives the game and it's aftermath, then Sunday's El Clasico could finish him off. Despite Real's abject form, it would still be a massive shock if they failed to beat Viktoria Plzen, who were thrashed 5-0 by Roma in their most recent...
Post a Comment
Read more