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Liverpool v Bordeaux: Reds to finally enjoy home comforts

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Liverpool v Bordeaux
Thursday November 26, 20:05
Live on BT Sport Europe
When Jurgen Klopp took up the managerial reins at Anfield, he pleaded for patience, and was at pains to stress that the rebuilding job was a huge challenge. After the weekend's 4-1 demolition of Manchester City at the Etihad, the charismatic German has about as much chance of dampening down expectation as I have of winning next year's X Factor (my Elvis Presley impression could strip paint off walls).
Not only have Klopp's new charges quickly taken on board the notion of counter-pressing, they have shown a willingness to put in the work the former Dortmund boss demands as a matter of course. More encouragingly, Liverpool are starting to be more clinical when they win the ball back high up the pitch, and that will be the real key to how quickly Klopp can turn things around.
Liverpool have lost just one of their eight fixtures since the change of coach, and after conquering the Etihad and Stamford Bridge, Klopp must now address the Reds' stuttering home form. Liverpool have won just three home games inside 90 minutes, a record that simply isn't good enough for a club with their ambitions.
You would think that such a modest home record would make me run a mile from backing Liverpool, but Bordeaux may be the perfect opponents. The Ligue 1 side have won just once away from home all season, and that victory was in the first week of August. They have won just three of their last 14 matches in all competitions, and they are still looking for their first win in the Europa League group stage.
Liverpool will be without impish playmaker Philippe Coutinho because of a hamstring injury, but with qualification up for grabs if they can win, I'm expecting a decent line-up. Robust strikerChristian Benteke is raring to go after he was left out of the starting 11 in Manchester, whileRoberto Firmino is showing the form he displayed so often in the Bundesliga.
Liverpool should really have won the reverse fixture, and that was when they were labouring under Brendan Rodgers. With the current wave of optimism set to wash over Anfield, I'm expecting Bordeaux to be swept away.

Recommended Bet
Back Liverpool -1.0 on the Asian Handicap at 1.85



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