What: UEFA Europa League – Group A
Who: Liverpool vs Anzhi Makhachkala
When: Thursday 25th October, 2012, at 20:05 UK Time
Where: Anfield, Liverpool, England
Essential Win
Liverpool badly needed to record their first win at home this season at the weekend and they did just that against Reading, although the margin of victory, at 1-0, was anything but comprehensive. Having lost their last Europa League match here, going down 3-2 to Udinese, the Reds need to follow their league success up with another win, otherwise reaching the next round looks very tricky indeed: Liverpool sit third with three points, behind Udinese and Anzhi who both boast four points.
Manager Brendan Rodgers has been keen to trust in youth and is unlikely to change course now, especially as he will want his seasoned players ready for the Merseyside derby against Everton on Sunday. While Rodgers is not expected to take Liverpool back into the Premier League top four this season, he will be expected to finish ahead of city rivals Everton, a side the Reds have outspent massively on a consistent basis.
Liverpool should benefit from the enthusiasm and verve the side’s youngsters have already shown in Europe and could prove to be more of a threat going forward than in the Premier League because of this. Rodgers could also hand some players, such as the out-of-favour Stewart Downing, the chance to stake a first team claim, and that hunger may also play a part.
New Force
Just a few years ago, the average Liverpool supporter would have struggled to name which country Anzhi Makhachkala are from; now, following their big spending antics and collection of household names, the Dagestan giants have spread their name across world football – and all without even winning the Russian Premier League or a European trophy yet.
Founded 99 years after Liverpool, billionaire Suleyman Kerimov has fast tracked Anzhi, making a splash in the transfer market by tempting talents such as Samuel Eto’o, Yuri Zhirkov and Roberto Carlos to Dagestan. The latter has since retired, but still serves as a director at the club. The real spark however came when Kerimov convinced Guus Hiddink to take the reins. Hiddink had left his role as Turkey coach after failing to qualify the team for Euro 2012 and was expected to head back to a big club job in Western Europe. But he landed at Anzhi, with two impressive assistants, Ton du Chatinier and Zeljko Petrovic, and set about transforming the side.
The change has been dramatic. Anzhi have been hugely impressive in the Europa League and in qualifying for the group phase visited Hiddink’s homeland to play the none too shabby AZ Alkmaar; AZ finished fourth in the Eredivisie last season. Hiddink’s men took them apart, recording a superb 5-0 win. Anzhi currently top the Russian Premier League too, two points clear of CSKA Moscow.
Hiddink will want to make a similar statement at Anfield, well aware that a further announcement of Anzhi’s arrival would echo all the more around world football were it produced in the famous Anfield cauldron.
Recent form
Liverpool:
Liverpool 2-3 Udinese (04/10; Europa League)
Liverpool 0-0 Stoke (07/10; Premier League)
Liverpool 1-0 Reading (20/10; Premier League)
Anzhi Makhachkala:
Anzhi Makhachkala 2-0 Young Boys (04/10; Europa League)
Dynamo Moscow 0-2 Anzhi Makhachkala (07/10; Russian Premier League)
Anzhi Makhachkala 2-1 Spartak Moscow (20/10; Russian Premier League)
Key absences
Liverpool: Lucas Leiva; Jose Reina; Fabio Borini; Martin Kelly
Anzhi Makhachkala: Lassana Diarra; Odil Ahmedov (doubt); Jucilei
Players to watch
Liverpool – Suso: The 18-year-old Spanish midfielder recently signed a new contract with Liverpool and the club are understandably delighted with his progress. Suso has fine technique, a good eye for a pass and a footballing brain. Given time and space he could hurt Anzhi.
Anzhi Makhachkala – Lacina Traore: While many Liverpool eyes may be focused on Anzhi’s other bigger names, Traore is capable of causing the Reds’ defence nightmares. A giant striker, he first sprung to prominence with Romanian outfit Cluj before being bought by Kuban Krasnodar and then Anzhi. On target at the weekend, he could be again here.
Match Prediction
Liverpool would surely place this underneath the Merseyside derby against Everton on their list of priorities, but losing against Anzhi would put the side in a tough place in terms of qualification from the group. Rodgers is likely to stick with youngsters, mixing in a few more experienced players, but that might not be enough against the Russian league leaders, who want to make a splash in Europe. Liverpool 1-2 Anzhi Makhachkala.
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