Text here to move the logos across. please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Hello and welcome to the official match thread for Thursday’s Europa League pay-off round second leg between Liverpool & Hearts. The game is scheduled to take place at Anfield on Thursday the 30th of August 2012 at 8.05PM. The game will be shown on ESPN. (Sky channel 417) Preview. So, here we are again. After both Liverpool & Hearts went back to their domestic campaigns at the weekend, they will again turn their focus to the Europa League as the second leg of this Europa League play-off round is upon us. Hearts & Liverpool faced each on the Thursday just gone (23rd of August) and this Thursday, they conclude the tie with the second leg. The winner of the tie will progress to the group stages of the Europa League. The first leg was a tight game with Hearts working well to press Liverpool and not give them the opportunity to impose themselves onto the game. Both sides had good spells during the game but it was Liverpool who ended up coming out on top. Martin Kelly played a ball in from the right-hand side in the 78th minute and Hearts defender Andy Webster was there to put the ball into his own net whilst trying to defend against striker Fabio Borini. This gives Liverpool a lead going into the second leg. The tie is nowhere near over and Liverpool will need to put in a professional performance to secure their passage into the group stages of the Europa League. Now, let’s have a look at the home side. Liverpool are now the favourites to secure a position in the group stages of the Europa League after taking a 1-0 lead back home to Anfield. They are 1/5 to win Thursday’s game and 1/100 to qualify with William Hill. Liverpool are clearly the favourites but it’s important that Liverpool don’t underestimate their Scottish opponents. I feel this will be reflected in the team that Brendan Rodgers puts out for this tie. Looking at the squad available to Brendan Rodgers, I think a mix of younger and more experienced players will be played. In goal, Pepe Reina would be expected to continue in goal with Brad Jones on the bench as cover. In defence, there are different selections/line-ups that Rodgers can use. At right-back, it seems to be a battle between Glen Johnson, Martin Kelly & Jon Flanagan. I have a feeling Martin Kelly will be used with Glen Johnson rested in preparation for the Premier League game with Arsenal on Sunday. In central defence, there are even more dilemmas and potential selections for Rodgers to use. The current first-choice of Martin Skrtel & Daniel Agger could also be rested with Arsenal in mind but Daniel Agger didn’t play against Manchester City on the Sunday just gone due to suspension so he doesn’t need the rest. He could therefore play with either Jamie Carragher or young Uruguayan defender Sebastian Coates. At left-back, Jose Enrique may play to gain more match fitness after recovering from a hamstring injury. If he isn't selected, young Jack Robinson would be in line to start. In midfield, there are more selection dilemmas for Rodgers to consider. New signing, Nuri Sahin, could be in line to make his Liverpool debut after joining on a season long-loan from Real Madrid. There are also a wide range of midfielders that Rodgers has to consider. The likes of Steven Gerrard, Joe Allen, Jonjo Shelvey, Jordan Henderson & Jay Spearing could feature. The one name off that list is Lucas Leiva. The midfielder was taken off injured very early on in Liverpools' latest Premier Leageu game with Manchester City with a suspected thigh injury and the full extent of the injury hasn’t, as yet, been revealed. I would therefore come to the conclusion that he won’t feature in this Europa League game. The midfield line-up will depend on Rodgers’s thinking and if he wants to give players who haven’t had too many opportunities a chance to impress. In the first leg, he played a midfield three of Jordan Henderson, Jay Spearing & Charlie Adam. This could the three Rodgers plays to give them another opportunity to impress and force their way into Rodgers preferred starting 11. However, there are rumours that one of those midfielders, Jay Spearing, is close to completing a move away from Anfield and it will certainly be interesting to see if Jay makes the 18. Another factor to take into consideration is Rodgers previous selections in the Europa League. For example, in the first leg of Liverpool game with FC Gomel, Rodgers used the game to give some fringe players a chance to impress but tin the second leg at Anfield, he brought in what many people would consider to be near his strongest side. This could be done again but with some youngsters brought in alongside the more senior members of the first team squad. For the midfield, this could mean Joe Allen & Steven Gerrard being brought on. However, he may decide to rest these players to prepare them for the vital Premier League game with Arsenal on Sunday. In attack, things are slightly less complicated. At the moment, this isn’t Liverpool’s strongest position and you could argue that there is a lack of depth at this moment in time. On the right-hand side, Fabio Borini would be expected to start and continue in the position he has played so far this season. In the middle, it would be a battle between Luis Suarez & Andy Carroll. Rodgers had planned to play Carroll against Hearts in the first leg but a hamstring injury meant that Fabio Borini played there. This would make me think that, barring any transfer news, Carroll would start in the middle. On the left-hand side, Raheem Sterling could start after putting in two impressive performances against Hearts & Manchester City in the last week. If he doesn’t play and is rested, Stewart Downing could come in to replace him. Now, let’s have a look at Hearts and their chances of upsetting the odds and progressing into the group stages of the Europa League. The Scottish side put in a good performance in the first leg and could consider themselves unlikely to be going into the second leg with a deficit to overturn. They were working very hard to press Liverpool in the first leg and Hearts manager, John McGlynn, admitted that the performance against Liverpool in the first leg affected their performance in their Scottish Premier League game against Aberdeen on Saturday which finished 0-0. This could affect the team selection that McGlynn picks for the second leg. With Hearts being 1-0 down, they will have to go for it if they are to give themselves a chance of getting back into the tie. In the first leg, Hearts played a 4-2-3-1 with John Sutton in the lone striker role. They had David Templeton in behind Sutton with Callum Paterson & Arvydas Novikovas either side of Templeton. McGlynn could decide to shake things up for the second leg. However, with a small squad at his disposal, McGlynn may only bring in small changes to tactics and the team itself. Andrew Driver, a left winger, may be brought in at the expense of Arvydas Novikovas to give Hearts a different option on the left-hand side. Apart from that, I cannot see too many changes from the side that took on Liverpool in the first leg. In their most recent match with Aberdeen, Hearts made only 1 change and a slight change of formation. Andrew Driver came in for the suspended David Templeton and the side changed from 4-2-3-1 to a 4-4-1-1. That gave Driver the freedom to roam about the Aberdeen box and create chances for the striker, John Sutton. To conclude, another interesting game in prospect. With Hearts 1-0 down, you would have to think that they will push to get back into the game and that could leave them vulnerable at the back. And will Hearts be able to use the pressing game they implemented in the first leg in the second leg? If not, that could give Liverpool the space they need to impose themselves onto the game. Injury News. Liverpool. Lucas Leiva: Hip/Thigh Injury. Joe Cole: Hamstring Injury. Hearts. Injury news currently unavailable. Liverpool 1 - 1 Hearts Goalscorers: Hearts... David Templeton: 85th minute. Liverpool... Luis Suarez: 88th minute. Liverpool: Reina - Kelly Carragher Skrtel Downing - Gerrard Allen Shelvey - Borini Suarez Sterling SUBS: Jones Johnson Agger Coates Enrique Henderson Morgan - Liverpool Substitution: Adam Morgan comes off to be replaced by Raheem Sterling: 62nd minute. Liverpool Substitution: Jordan Henderson comes off to be replaced by Fabio Borini: 76th minute. - Hearts: MacDonald - Ryan McGowan Webster Zaliukas Grainger - Paterson Taouil Barr Driver - Templeton - Carrick SUBS: Hamilton Robinson Novikovas Holt Dylan McGowan McHattie Sutton - Hearts Substitution: John Sutton comes off to be replaced by Andrew Driver: 66th minute. Hearts Substitution: Arvydas Novikovas comes off to be replaced by Dale Carrick: 75th minute. - YNWA.
Great OP as usual chris. I think the line up will be a bit of youth and the newer players with the senior players on the bench as back up. I would like to see sterling dropped for this though so he is fresher against the arse at the weekend.
Great work Would also like to see Sterling rested unless Assaidi is to take his place on the weekend.
Yeah... Put me in the optimistic society of inebriated believers. Can't be too complacent- but with the home fans and an away goal we're definitely favourites. As long as Downing doesn't start in goal we should be OK.
i'll predict there is no way carroll will play and another "mystery" injury will occur. i find it a little bit of a joke that really rodgers has to play but i hope he doesn't expect any lfc fans to beleive the bull... cos newkie don't beleive it either.
Think Sterling will be rested....Expect Enrique to get half a game at LB with downing the other half..... Expecting Pacheco to be in the squad and get some game time......Was left out of the U21s squad for Monday, so think he will get his opportunity to show brendan what he can do at some point... Expect Carroll to start aswell. GK: Reina RB: Kelly LB: Enrique/Downing CB: Coates CB: Carragher CM: Shelvey CM: Henderson CM: Allen RF: Borini CF: Carroll LF: Pacheco
Just hope it's an easy win and we can then concentrate on the Arsenal game. There is an opportunity for some players to show they are good enough to stay at Liverpool.
Score. I'd play a stronger team for this than in the first leg, but not fully strong. After Rodgers comments, I expect Downing at left back. --------------------------Reina----------------------------- ---Kelly-------Coates---------Carragher----Downing- --------------------------Allen------------------------------ -----------Henderson----------Shelvey------------------ -----Borini------------------------------------Suarez----- -------------------------Carroll----------------------------- Subs: Jones, Agger, Flanagan, Sahin, Spearing, Sterling, Morgan.
Agreed. By the way, if Carroll plays, he will not be cup tied in the group stages as this is a qualifying game.
Tomorrow* Anyway, can't see anything other than a win. Hopefully a big win, build up confidence and go into the Arsenal game all guns blazing.
I'd give Sahin a run out, especially if we are thinking of using him against Arse. I'd stick 2 fingers up to Newcastle and play Carroll too. Downing at LB seems to be the consensus, but I'd still prefer Robinson. Adam Morgan on the bench If Jay Spearing played the first leg (can't remember) I'd play him again, give him a send-off. Borini and Assaidi to start.
