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 group stage encounter between BSC Young Boys & Liverpool. The game is to be played at Stade de Suisse stadium on Thursday 20th September 2012 at 6PM. The game is to be shown on ITV4. (Build-up begins at 5.30PM) Preview. The Europa League group stages are upon us and in this thread; we’ll be focusing on one of the games in Group A. BSC Young Boys host Liverpool in what is the opening game of their respective campaigns in the group stage of the Europa League. Both sides have already been involved in this season’s Europa League with BSC Young Boys joining the tournament in the second qualifying round whilst Liverpool joined in the third qualifying round. Both sides have battled through their respective ties to get into the group stages. Now let’s take an in-depth look at FSC Young Boys. As I have previously mentioned, Young Boys joined this season’s Europa League in the second qualifying round. They have got through three ties and six games but it hasn’t been plain sailing for Martin Rueda and his side. In the second qualifying round, they were drawn against FC Zimbru Chişinău from Moldova. BSC Young Boys were considered favourites for the tie itself and won the first leg, at home, 1-0. However, the second leg was away from home and Young Boys just weren’t at the races. A 1-0 defeat in the 90 minutes meant that the game went to extra-time. Neither side could break the deadlock in those extra 30 minutes and the tie went to penalties. Young Boys were far superior in the resulting penalty-shoot out and went through 4-1 on penalties. Not the easiest of starts for Young Boys in Europe but they got through and that’s the important thing. They therefore went into the third qualifying round and were drawn against Kalmar FF from Sweden. They were drawn away from home in the first leg and once again, they struggled away from the Stade de Suisse. A 1-0 loss meant that they had a lot of work to do in the second leg to give themselves a chance of progressing into the play-off round. They upped their game. A 3-0 home victory, with three different goalscorers, meant that Young Boys got into the play-off round and were therefore two games away from an appearance in the group stages. They were drawn against Midtjylland of Denmark. Young Boys produced an excellent performance in the first leg and collected a 3-0 away victory. However, they once again struggled in the second leg and conceded 2 goals. This meant that they had to hang on but they did in the end and came out 3-2 winners on aggregate. This secured their passage into the group stages alongside Liverpool, Udinese & Anzhi Makhachkala. Young Boys normally set up in a 4-3-3 formation, similar to Liverpool, and that means the midfield battle will be vital. Whoever takes the midfield by the scruff of the neck and starts to dictate the play will get the chances to get the goals and have a better chance of winning the game. The key man for Young Boys would seem to be their Argentinean striker Raul Bobadilla. He has already got goals in this season’s Europa League with 2 goals in 4 games. The Young Boys number 9 will probably play in the middle of their expected front three and it will be important for whoever starts in Liverpool’s central defensive slots to keep Bobadilla quiet. Now, let’s take an in-depth look at Liverpool. Liverpool joined the competition one stage later than Young Boys and have had to face two ties & therefore four games. The first was a third qualifying round encounter with FC Gomel from Belarus. The first leg was Brendan Rodgers first game in charge of Liverpool and they came out with a 1-0 victory. Stewart Downing got the goal as Liverpool took a one goal lead into the second leg at Anfield. The second leg was a much better performance from Liverpool as goals from Fabio Borini (His first Liverpool goal) Steven Gerrard & Glen Johnson meant that Liverpool cruised into the play-off round with a 4-0 aggregate victory. The play-off round was then in the minds of everyone at Liverpool and a potentially difficult game against Scottish Premier League side Heart of Midlothian. The first leg was relatively even with chances falling to both sides. In the end, Liverpool came out on top with an own goal from Andy Webster. As with the tie against FC Gomel, Liverpool had a one goal lead going into the second leg. In the second leg, Liverpool created an abundance of chances but couldn’t put them away... And they almost had to pay for those missed chances. Hearts took the lead in the 85th minute through David Templeton. This meant that the tie was level and was heading for extra-time. However, Liverpool hit back almost immediately through Luis Suarez and that meant the second leg was level and Liverpool lead 2-1 on aggregate. This was how it finished and after two hard-fought legs, Liverpool won 2-1 on aggregate and secured a group stage place. The squad Liverpool have taken to Switzerland clearly has one eye on the upcoming Premier League game with Manchester United. The likes of Pepe Reina, Glen Johnson, Martin Skrtel, Steven Gerrard, Joe Allen & Luis Suarez have been left behind and that gives the younger players an opportunity to impress Rodgers and try to force their way into the first-team picture. Samed Yesil, Suso, Conor Coady, Andre Wisdom and Adam Morgan all make the trip to face Young Boys and Rodgers has hinted that they could be involved in the action. New signings Nuri Sahin & Oussama Assaidi could also feature and if Assaidi gets some match action, it will his first in a Liverpool shirt since his move from SC Heerenveen in Holland. Add the more experienced players such as Brad Jones, Jamie Carragher & Stewart Downing and it’s a healthy mix which should stand Liverpool in good stead for the group stage encounter. So, an interesting game in prospect. For those of us who like a bet or two, the odds from William Hill are, rather surprisingly, quite close. Young Boys are 9/5, the draw is 21/10 and Liverpool are slight favourites at 8/5. Clearly, the punters see the younger squad Brendan Rodgers has taken and are sensing a shock on the cards. My bet of the week (We all love a new feature on the match threads... I hope!) involves Liverpool striker Samed Yesil. The 17 year-old German Under-19 international has been in good form in the respective age groups for his country and has clearly impressed Rodgers enough to consider giving Yesil a start. Rodgers has hinted that he will feature and the German will likely be one of Liverpool’s attacking threats in this game. William Hill have Yesil to score and Liverpool to win at 19/5. (Or just under 4/1) I would say that’s worth a couple of quid! Injury News. BSC Young Boys. Injury news currently unavailable. Liverpool. Lucas Leiva: Thigh Injury. Joe Cole: Hamstring Injury. BSC Young Boys 3 - 5 Liverpool Goalscorers: Liverpool... Juhani Ojala: 4th minute. (Own Goal) Young Boys... Raphael Nuzzolo: 38th minute. Liverpool... Andre Wisdom: 40th minute. Young Boys... Juhani Ojala: 53rd minute. Young Boys... Gonzalo Zárate: 63rd minute. Liverpool... Sebastián Coates: 67th minute. Liverpool... Jonjo Shelvey: 76th minute. Liverpool... Jonjo Shelvey: 88th minute. BSC Young Boys: Wolfli - Ojala Gonzalez Spycher Sutter Vesokovac - Schneuwly Farnerud Frey Raimondi - Bobadilla SUBS: Benito Lecjaks Zverotic Costanzo Nuzzolo Vitkieviez Zarate - BSC Young Boys Substitution: Gonzalo Zarate comes off to be replaced by Alecander Gonzalez: 65th minute. BSC Young Boys Substitution: Raphael Nuzzolo comes off to be replaced by Christian Schneuwly: 68th minute. BSC Young Boys Substitution: Elsad Zverotic comes off to be replaced by Michael Frey: 81st minute. - Liverpool: Jones - Wisdom Carragher Coates Enrique - Henderson Sahin Shelvey - Suso Borini Sterling SUBS: Gulacsi Wilson Robinson Downing Assaidi Pacheco Yesil - Liverpool Substitution: Dani Pacheco comes off to be replaced by Fabio Borini: 61st minute. Liverpool Substitution: Oussama Assaidi comes off to be replaced by Jonjo Shelvey: 66th minute. Liverpool Substitution: Stewart Downing comes off to be replaced by Raheem Sterling: 77th minute. - YNWA.
Can only see a draw at best out of this game, which isn't what we need going into the weekend. A lot of people have guessed at the team, but can't have too many youngsters surely. Judging from a few players who need fitness, youngsters and experienced players, I would imagine something like: please log in to view this image
Cheques in the post Chris Looking forward to seeing Young Boys vs LFCs young boys a big test for some of our inexperienced players and important we get at least one away goal. Hopefully a decent result will mean our first teamers can be saved from playing the second leg.
Nice match thread as ever, Chris. I wonder if Sterling will start? I'd like, ideally, to see Sterling on one wing and Assaidi on another, but BR might rest Sterling for the United match. I'd also like to see Suso and Pacheco start, but it's more likely that only one of them will. I'm keen to see more of Yesil and I'd also like to see if Coady and Morgan can contribute, should either (or both) play.
Not a bad team, Jaffa. But you might want to replace Allen and Reina as the OP stated that they haven't travelled to switzerland. Carra as holding midfielder?
Reina is still there Gulacsi Flanagan, Carragher, Coates, Robinson Sahin, Coady Downing, Suso, Pacheco Morgan
Is Sahin match-fit? Be good to see the likes of Suso and Sahin get a run-out. I think away this is going to be a tough game, especially with a semi-second string. 1-1.
Interesting squad and a lot of faith in the youngsters. Robinson will be a class left back and Coady needs to step it up. Suso surely gets a chance to how what he can do. Downing needs to be put in the shop window for January.
Jones Kelly Carragher Coates Robinson Sahin Henderson Suso Pacheco Yesil Assaidi If not Pacheco then Morgan in there instead (although Morgan & Yesil are similar as both play in middle).
The back five (including Pepe) have played together before but there are no partnerships ahead of them that have had a full ninety minutes together (in the first team). That is a little worrying, especailly with Downing being the experienced head that will have to lead by example
Its not all bad with us failing to get another striker in the transfer window.......Im loving our small squad and really hoping that some of the fringe youth players can do us proud this evening....Going to be a very inexperienced lineup, but very exciting as some very good (if inexperienced) players should be getting some game time tonight. GK: Jones RB: Flanno LB: Downing/Enrique CB: Carra (capt) CB: Coates CM: Henderson CM: Sahin CM: Suso RF: Asididi LF : Pacheco CF: Yesil How lucky are we to have Carragher to be Coates partner during his development. What an example to learn from and follow.
I think Morgan will start and Yesil will replace him after 60 mins or so. Otherwise I think that might be the team Red.
Think Dani will be on the bench. I hope we play quite a strong side - we've been getting results in Europe and I'd like that to continue. No idea what standard YB's are at. Jones Wisdom Carra Coates Enrique (where is he?) Sahin Henderson (holding) Suso Downing Yesil Assaidi
its much more fun calling the stadium ****dorf rather than Stade de Suisse and i thought Kelly was being rested as well? http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2012/09/19/100252-31864442/
No Reina or Kelly in the squad mate. - Liverpool (from): Jones, Wisdom, Carragher, Coates, Enrique, Shelvey, Sahin, Henderson, Downing, Yesil, Morgan, Gulacsi, Robinson, Coady, Suso, Sterling, Pacheco, Assaidi.
Just read it 'Rodgers also confirmed that Brad Jones will start in goal tonight with Peter Gulacsi on the bench after Pepe Reina remained at Melwood.'
if the young players needed inspiration to turn out a good performance, then today is it... Rumour has it that The Swiis fans break into an all action rendition of YMCA to rouse their team whilst losing. If we can get a decent lead we might get to witness one of natures great events comparable to the migration of the the Gnu or an ocean size planktonic bloom... 30,000 Swiss chaps expressing that there is no need to feel down
