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 Liverpool & BSC Young Boys. The game is scheduled to be played at Anfield on Thursday 22nd November 2012 at 8.05PM. ITV4 will be showing Thursday’s game. Preview. After a two-week break from European football, the Europa League returns on Thursday and it is a pivotal set of matches for many of the sides in the competition. In group A, things are no different. It is a vital set of fixtures for the four sides in that group and the results of this week’s fixtures will go a long way to deciding who goes out of the group into the last 32 and who is eliminated from European football for another season. Liverpool are set to face BSC Young Boys at Anfield whilst Anzhi Makhachkala host Udinese in Moscow. The permutations of this group are reasonably clear. Wins for Liverpool & Anzhi Makhachkala would see Udinese unable to qualify and would give BSC Young Boys a massive task to take second place in the group. [table="width: 500, class: grid"] [tr] [td]Team Name.[/td] [td]Number Of Games Played.[/td] [td]Number Of Games Won.[/td] [td]Number Of Games Drawn.[/td] [td]Numbers Of Games Lost.[/td] [td]Goals Scored.[/td] [td]Goals Conceded.[/td] [td]Goal Difference.[/td] [td]Points.[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]Anzhi Makhachkala.[/td] [td]4[/td] [td]2[/td] [td]1[/td] [td]1[/td] [td]4[/td] [td]2[/td] [td]2[/td] [td]7[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]Liverpool.[/td] [td]4[/td] [td]2[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]2[/td] [td]8[/td] [td]7[/td] [td]1[/td] [td]6[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]BSC Young Boys.[/td] [td]4[/td] [td]2[/td] [td]0[/td] [td]2[/td] [td]9[/td] [td]10[/td] [td]-1[/td] [td]6[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]Udinese.[/td] [td]4[/td] [td]1[/td] [td]1[/td] [td]2[/td] [td]7[/td] [td]9[/td] [td]-2[/td] [td]4[/td] [/tr] [/table] As you can see, wins for Liverpool & Anzhi on Thursday would see Anzhi move onto ten points & Liverpool onto nine points. This would leave BSC Young Boys on six points & Udinese on four points. Udinese would then be eliminated because they wouldn’t be able to make up the five point deficit to second place in one game. BSC Young Boys would still have some hope but it would be a faint chance. They would need to turn round a goal difference of at least five goals. (Based on a 1-0 win for Liverpool) To summarise, BSC Young Boys would need to reserve a goal difference of 5 goals and win at Anzhi, who haven’t conceded a goal at home in Europe this season. A difficult task so Thursday’s games are absolutely vital for all four sides in group A. Anyway, let’s have a closer look at the Liverpool/BSC Young Boys game. The reserve fixture was the opening game of both sides Europa League campaign and saw they highest scoring game of the Europa League so far. It was a see-saw game with Liverpool taking the lead, then being pegged back, then re-taking the lead, then going behind and to top all of that off, Liverpool came back and won! A 5-3 victory for Liverpool gave them an good platform in the group and that scoreline could prove vital in the goal difference category. After that result, it looked like BSC Young Boys would struggle and finish near the bottom of the group. A 2-0 defeat a home to Anzhi in the second group game meant that after two games, they were bottom with no points and had conceded 7 goals! That left Young Boys an uphill struggle to give themselves a chance of qualification but they have responded very well and have a chance of qualifying. Their next two games were Udinese at home and then Udinese away. BSC Young Boys shocked many by winning both of those games (A 3-1 win at home and a 3-2 victory in Italy) and these results have given themselves a big chance of qualifying. They will need another good result away at Liverpool if they are to keep alive those hopes. Liverpool, on the other hand, have had a mixed set of results since the 5-3 victory at Young Boys. Udinese came to Anfield and shocked Liverpool by coming away with a 3-2 victory. Liverpool had controlled large parts of that game but an excellent performance from Antonio Di Natale meant that Udinese took their chances and the three points. Liverpool then hosted Anzhi Makhachkala. A rare goal from Stewart Downing meant that Liverpool came away with a vital 3 points and moved into top spot in the group. However, the reserve fixture in Russia wasn’t the result Liverpool would have wanted. An inexperienced side was sent out to Russia and Liverpool went down to a Lacina Traoré goal just before half-time. With the side being quite young and lacking in experience, it does seem harsh to criticise this result too much but any defeat is disappointing. Since the win against Young Boys, it has been a defeat, a victory & then another defeat. If this trend continues, we could see a Liverpool win on Thursday and then a defeat in Italy! Though we all know football isn’t as simple as that... The team Liverpool put out will be a key factor in the way the game pans out. Since the group stages have started, Brendan Rodgers has sent a younger side to the away games and used a stronger side with more experienced/senior players in the home games. Let’s use the Anzhi games as an example of this. In the home game, Liverpool played the likes of Glen Johnson, Martin Skrtel, Daniel Agger, Steven Gerrard & Luis Suarez in the home fixture with that strategy paying off with a victory. In contrast, the away fixture contained a younger & more inexperienced side. The likes of Jon Flanagan, Sebastian Coates, Conor Coady & Adam Morgan all got chances and it is fair to suggest that these players on the fringes of the first-team. As Thursday’s fixture is a home game, it would seem likely that a stronger side is played. With this fixture taking on added significance due to delicate nature of the group itself, Rodgers would be looking for the victory to almost secure Liverpool’s passage into the next stage of the Europa League. However, an important Premier League match away at Swansea awaits on Sunday so a balancing act with regards to team selection may have to be deployed by Rodgers. The likes of Pepe Reina & Glen Johnson seem likely to play some part to build up their match fitness after injuries in recent weeks. The centre-back partnership of Skrtel/Agger may be split up in order to give the likes of Sebastian Coates & Jamie Carragher some game time in order to keep that match sharpness up. In midfield, Liverpool do have some options so the likes of Joe Allen & Steven Gerrard may be rested and the likes of Jordan Henderson & Jonjo Shelvey could come into the side. Up-front would be Rodgers biggest concern. With Luis Suarez his only senior striker, an injury to him in this game would be a massive blow to Liverpool but with no senior striker to replace him, a decision will have to be made on that front. On the other hand, Young Boys have put out their strongest side in all of their games so far. This is an advantage as it gives the side a level of continuity & cohesion which could prove to be an important factor. In that side, they have a man in form. Young Boys number 9, Raúl Bobadilla, is their main man upfront and the Argentinean has 6 goals in 8 games in their Europa League campaign and also has 2 assists. Those are very good figures and with Bobadilla expected to play a significant part in attack for BSC Young Boys, he will be a man to watch. Add to that the threat of his fellow countryman Gonzalo Zárate (1 goal in 4 games) & Raphael Nuzzolo (2 goals in 4 games) and you can see that in an attacking sense, Young Boys will need to be watched very carefully. In defence, the Finnish international Juhani Ojala will also be one to watch. Liverpool fans will recongise the centre-back as he had an ‘eventful’ game in the reserve fixture in Bern. The defender scored a strange own goal in the 3rd minute as a ball played in by Stewart Downing rebounded off the defender’s face and into the net! Not the best start to the game but he did make amends somewhat by scoring in the correct goal early in the second half! Those would be the players I would be looking out for in the Young Boys side. As has been proven by their results against Udinese, Young Boys are certainly no pushover and will put a good challenge against Liverpool. If Liverpool aren’t on their game and Young Boys are, we could be set for a shock result. So, an important game in prospect! With this round of fixtures set to be so pivotal for all the sides in the competition, a result for either side on Thursday would be massive! That should make for a good game! You’ll find out on the official match thread on the Not606 Liverpool board. Injury/Suspension News. Liverpool. Martin Kelly: ACL Knee Injury. Lucas Leiva: Thigh Injury. Fabio Borini: Foot Injury. BSC Young Boys. Injury news is currently unavailable. Liverpool 2 - 2 BSC Young Boys Goalscorers: Liverpool... Jonjo Shelvey: 33rd minute. BSC Young Boys... Raul Bobadilla: 52nd minute. Liverpool... Joe Cole: 72nd minute. BSC Young Boys... Elsad Zverotic: 88th minute. Liverpool: Reina - Wisdom Carragher Skrtel Downing - Henderson Sahin Cole - Suso Shelvey Assaidi BSC Young Boys: Team will be added when available. YNWA.
f**k me, no flies on you chris My 11 ( we need/have to win, bur we need to be careful with the swans away 3 days later) Pepe Wisdom Skrts Coates Jose Shelvey Hendo Sahin Downing Suarez Assaidi Basically guys who tend to pick up niggles Ive left out Agger,Jonno,Stevie. Guys who dont generally Ive played Suarez,Skrts,Hendo
I bet our team has Younger Boys than theirs. A win will see us virtually through, but I think we can rest a few players here. We dont want Suarez tired or injured. ----------------------Jones---------------- --Johnson-Carragher-Coates-Enrique-- ---------Shelvey-Henderson-Sahin----- -----Downing------Pacheco----Assaidi-- Subs: Reina, Skrtel, Gerrard, Allen, Suso, Morgan, Suarez.
We have players who can come in in defence and midfield and do a job as indicated in the teams above. Biggest issue is what to do up front and remain effective. On no account can we afford to lose this game. I would start with Suarez upfront with a mixturte of Suso, Sterling, Assiaidi and Pacheco as the left and right forwards. I think they can all do a good job, the key figure is Suarez. If we can get a couple of goals up we should withdraw Suarez and bring Ngoo off of the bench. Think it is time for him to get some game time and if we can get a couple of goals up he is a good player for midfielders to run off and to hold the ball at his feet...Can see him being more effective than Yesil or Morgan currently and deserves a go....
Haven't got a clue who Rodgers will play, but my team is --------------Jones-------------- Carra---Coates----Skrtel---Robinson -----Sahin----Shelvey----Henderson -----Downing--Pacheco--Assaidi Subs - Reina, Johnson, Enrique, Gerrard, Suarez, Morgan, Yesil
I'd start Yesil and have Suarez on the bench, Suso and Assaidi either side, he should get enough service.
I'd imagine we'll be playing a strong side as it's a must win game if we're to qualify. If we win and Anzhi beat Udinese does that mean we qualify? I mean, I'm not sure if it works by goal difference or head-to-head, even with goal difference we should be alright, though.
this is the one. win this one and we qualify, endo fo story. our count back v young boys means a win = 2nd place for sure. udinese might win their game and make a fight of it at thier place but i am not sure that'll happen. I think we will play a strong side in this one. Reina Wisdom (overused) skertl agger johnson Gerrard allen Sahin downing suarez assaidi I thnk the big boys will be playing (he who must never be touched and suarez) I think europe suits assaidi and sahin and downing has played them all. this si what i think rodgers will do as its a home tie... not sure if its what i'd do but i want to win this one for usre. lose and its a horror show for rodgers i nthe cups thus far right?
