Liverpool FC v FC Augsburg – Match preview
Liverpool welcome FC Augsburg to Anfield tonight for the second leg of the Europa League last 32 knock-out game. Only a win will do for Jürgen Klopp’s men following their bore draw at the WWK Arena last Thursday.
The Reds will likely play Daniel Sturridge and Phillip Coutinho ahead of Sunday’s Capital One Cup final against Manchester City. The former voiced his discontent to the BBC yesterday at allegations questioning his commitment to Liverpool – calling it the “Biggest disrespect” that can be levelled at any player. Firm words indeed, and in my opinion, justified. I don’t think it’s a question of if Sturridge has ever wanted to play for Liverpool FC, it’s more about being able to play for them.
That said, and onto more immediate matters. Liverpool will have to be on their toes tonight. Apart from Sunday’s final, the Europa League represents the only other chance of silverware this season. It’s the only chance to qualify for the Champions League. Any prospect of fourth place in the Premier League is nigh on evaporated due to some pretty awful football this season, it has to be said. I wouldn’t even go so far as to qualify that as a realistic chance either.
Other than Sturridge and Coutinho, the starting options aren’t looking that good with Martin Skrtel and Joe Allen still a week away at least, and Adam Lallana still feeling his calf – perhaps for want of a better expression! Youngster Kevin Stewart is also some way away from a return. Dejan Lovren has an “illness”, so let’s hope it’s not catching. However, on the bright side, the injury list is nowhere near what is has been earlier in the season.
Klopp is likely to field the same side that drew the last game, with maybe, Jordan Ibe and Divock Origi replacing Coutinho and Sturridge respectively at some point in the game with an eye on Sunday. Seeing as the likes of Borussia Dortmund, Valencia and Sevilla – not to mention Tottenham Hotspurs – are still in the competition, I wouldn’t put much cash on Liverpool getting any further than the next round should they succeed tonight.
In any case, succeed or not, I just want to see a good performance from the players. The defence will be under the spotlight (as usual) seeing as Liverpool failed to score last week. I bet Sturridge has replayed the too slight a contact with James Milner’s cross late on in the last game a fair few times since. In his pre-match press conference, Klopp rightly said, the players need to do more and this is in line with what the world and his dog will be thinking about last week.
The good thing about tonight is, as the manager also pointed out, that the players must fight for a place in Sunday’s game. This of course, is the way it should be. What it means is that the players should have a great motivation to get their a*ses in gear and give the fans – and themselves for that matter – a performance to be proud of. FC Augsburg are the underdogs for sure, and this can certainly go against Liverpool on the night.
So, let’s hope that this time tomorrow, Liverpool are a step further forward in a competition that I give them little chance of winning. If they can get the result tonight and then win the cup on Sunday, confidence will be sky high.
In my time as a football fan, I’ve always noted that you can tell when a team is on the verge of becoming something. Something big. It’s when they win a cup. That’s when the belief and the confidence kicks in. It’s time to see, despite the false dawns we’ve become accustomed to with Liverpool these last few years, if this is in fact a new day. A new beginning. Watch this space.
Follow us on Twitter: @TheLFCFile
