Liverpool vs. FC Sion: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info
Liverpool host Swiss side FC Sion in the Europa League at Anfield on Thursday night, looking to pick up their first win in this year's competition and take control of their group.
But with the Merseyside derby on the horizon—Liverpool travel to local rivals, Everton, on Sunday—Brendan Rodgers will rotate his squad similarly to the opening group game away to Bordeaux.
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"Our approach to this game is how it’s been in the competition—this is an opportunity for young players and an opportunity for players on the fringe of the team that aren’t getting so many games," said Rodgers at his pre-match press conference on Wednesday, per LiverpoolFC.com.
"We recognise that our home games in this competition are very important and we enter into it with that mindset," added the Liverpool boss. "Then we can concentrate on the game on Sunday."
Liverpool opened their Europa League campaign with a 1-1 draw in Bordeaux a fortnight ago, while Sion beat Russian side Rubin Kazan 2-1 at home, putting the Swiss side top of Group B after matchday one.
Sion aren't in the best of shapes ahead of this game, though, having lost their last two games in the Swiss league, leaving them fifth—13 points behind leaders FC Basel after 10 games.
In fact, their chairman this week branded their performance in a 1-0 defeat to then-bottom Vaduz as "Awful, awful, awful" and "pathetic," per the Liverpool Echo.
"I do not know who deserves to wear the shirt of FC Sion in the mythical stadium (of Anfield)," said Christian Constantin. "If it turns out that the players choose their games based on the show then I will begin to choose who is worthy to play."
With those words ringing in their ears, the Sion players will arrive on Merseyside looking to perform better than the last, and only, time they played at Anfield, 19 years ago.
That night they arrived having lost the first leg of a European Cup Winners' Cup tie 2-1, but soon led 2-0 to lead on aggregate. However, Liverpool romped to a 6-3 victory on the night, courtesy of the exploits of John Barnes, Steve McManaman, Robbie Fowler and Patrik Berger.
The Reds were then managed by Roy Evans, with the team adopting a 3-5-2 shape and with supporters eager to find the balance between attack and defence that would see them push on in the league. There are, of course, similarities with the present day.
Match Information
Date: Thursday, 1 October 2015
Time: 8:05 p.m. BST / 3:05 p.m. EST
Venue: Anfield, Liverpool
TV Info: BT Sport / FOX Sports 1 and FOX Soccer 2Go
Live Stream: BT Sport (UK) / FOX Soccer 2Go
Form Lines
Liverpool
Won 3-2 vs. Aston Villa
Drew 2-2 vs. Carlisle United (League Cup)
Drew 1-1 vs. Norwich City
Drew 1-1 vs. Bordeaux (Europa League)
Lost 3-1 vs. Manchester United
FC Sion
Lost 1-0 vs. Vaduz
Lost 2-0 vs. Grasshopper Club Zurich
Won 2-0 vs. Munsingen
Won 2-1 vs. Rubin Kazan (Europa League)
Won 3-0 vs. Lugano
Predicted Formations
Rodgers made eight changes when his side played in Bordeaux and a similar amount can be expected for this match.
Unlike a knockout match in the cup, Rodgers knows a poor result would not end Liverpool's Europa League progress, with plenty of time left to progress from the group.
The boss will no doubt rest key players ahead of the Merseyside derby and youngsters Emre Can and Alberto Moreno could also benefit from a night off—the duo are the club's most-used players this season and a start here would be their fifth in 14 days.
With cover lacking at left wing-back, Jordon Ibe could deputise for Moreno.
Philippe Coutinho and Mamadou Sakho have both been rested more recently so expect them to retain their places, along with goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.
That leaves Joe Gomez, Kolo Toure, Joe Allen, Jordan Rossiter, Adam Lallana and Divock Origi coming into the side.
Rodgers will not risk Daniel Sturridge, though. "He won’t be involved in the game, which will keep him fresh and help work towards his fitness for the weekend," he explained, per This Is Anfield.
Liverpool: Mignolet, Gomez, Toure, Sakho, Clyne, Rossiter, Allen, Ibe, Lallana, Coutinho, Origi.
Sion: Vanins, Zverotic, Lacroix, Ziegler, Pa Modou Jagne, Assifuah, Xavier Kouassi, Fernandes, Carlitos, Salatic, Konate.
Players to Watch
Liverpool: Divock Origi
Speaking ahead of this game, Rodgers told reporters that striker Origi will not be heading out on loan this season and opportunities will arrive for the Belgian youngster.
The 20-year-old started the last Europa League game and looks set to do so again for this match, his first start at Anfield.
Although still a raw player, Origi clearly possesses great potential and will be looking to boost confidence with a first goal for the club.
Having Origi in form would mean Rodgers can save Danny Ings and Sturridge for the derby on Sunday.
Sion: Moussa Konate
Striker Moussa Konate has five goals in his 10 appearances for Sion this season, making him the Swiss side's dangerman in attack.
The tall Senegalese player will be looking to prosper in the air against a Liverpool defence which has continually showed weakness defending set-pieces.
Key Battle: Out Wide
Pre-match, Rodgers noted Sion's desire to play on the counter-attack, per James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo:
"Rodgers: "It's a game where we're going to need to be patient. Sion sit deep and then play a counter attacking game."
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceEcho) September 30, 2015"
That fits with what the Anfield Index's Sion preview states about their style of play:
"That depends on the opposition. They’re a good team, but not good enough to play their style against every opponent. Their basic idea of the game would be to attack quickly and in a diverse manner. Not only wing play or through the middle, but well spread across the pitch.
"
With Liverpool likely to continue with a back three, Sion could look to exploit the gaps out wide on the break. The two wide Liverpool centre-backs must therefore be comfortable when dragged out wide.
Liverpool, meanwhile, will look to exploit the wide areas through the pace of Jordon Ibe.
Odds (via Oddschecker)
Liverpool to win: 5/8
Draw: 17/5
Sion to win: 11/2
Prediction
Liverpool 2-0 Sion
*Quotes obtained firsthand, unless otherwise stated.
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