Rubin Kazan vs. Liverpool: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info
Liverpool make the 3,300-kilometre trip to face Rubin Kazan on Matchday 4 of the Europa League, with Jurgen Klopp's side needing a first win in Group B to take control of qualification.
The Reds have drawn all their opening three group games 1-1, meaning they sit second behind FC Sion, only a point ahead of Kazan and Bordeaux.
A first European win for Klopp at Liverpool would put them in a commanding position ahead of the final two group games.
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The match is to be played at the Kazan Arena, the first stadium to be completed ahead of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, with a capacity crowd of 45,000 expected.
The stadium had been used for swimming in the summer, but "they have turned it back into a football stadium purely because Liverpool are coming to town," explained Russian football expert John Bradley to the Liverpool Echo.
It's the kind of game Klopp could do without, coming just three days before an important Premier League game at home to Crystal Palace.
But with the need for a win to finally get underway in the group, the German has taken his strongest available squad to Russia with him.
Fans should note the early kick-off time of 6 p.m GMT / 1 p.m. EST.
Match Information
Date: Thursday, 5 November
Time: 6 p.m. GMT / 1 p.m. EST
Venue: Kazan Arena, Kazan
TV Info: BT Sport Showcase / FOX Sports 1 and FOX Soccer 2GO
Live Stream: BT Sport (UK) / FOX Soccer 2GO (USA)
Form Lines
Liverpool are unbeaten in 11 games in all competitions, but they have drawn eight of those. They've won the last two, though, and are massively buoyed by a comprehensive win at Chelsea at the weekend.
Liverpool
Won 3-1 vs. Chelsea
Won 1-0 vs. Bournemouth (League Cup)
Drew 1-1 vs. Southampton
Drew 1-1 vs. Rubin Kazan (Europa League)
Drew 0-0 vs. Tottenham
Kazan
Won 2-1 vs. Anzhi
Lost 2-1 vs. Krasnodar
Drew 1-1 vs. Liverpool (Europa League)
Won 3-1 vs. Ufa
Lost 2-1 vs. Terek Grozny
Liverpool Team News and Predicted Formation
Klopp is without long-term absentees Daniel Sturridge and Jordan Henderson—although the English duo could be back available after the international break, as reported by Paul Joyce of the Daily Express this week.
Midfielder Joao Carlos Teixeira was not registered in this competition by former boss Brendan Rodgers, so he will drop out of the squad.
"Mignolet: "As a footballer you always want to play in big games and it's a big game v Kazan. We want the 3pts. We will try to achieve that."
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceEcho) November 4, 2015"
Right-back Connor Randall, who made his debut last week against Bournemouth in the League Cup, hasn't travelled, meaning there's no cover for either full-back.
Kolo Toure is out after injury for the second time in his third start of the season against Bournemouth.
Klopp is set to field his strongest side to get the job done, which could mean a start for Christian Benteke for the first time since the German took charge.
Liverpool: Mignolet, Clyne, Skrtel, Sakho, Moreno, Lucas, Milner, Allen, Coutinho, Firmino, Benteke.
Kazan boss Valeriy Chaly is likely to opt for the same that started at Anfield a fortnight ago.
Rubin Kazan: Ryzhikov, Kuzmin, Kverkvelia, Kambolov, Nabiullin, Carlos Eduardo, Ozdoev, Gokdeniz Karadeniz, Georgiev, Devic, Kanunnikov.
Players to Watch
Liverpool: Philippe Coutinho
Fresh from his two goals against Chelsea, Philippe Coutinho will be looking to pick up where he left off and impact on the European stage. The Brazilian playmaker has struggled for form in recent weeks but will be buoyed with his double and performance against the Premier League champions.
The 23-year-old has never scored for Liverpool in Europe and now would be as good time as any to break that record.
Mind you, of the current Liverpool squad, only Lucas Leiva, Joe Allen, Adam Lallana, Jordan Henderson and Emre Can have ever scored for Liverpool in Europe. The top scorer of those is Lucas, with three.
Kazan: Marko Devic
It was Ukrainian forward Marko Devic who scored the opening goal at Anfield in Klopp's first game in charge at the Reds' stadium.
The 32-year-old finished expertly at the Kop end after just 15 minutes, but he was the man to make way at half-time after Kazan were reduced to 10 men.
Devic scored two for Kazan in their last outing, a 2-1 win over Anzhi at the weekend, and he will be hoping to get a full 90 minutes against the five-time European Cup winners.
Odds (via Oddschecker)
Kazan to win: 62/17
Draw: 77/29
Liverpool to win: 19/20
Prediction
Kazan 0-1 Liverpool.
