Liverpool vs. Borussia Dortmund: Team News, Preview, Live Stream, TV Info
Liverpool continue their quest for European glory under Jurgen Klopp by welcoming Borussia Dortmund to Anfield on Thursday night, but with Thomas Tuchel's side in emphatic form in 2015/16, the Reds will need to be at their best to advance beyond the UEFA Europa League's quarter-finals.
Last week's first leg saw Liverpool hold Dortmund to a 1-1 draw at the Westfalenstadion, with Divock Origi's first-half strike—holding off Lukasz Piszczek before firing low beyond Roman Weidenfeller—cancelled out by a Mats Hummels header.
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But Origi's goal gives the Reds a vital away-goal advantage heading into Thursday's clash, with Merseyside set to produce a positive response to what was an incredible atmosphere in Dortmund last time out.
According to This is Anfield, supporters are "planning on greeting the Reds’ coach as it arrives on Anfield Road," before "[heading] into Anfield early, creating an atmosphere well before kick-off."
Set to be a fiercely contested quarter-final second leg between two sides linked by the charismatic Klopp, a dedication to positive, attacking football and an anthem in "You'll Never Walk Alone," all eyes will be on Anfield on Thursday night.
Can Liverpool defy the odds against the Europa League favourites, or will Tuchel continue his fine start to life with Dortmund?
Date: Thursday, April 14
Time: 8:05 p.m. BST / 3:05 p.m. ET
Venue: Anfield, Liverpool
TV Info: BT Sport Europe (UK only) / Fox Sports 1 USA (U.S. only)
Live Stream: BT Sport Player (UK only) / Fox Sports GO (U.S. only)
Form Lines (Last 5 Games)
Liverpool: D-L-D-D-W
Dortmund: W-W-W-D-D
Team News
Speaking to reporters, including This is Anfield at Melwood on Wednesday afternoon, Klopp revealed his squad had suffered no ill effect in their efforts during Sunday's 4-1 victory at home to Stoke City, saying "everything is OK."
With Roberto Firmino nearing full fitness after his first start back from a hamstring problem against the Potters, Klopp only has Jordan Henderson, Christian Benteke, Danny Ings, Jordan Rossiter and Joe Gomez unavailable through injury.
Brazilian midfielder Lucas Leiva made his return to take a place on the bench at Anfield at the weekend, while Kevin Stewart played the full 90 minutes after recovering from an ankle injury.
Jon Flanagan is unavailable, having been omitted from Klopp's squad for the latter stages of the tournament, but otherwise the German has a strong selection at his disposal for Thursday night.
Tuchel, meanwhile, finds himself in a similar situation to last week, with only Neven Subotic out for the long term—the Serbian centre-back is set to miss the rest of the season with an arm injury, though the former Klopp favourite finds himself low in the pecking order under his new manager either way.
Dortmund are buoyed by Ilkay Gundogan's return, with the Germany international making his first Bundesliga appearance since the beginning of March in Sunday's 2-2 draw with Schalke, and Tuchel told reporters after the game he was "delighted" to welcome the midfielder back into the fold, as relayed by David Prentice of the Liverpool Echo.
After resting much of his first-choice lineup at the Veltins-Arena at the weekend, Tuchel can be confident of securing victory over his predecessor on Thursday night—with his squad rested and refreshed.
Predicted Lineups
After a season spent scraping together starting lineups and blooding youth players in the hope of maintaining form, Klopp can approach the final weeks of the 2015/16 campaign with his squad reaching full fitness—with only Henderson out from his first-choice selection.
Looking to seal victory at Anfield on Thursday night, Klopp will field his strongest side, no doubt informed by the Reds' positive showing in a 4-3-3 formation at the Westfalenstadion.
Simon Mignolet, Nathaniel Clyne and Alberto Moreno will keep their places in the lineup from Sunday's win, while Dejan Lovren and Mamadou Sakho, rested at the weekend, should come in at centre-back.
After sitting out on Sunday with suspension, Emre Can is primed to take up his regular role in the midfield, joined by Joe Allen and James Milner, while Klopp will need to choose three from Origi, Firmino, Adam Lallana, Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge to form his forward line.
Tuchel made eight changes to the side that drew with the Reds last week for Dortmund's derby clash with Schalke, but the 42-year-old should name a full-strength side for the trip to Anfield.
This is likely to see Weidenfeller return in goal, shielded by a back four of Piszczek, Sokratis, Hummels and Marcel Schmelzer, with Sven Bender struggling to nullify the threat of Origi at the Westfalenstadion last week.
If Tuchel perseveres with his 4-2-3-1 setup, the returning Gundogan could join impressive youngster Julian Weigl at the base of the midfield, though former Liverpool loanee Nuri Sahin and summer signing Gonzalo Castro provide him with further options.
With Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Marco Reus and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang guaranteed starters based on form, Shinji Kagawa is likely to take the final position in Tuchel's four-pronged forward line.
Likely Liverpool XI: Mignolet; Clyne, Lovren, Sakho, Moreno; Can, Milner, Allen; Lallana, Coutinho, Origi
Likely Dortmund XI: Weidenfeller; Piszczek, Sokratis, Hummels, Schmelzer; Weigl, Gundogan; Mkhitaryan, Kagawa, Reus; Aubameyang
Players to Watch
James Milner
Whisper it quietly, but the oft-derided Liverpool vice-captain, Milner, is threatening to become indispensable as Liverpool head into their most crucial period of 2015/16, with the former Manchester City man hitting top form in recent weeks.
Following up an industrious, efficient display in Klopp's three-man midfield at the Westfalenstadion, Milner was an inspiration in a fluid role in Liverpool's 4-1 win at home to Stoke on Sunday, laying on two goals for his team-mates.
With Henderson out injured, and likely to miss the rest of the season, Milner is assuming the mantle of Liverpool's leader, and boasting considerable experience in succeeding at the top level of football, his authority and tactical nous will be key to the Reds taking a win away from Anfield on Thursday night.
Ilkay Gundogan
Despite Can's continued development, and the strong performances of the likes of Milner and Allen, Klopp seems intent on signing a host of midfield options this summer, with Mahmoud Dahoud the latest player to be linked with a big-money move to Merseyside, as reported by Goal.com's Melissa Reddy.
Another rumoured target—as relayed by Russian journalist Artur Petrosyan of Sport-Express.ru in February—is Dortmund's Gundogan. The Germany international would be an ideal addition to slot in alongside Can in 2016/17 and beyond—though whether Gundogan would move to Merseyside is questionable.
Returning from injury and likely to start at Anfield, Gundogan can give a timely reminder of his talents.
The 25-year-old's energy, tenacity and creativity in the box-to-box role is set to drive Dortmund on as they push for progress to the Europa League semi-finals.
Key Battle
Divock Origi vs. Sokratis
Klopp deployed Origi as a lone centre-forward in Dortmund last week, and the 20-year-old striker continued his fine run of form with a strong, composed performance up against Bender, holding the ball up well and looking to exploit the space between the midfielder-cum-defender and his right-back—Piszczek.
Replacing Bender with Sokratis with 14 minutes to play at the Westfalenstadion, Tuchel seemingly recognise the flaw in his approach, with the Greek centre-back a more aggressive, no-nonsense option at centre-back.
Sokratis is better placed to deal with Origi's physicality, and the Dortmund 27-year-old's clash with the No. 27 could be key to Thursday's clash. Fail to contend with Liverpool's bright young hope and Sokratis could give Klopp's side an opening, with the Reds' overlapping attacking midfielders swarming in support of Origi.
Odds
Liverpool: 21-10
Dortmund: 29-20
Draw: 29-11
Odds via Oddschecker and correct at time of writing.
