Venue: Anfield Date: Thursday 21st February Kick-Off: 20:05 GMT TV: Live On ITV
Team News
Liverpool will definitely be without Daniel Sturridge and Phillipe Coutinho who are cup tied and Fabio Borini, who is out for the rest of the season after dislocating his shoulder on Sunday. Lucas Leiva and Daniel Agger are in contention to return to European action as Brendan Rodgers knows he needs to play a strong side in order to pull the deficit back. Zenit are sweating on the fitness of Danny after the winger only returned to training on Monday following slight knocks in the first leg, although it is looking likely he will be fine to play. Domenico Cristico could be in contention for a return for action but it will be too early for Konstantin Zyryanov, who trained away from the first team squad; Expect them to be unchanged from the first leg. Source: BBC Sport
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Match Preview
Liverpool go into this game on a run of indifferent form which has seen them pick up just one win in the last six games, including the 2-0 defeat in the first leg of this tie; In contrast the first encounter between these teams was the first competitive game Zenit have played in the same period due to the Russian winter break. Liverpool have looked a different team with the inclusion on January signing, Daniel Sturridge but with he and Phillipe Coutinho cup-tied the burden of getting the team through will again rest on Steven Gerrard and Luiz Suarez, as we saw in the first leg, if those two don't perform then Liverpool struggle to pick up results. The game a week ago showed us what Zenit are all about, creative in midfield and powerful and pacey up front and if Hulk puts in another man of the match performance we could see a similar result. However, the Russian outfit will have to sure up an, uncomfortable looking at times, back 4 or Liverpool could have some joy. It's going to take something special for Liverpool to walk away from this game with a place in the last 16 of the competition but as we have seen so often over the years, if there is a crowd that can get a team going then it is most definitely Anfield on a European night.