Venue: Stadion Petrovski Date: Thursday, February 14th K/o: 17:00
Team News
Liverpool will be without January signings Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho for this first leg of the Europa League last-32 encounter with Zenit St Petersburg. The duo are cup-tied having played in Europe for former clubs Chelsea and Inter Milan this season. Manager Brendan Rodgers otherwise has no other notable absentees; Captain Steven Gerrard, Luis Suarez and Jose Reina are all included in the provisional 20-man squad. Zenit boss Luciano Spalletti will have also have a fully fit squad to pick from, with the Russian side recently coming through a series of friendlies unscathed.
Match Preview
What a disastrous week it has been already for Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool. A shock 2-0 slump to West Brom at Anfield means the Reds now face a real battle to qualify for Europe again next season. They will also be without Daniel Sturridge for the rest of their European campaign this season, with the England international cup-tied. How they will miss him and his goals - his arrival on Anfield has served to take much of the burden of Luis Suarez of late. Rodgers will be hoping his side can get their campaign back on track here tonight but they come up against a tough opponent both in terms of stature and atmosphere. Zenit are the current champions of Russia and will be driven forward by Brazilian Hulk, who scored 21 goals last season. The Stadion Petrovski is also set to become a cauldron of noise tonight and Zenit fans have been warned against any racist chanting or behaviour after a fan group called for non-white and gay players to be excluded from their team last December. Liverpool have written to their rivals expressing their concern ahead of this fixture, having travelled to Russia with three black players in England international Glen Johnson and teenagers Andre Wisdom and Raheem Sterling. Hopefully when the referee blows for full time, the talking points will regard issues on the field rather than off it.
Likely Line-Ups
Zenit St Petersburg Malafeev, Anyukov, Lombaerts, Alves, Hubocan, Shirokov, Witsel, Danny, Zyryanov, Hulk, Kerzhakov
Liverpool Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Wisdom, Allen, Henderson, Gerrard, Downing, Sterling, Suarez Source:
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