Liverpool vs Zenit Preview, Team News, Likely Line-ups & Predicted Score

Liverpool welcome Russian giants Zenit St Petersburg to Anfield on Thursday night needing to overturn a 2-0 deficit to qualify for the last 16 of the Europa League.

The Merseysiders were beaten in the first leg last week thanks to goals from Hulk and Sergei Semak meaning they have it all to do in the second leg if they’re to continue their European adventure this season.

Brendan Rodgers side should head into the full of confidence after Sunday’s 5-0 thrashing of Swansea City while the visitors haven’t played since the first leg due to their winter break with the Russian league not due to restart until next month.

Team News

Rodgers is expected to field his strongest side meaning key men such as Steven Gerrard, Luis Suarez, Glen Johnson, Lucas Leiva and Daniel Agger are all in line to start.

Martin Skrtel has been denied the chance to face his former side after picking up a knee problem in training and is likely to miss the clash, meaning Jamie Carragher will continue alongside Agger at the back.

Rodgers will be forced into at least two changes from the side that beat Swansea with Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho both cup-tied after representing Chelsea and Inter Milan in Europe already this season.

Oussama Assaidi is also back in contention after returning from his exploits with Morocco at the African Cup of Nations.

Zenit have no fresh injury worries ahead of the game but boss Luciano Spalletti must decide whether to start striker Semak after he came off the bench to grab a goal last week.

Likely Line-ups

Predicted Score

Liverpool have only ever overturned a 2-0 deficit in Europe once in their history and it’s going to be a tough task to do so again tonight against a talented Zenit outfit. The conditions were difficult in Russia for the first leg so we should see an improved performance from Liverpool tonight, but I can’t see them doing enough to progress. Liverpool 2-1 Zenit

What would be your starting eleven and what’s your score prediction? Get involved in the comments section below.