Prediction and odds for the game: Salzburg (14/5) v Liverpool (4/5)
We are backing the away win.
When: Tuesday 10th December 2019, kick-off 5:55 PM
Where: The Red Bull Arena
On Tuesday night, European champions Liverpool face a potentially tricky trip to face Austrian side Salzburg in Group E of the Champions League.
Salzburg
The home side are top of their domestic league, just like the visitors. Their results in the Champions League this season have not been terrible either, as the Austrian team are still in with a chance of qualifying for the knockout stages of the competition.
Jesse Marsch’s team have won just two of their group games, but all of their encounters with the groups established big teams Liverpool and Napoli have been close. They have proven they are certainly no pushovers so far in the group against two very experienced teams in European competition.
In Norwegian wonderkid Erling Haland, they have a striker who has scored in every group game this season, registering an impressive eight goals in the competition.
Salzburg have an inconsistent recent home record in the Champions League. However, a 3-2 defeat against Napoli in their last home match in the competition ended a five-game unbeaten run at the Red Bull Arena.
The home side are known for their firepower, including Haland of course, which is illustrated by the fact that they have scored at least two goals in their last four home matches in the Champions League.
Liverpool
The visitors are enjoying a very good season so far all around. However, their Champions League form has not been as good as their Premier League form so far this season. In fact, the Reds only defeat of the campaign came against Napoli in this competition.
A 1-1 draw with the Italian side last time out means that the Reds still need a draw to ensure they qualify for the knockout stages. Jurgen Klopp’s team would need a win to make certain they won the group.
One tiny negative for Liverpool from their campaign so far is their recent defensive record. The Merseysider’s have struggled for clean sheets, failing to keep any clean sheets in their five group games in Europe’s elite competition.
The Reds away record in the competition is not great either, as they have won two and lost two of their last four matches on their travels in the Champions League. However, on current form, Liverpool will be confident of improving that poor away record in the competition.
Conclusion
The job seems like a relatively simple one for reigning champions Liverpool. However, this game is a potential banana skin for Klopp’s side. As they showed at Anfield, Salzburg are a very good attacking team.
The Reds may only need a draw, but they only know how to win and we are backing the away win, as it seems good value considering Liverpool’s recent record.
A game between these two teams almost guarantees goals. Therefore, we are backing the over 3.5 goals at evens, which looks like a solid bet.
Verdict: Back the away win at odds of 4/5 and/or the over 3.5 goals scored at evens.
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Will Liverpool come through their trip to Austria unscathed?
