Liverpool v OSC Lille
Football: Europe, UEFA Europa League 2009/2010
Thursday, 18th March 2010 - Kickoff 8:05pm

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Liverpool

Liverpool have had a very disappointing season in the eyes of their fans after the end of last season had promised so much for them. A 1-0 defeat in France last week has left them with a little bit of trouble if they wish to win a bit of silverware at the end of this tough season.

A potentially bigger prize than the Europa League is finishing in the top 4 of the Premier League and having the chance to qualify for the main draw of the Champions League next season. Liverpool have been struggling financially, so the loss of Champions League football will affect them massively in the Summer in terms of recruiting new players and holding on to their main assets in Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard.

Liverpool have a 11-2-2 record at Anfield in the Premier League where they have scored 37 goals and conceded 13. European nights at Anfield are famous, and Liverpool are usually tough to beat here on these occasions but they are only 2-0-2 in Europe this season, both wins being 1-0 and both losses being 1-2.

Liverpool will be looking for their 7th consecutive win at Anfield in all competitions now and to maintain momentum going into their big game with Manchester United at Old Trafford this weekend. They have been better defensively at home, keeping 4 clean sheets in their last 6 wins, but have conceded 1 goal in their last 2 there.

Lille

Lille maintained their chances of landing the French title last weekend, but will now look to focus on another big English scalp in Europe. They were part of the same group as Manchester United in 2005/06 season when the English side finished bottom of the group and exited all European competitions.

They are currently sitting in 3rd spot in France and are only 3 points behind the leaders Montpellier, although Bordeaux, who are currently 2nd, have 2 games in hand over Lille and Montpellier. Lille are 5-2-5 away from home in their League, scoring 20 goals and conceding 16.

Lille have a 3-1-2 record away from home in European competitions, but they have not won any of their last 3 away in the Europa League. Lille have only lost 1 of those 3 games by the margin required for Liverpool to knock them out tomorrow night.

Lille have only lost 1 of their last 9 games in all competitions. They have only won 1 of their last 6 away from home in all competitions, but have only lost 2 of those games and again none of those by more than 1 goal. Lille have only kept 1 clean sheet away from home in their last 6 games.

Prediction

Liverpool will be happy that they are playing on a good surface as their last 2 defeats came at Wigan and Lille on bad playing fields. They will have picked up some confidence after scoring 3 goals in a match for the first time in 6 months on Monday evening and the amount of chances they had in Lille last week.

Lille have proved tough and resilient in their games this season and they will come to Anfield confident that they can complete the task and move on to the Quarter Finals of the Europa League. I can see them coming out to ensure Liverpool are kept quiet for the first half and then hope to sneak a goal on the counter attack.

I am not a fan of backing Liverpool at this moment in time, but after watching them at Lille last Thursday, I feel they have enough to score and move through this tie. Fernando Torres will have been given a boost by scoring 2 goals on Monday night and I can see him scoring again here. I am going to back Liverpool to qualify as my main bet here.

The Pick :

Liverpool 2-0 Lille

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

Liverpool to Qualify @ 1.9 (Various) (main bet)

Fernando Torres first GS @ 4 (Various)