Europa League
2011-02-24 - Liverpool vs Sparta Prague
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football : European Champions League
Thursday 24 February 2011 - Kickoff 6pm
This game is live on TV
Liverpool
Kenny Dalglish had his first taste of European football with Liverpool last week in the Czech Republic Capital, and now looks to lead his side into the last 16 of the Europa League. With the FA Cup dominating last weekend's action, Liverpool have had a full week to prepare for this game.
A defeat for Tottenham on Tuesday night means Liverpool are only 8 points behind them in the race for the final Champions League place. While that looks a little beyond the Reds, Liverpool will look to end this season in a positive manner and build on any success in the Summer. They are 8-4-2 at Anfield this season, scoring 23 goals and conceding 11. Liverpool are 4-1-0 at home in the Europa League this season, scoring 10 goals and conceding 2.
Dalglish has led Liverpool to a 7 game unbeaten run since losing 2 consecutive games at the beginning of his second tenure at the club. They have won 4 of those games and have kept 5 clean sheets in their last 6 games. Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 5 games at Anfield, winning 3 of those, although they did draw 1-1 in their last home game against Wigan.
It has been revealed that Steven Gerrard will be a game time decision for this game, although I would be surprised if he gets anywhere further than the bench. Andy Carroll is back in training but Kenny Dalglish said he wont risk the player by bringing him back too early and the Manchester United game in 10 days time looks the best time for his return.
Sparta Prague
After a bore draw in Prague last week, Sparta are now the clear underdogs in this tie. Jozef Chovanec, the manager, has been suspended at home for 10 weeks after the controversy of withdrawing players from International squads yet playing them under false names in friendlies continues to rumble.
The League campaign in the Czech Republic remains on its Winter Break until this weekend so this game represents only the 2nd competitive game for Sparta since December. They are 7-0-2 away from home in the League, scoring 15 goals and conceding 5. Sparta are 1-1-2 away from home in Europe this season, scoring 5 goals and conceding 7.
The team is unbeaten in 7 games in all competitions away from home since losing 3-0 at CSKA Moscow in the Europa League. They had won 4 in a row until drawing 2-2 in Palermo last time out in December.
There are no new injury worries for Sparta Prague, although they did look a little toothless last week without Wilfried Bony.
Head to Head
This is the first time Sparta Prague will be playing at Anfield.
Liverpool beat the only other Czech team to visit this famous stadium, beating Slovan Liberic 1-0 in 2000-01.
Sparta Prague have not won any of their last 5 games against English sides in this country and they have lost 5 of 7 visits to England.
Prediction
This is still a big game for Liverpool considering this is the only trophy the side can win this season. The team has been solid of late although they did look a little lackluster in the game in Prague last week, and the lack of forwards available for this game will make it tougher for Kenny Dalglish.
I would also be very surprised if Andy Carroll and Steven Gerrard are both risked in this game with 3 months of the season still to go.
Sparta Prague also were disappointing last week, not really threatening Pepe Reina in goal enough to expect them to cause a lot of problems for Liverpool here.
The odds are plenty short for the expected home win and I think there is a better option to pick Liverpool to win this to Nil. The Reds have kept clean sheets in 5 of their last 6 games under Dalglish and also in 3 of 5 games played in Europe at home this season.
Sparta did not show me enough to suggest they will score here, although this is football and you a deflected strike can occur at any time, but the odds against on Liverpool winning to nil is too good to ignore.
That will be my pick here.
The Pick :
Liverpool 2-0 Sparta Prague
BEST BETTING TIP :
I'll take Liverpool WIN to Nil @ 2.1 (2 UNITS)Follow me on Twitter @DavindaAulak- the direct link is below
