Champions League
2017-08-23 - Liverpool vs Hoffenheim
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: Champions League Play Off Round
Wednesday 23rd August 2017 - Kick Off 7:45pm
This game is live on TV
Liverpool
The transfer window cannot close quick enough for Liverpool fans who are desperate to see if their club can hold onto Philippe Coutinho at least for the coming season. While the Brazilian has been absent for the start of the 2017/18 campaign, Jurgen Klopp has been happy to go with what he has and the Liverpool players have responded with decent performances.
There are still question marks about the Liverpool defence which will be answered on Wednesday as The Reds look to complete the Champions League Play Off Round win over Hoffenheim. A 1-2 win in Germany has put Liverpool in the driving seat, especially when you consider they are unbeaten in 9 home European ties and have won 5 in a row at Anfield.
Liverpool conceded a last minute equaliser at Watford on the opening day of the new season, but they have won at Hoffenheim and then beaten Crystal Palace at Anfield since then. They have lost 1 of their last 10 home games in all competitions and Liverpool have won their last couple of games here.
Trent Alexander-Arnold scored in the First Leg and was rested this weekend with the Second Leg in mind. Mohammed Salah and Emre Can were also rested and could return. Andrew Robertson had a solid debut, but Nathanial Clyne and Coutinho are set to miss out.
Hoffenheim
A late goal in the First Leg at home has given Hoffenheim some hope that they can turn around this Champions League Play Off Round tie in their first ever European experience. There was enough evidence in the First Leg to think this tie is far from over, but Hoffenheim will want to show more composure in the final third if they are going to be playing Champions League, and not Europa League, football over the next three months.
The Hoffenheim story is a remarkable one in Germany and the side showed character by beating Werder Bremen 1-0 at home days after the First Leg loss to Liverpool. A lack of European experience is an issue for Hoffenheim, but they will have faced atmospheres like the one Anfield will generate in the Bundesliga and should be well prepared.
Hoffenheim have lost 1 of their last 5 games in all competitions and they have opened this season with 2 wins from 3 games. They have only won 3 of their last 9 away games in all competitions, which has to be a concern, and Hoffenheim only won 5 of 17 away Bundesliga games last season.
Head to Head
Liverpool will host Hoffenheim for the first time in a competitive fixture.Prediction
A 1-2 away win in a European knock out tie is a very positive result and one that will give the returning home team every belief they have one foot in the next Round. However Liverpool will know it could have been all so different in Hoffenheim last week and Jurgen Klopp will have to ensure there is no complacency in the squad.
Hoffenheim missed an early penalty and then had the bulk of the first half chances but could not show the composure in front of goal they needed. Liverpool were much more clinical and they will appreciate their position as Hoffenheim can’t really afford to dig in at Anfield for the same length of time Crystal Palace were able to on Saturday.
At some point Hoffenheim have to find at least two goals to give themselves a chance, but there has to be a concern with the high line played last week. A similar line may give the likes of Mohammad Salah, Sadio Mane, Robert Firmino and possibly Daniel Sturridge plenty of room in which to operate and create chances.
Once Liverpool got in front last week they did look dangerous when going forward and I think that will be a real problem for Hoffenheim in the Second Leg. With the positive approach, Liverpool can play with the pace in the final third to expose their visitors and I do think the English club are going to be too strong.
It was the home form that helped Hoffenheim reach the Champions League Qualifiers with their 4th placed finish in the Bundesliga, so losing 1-2 at home is a huge blow for their chances. As much as you can point out Hoffenheim having the 3rd best away record in Germany last season, you can’t ignore they won just 5 of 17 away games.
Only 1 of those came against a team that finished in the top 7 in the Bundesliga and 2 of their 4 away League defeats came against teams that finished above them.
Liverpool may be missing Philippe Coutinho, but they have tended to play well against the top clubs. Last season they beat Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City, Arsenal and Everton here with both Chelsea and Manchester United escaping with draws. That shows how tough it will be for Hoffenheim who I believe missed their only real chance in the tie in the First Leg last week.
As Hoffenheim get a little desperate, Liverpool’s pace in the final third can exploit spaces as they began to last week in the First Leg. I think that leads to an impressive Liverpool win on the evening and gives them momentum to take into the big Premier League game against Arsenal on Sunday.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Liverpool 3-1 Hoffenheim
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Liverpool - 0.75 Asian Handicap @ 1.84 BetVictor
