Liverpool v Borussia Dortmund: Jurgen Klopp prepares to face former side in Europa League

Jurgen Klopp will welcome his former side Borussia Dortmund to Anfield on Thursday as Liverpool look to book their place in the semi-final of this season's Europa League.

The tie is finely poised after a 1-1 draw in Germany last week when a second-half strike from Mats Hummels cancelled out Divock Origi's opener.

In the Premier League, Liverpool sit eighth - five points off Manchester United in fifth - albeit with games in hand on the teams around them. That leaves Klopp and his players desperate for success on the European stage, their only chance of silverware.

Dortmund and Thomas Tuchel, meanwhile, are still able to achieve a domestic and European treble. They are unbeaten in their past 18 competitive matches, a run stretching back to December 19.

Team news

The absence of Christian Benteke and Danny Ings (knee) through injury means Jurgen Klopp has Daniel Sturridge and Origi as forward options for the visit of his former club.

Sturridge was selected ahead of Divock Origi for Sunday's win against Stoke but the Belgium international was preferred for the first leg in Germany.

Joe Gomez and captain Jordan Henderson are suffering from knee injuries, though, and will miss the Europa League quarter-final clash.

Dortmund trained with a fully-fit squad bar Neven Subotic this week and he is their only casualty going into the match.

Opta stats

Liverpool have progressed to the next round in 11 of their past 12 European ties after drawing the first leg away from home, and they will be hoping to continue that trend on Thursday night.

Origi's goal in the reverse leg made him the ninth Liverpool player to score in the Europa League this season. Only Napoli and Lazio (10 each) have more.

Dortmund have had more shots than any other team in the Europa League this season; a remarkable 196!

Jurgen Klopp is yet to lose a European tie since taking over as manager of Liverpool. So far, he's won four and drawn five, but this will surely be the toughest yet, as they look to secure their place in the semi-final of the competition.

Only Aritz Aduriz (nine) has scored more Europa League goals this season than Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Charlie Nicholas' prediction

It was a sensational first leg, it really was, and Liverpool impressed me again at the weekend, kicking on even after Stoke pulled it back to 1-1.

Divock Origi initially looked as though he was out of his depth but he has now bypassed Christian Benteke and maybe even Daniel Sturridge and, with Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho back, there's a really good competitive edge among them now.

However, they are still vulnerable at the back and you imagine Dortmund's frontmen will take advantage if they have another bad night.

The Anfield faithful are patient enough to know what direction this team is going in and because of that I think they'll help keep this tie wide open with a fantastic atmosphere even if their side go behind. 

Charlie predicts: Liverpool to win on penalties (25/1 with Sky Bet)

Betting

Liverpool are Sky Bet's 19/10 outsiders to reach the Europa League semi-finals with a victory on Thursday evening, as Dortmund are rated 7/5 favourites at Anfield. A goalless affair would as see the Reds through, although Sky Bet deem it unlikely at 12/1, while a repeat of their first-leg 1-1 draw and resulting extra-time is a 6/1 chance. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang heads the first goalscorer betting at 9/2, with Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi closely following at 5/1 apiece.