Liverpool v Bordeaux preview: Philippe Coutinho misses Europa League contest
Thursday 26 November 2015 21:18, UK
Liverpool will be without playmaker Philippe Coutinho when they entertain Bordeaux in the Europa League on Thursday.
Coutinho suffered a minor hamstring strain in Liverpool's 4-1 win at Manchester City on Saturday, although the Brazilian could be back in time to face Swansea City in the Premier League on Sunday.
Jurgen Klopp's side know a win at Anfield over the French outfit, who are currently 13th in Ligue 1 and without a win in the group stage, will see the Reds qualify for the round of 32 with a game to spare.
Liverpool head into the game having won only one of their four Group B games so far, which came last time out at bottom-of-the-table Rubin Kazan.
The Reds drew with Bordeaux when they met on Matchday One in September at the Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux.
Team news
Liverpool will be without Coutinho (hamstring), Mamadou Sakho (knee) and Jordan Henderson (foot), however, the latter is close to a return to first-team action.
Meanwhile Joe Gomez and Danny Ings are also both missing with long-term knee injuries.
The visitors may start with a front three of Wahbi Khazri, Enzo Crivelli and Nicolas Maurice-Belay.
Opta facts
Liverpool are unbeaten in three meetings with Bordeaux (W2 D1).
Liverpool have only lost two of their 13 previous home fixtures against French sides (W10 D1). However these have come in their last four games.
Bordeaux have won just one of their 11 games against English sides (D3 L7), and have lost all five of their visits to England, failing to score each time.
The Reds have had more shots than any other side in the Europa League so far this season (87, including blocked).
Four of the five goals in Europa League games featuring Bordeaux this season have come in the second half.
Betting
Liverpool are just 1/2 at Sky Bet for the victory, with Bordeaux up against odds of 6/1 to leave Anfield with a win and 3/1 to keep their slender qualification hopes alive with a draw.
Klopp's men are 10/11 to win group and 14/1 to win the Europa League, with the German's former club Borussia Dortmund considered 6/1 favourites.
Christian Benteke heads the first goalscorer betting at 100/30, while Cheick Diabate is rated the visitors' biggest threat at 9/1 to break the deadlock.
The Soccer Saturday pundits and Jamie Redknapp have provided Sky Bet with their usual tips, including Phil Thompson's 14/1 fancy for Benteke to score first in a 2-0 home win.
