Europa League preview and odds: Augsburg vs Liverpool
Published on: 16/02/2016
Europa League preview and odds: Augsburg vs Liverpool
February 18, 2016 19:00pm - Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan
Europa League - Round of 32, First leg
Augsburg will welcome a familiar face to the WWK Arena on Thursday when Jurgen Klopp returns to his homeland to lead out his Liverpool side in the UEFA Europa League Round of 32.
Augsburg enjoying tournament debut
Augsburg will play and English team for the first time in their history on Thursday evening when they begin their two-legged Europa League battle with Jurgen Klopp`s Liverpool. The German side have reached the knockout stages of this tournament at the very first attempt, after winning three and losing three of their Group L matches. They actually finished in second place, level on points with Partizan, but progressed on goal difference.
The Fuggerstädter are currently languishing in 14th place in the Bundesliga after failing to win any of their last four games. They have only won two of their last 12 competitive matches on home soil.
Liverpool looking to rekindle European spark
With fourth place in the Premier League all but out of reach, winning this competition represents Liverpool`s last realistic avenue towards Champions League qualification next term.
Not so long ago, the Reds were the number one-ranked team on the European stage, and they will be looking to regain some of that magic under Jurgen Klopp. Like Liverpool, Klopp has plenty of European experience under his belt and will also have good knowledge of this week`s opponents, having faced them plenty of times during his spell in charge of Borussia Dortmund.
The Merseyside team come into this game on the back of a 6-0 win away to Aston Villa in the Premier League.
Team news
The home side will be without Hong Jeon-Ho, Klavan, Schuster and Werner, while Bobadilla is a doubt.
The visitors are still without Lovren, Ings, Gomez, Lucas, Lallana and Skrtel.
Recent form (All competitions)
Augsburg: LLDDW
Liverpool: WLDLD
Betting odds and tips
With Coutinho, Sturridge and Origi back in the fold, Liverpool should have enough quality to edge past their opponents.
You can back the away win at 11/10 with Bet365.
By Neil Morris
Published on: 16/02/2016
Any odds displayed within this preview were correct at the time of publishing (16/02/2016 15:22:36) but are subject to change.
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