Liverpool need to put a disappointing start to the Premier League season behind them when they host Rangers at Anfield in Champions League action on Tuesday.
Indeed, if the Reds have aspirations to qualify, this is the type of game that they must win. Jurgen Klopp’s side, though, have not impressed in the opening weeks. After a thumping loss away to Napoli, they struggled to overcome Ajax at home.
Rangers, meanwhile, should be their most straightforward opponent in the group. The Scottish club have failed to take a point so far in the competition, having found the step up from the Europa League a difficult one to negotiate.
Here’s our bet builder for the big match.
Liverpool v Rangers Bet Builder Tips
Liverpool -2 Handicap
Liverpool may be struggling domestically, but expect them to have few problems getting the victory here. Jurgen Klopp’s side should simply prove far too good for their guests. Indeed, a 4-0 loss against Ajax and a 3-0 defeat against Napoli show that Rangers are out of their depth in the Champions League at present.
The Reds, meanwhile, will be eager to make a statement after recent setbacks. Three wins in nine matches since their Community Shield win over Manchester City was not how this season was expected to go, and a healthy victory here will give them plenty of confidence going forwards.
Liverpool have an advantage in that their next game is not until Sunday, meaning that the imperative to rotate is not huge. Indeed, the importance of giving their players confidence by winning big likely outweighs this. And furthermore, the Reds are likely to have at least two high-quality forwards, probably Roberto Firmino and Fabio Carvalho, on the bench to bring on in the closing stages to help terrorise their guests for the full 90 minutes.
Remarkably, this is the first competitive meeting between these clubs, and it is likely to be one that Liverpool won’t want to forget.
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Prediction: Liverpool -2 Handicap
Luis Diaz to have 2+ Shots on Target
Liverpool will expect to dominate this game, and that means there should be a high number of efforts on the Rangers goal. Expect Luis Diaz to be at the forefront of this. The Colombian was kept in reserve for much of the weekend’s 3-3 draw against Brighton, which means that the probability of him starting this clash is high.
In competitive action this season, no player has had more shots on target than Diaz’s 12. Indeed, he has actually had one more effort on target this season than Mohamed Salah, who is shorter priced, despite having played 43 minutes of action less. Diaz, meanwhile, has translated these efforts into four goals.
He is likely to find himself up against James Tavernier at right-back for Rangers, with the visiting player more known for his attacking qualities than his defensive strength. It is a battle that the winger should get the better of.
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Prediction: Luis Diaz to have 2+ Shots on Target
Ben Davies to be Shown a Card
When Ben Davies signed for Liverpool on the final day of the winter transfer window in 2021, he probably did not envisage that his first appearance at Anfield would come in the Champions League against the Reds. Yet here the 27-year-old finds himself poised to line up for Rangers against the players he worked against in training during his spell on Merseyside.
Davies will, indeed, start this game, despite being far from a first choice in this role. Filip Helander is a long-term absentee for Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side while James Sands is suspended after he was dismissed against Napoli. He was given a 45-minute run out at the weekend against Hearts to get used to playing alongside Conor Goldson.
For Davies, meanwhile, this will be his first appearance in the Champions League proper and it should also be his first 90 minutes for the Gers.
It would be little surprise to see him struggle given his lack of game time and also the dizzying level of the opponents. This could well manifest itself in a booking. Davies, after all, has played only 157 minutes of football this season and has been cautioned twice – that’s fewer minutes per booking than any other player in the Rangers squad with more than one yellow to their name this season.
Expect him to have a difficult night.
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Prediction: Ben Davies to be Shown a Card
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Predicted Line-ups
Liverpool predicted XI (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Elliott, Henderson, Thiago; Salah, Jota, Diaz
Rangers predicted XI (4-3-3): McGregor; Tavernier, Goldson, Davies, Barisic; Lundstram, Davis, Jack; Tillman, Morelos, Kent
* All odds displayed correct at the time of publishing *
How to watch Liverpool v Rangers in the Champions League?
📅 When is Liverpool v Rangers? / Tuesday, 4th October 2022, 8:00PM
🏟 Where is Liverpool v Rangers? / Anfield (Liverpool)
📺 What TV channel is Liverpool v Rangers on? / BT Sport 2
🟨 …And who is the referee for Liverpool v Rangers? / C. Turpin 🇫🇷
