Cole to help Liverpool avoid a stuffing?
Published:Liverpool face Turkish side Trabzonspor without Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, but are still 1/5 favourites with Ladbrokes to qualify for the next round of the Europa League. The Reds stuttered to a 1-0 win in the first leg but are 11/8 to win on the night and should welcome back Joe Cole who is 7/4 to change his fortunes and grab a goal.
Ladbrokes make Aston Villa 1/4 to progress against Rapid Vienna, after a young Villa side picked up a 1-1 draw in Austria. Exit at this stage against Rapid for the second year running would surely end caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald’s chances of taking the job full time, with Bob Bradley 6/4 favourite to take the reins.
At Eastlands, Man City are comfortable 1/7 favourites to defeat Timisoara, with Roberto Mancini likely to give David Silva, Patrick Vieira and Emanuel Adebayor the chance to press their claims for a regular starting place.
David Williams of Ladbrokes said, “With injuries to his two best players, the season seems to be going from bad to worse for Roy Hodgson. The only silver lining must be that Joe Cole surely can’t do any worse than on his first two Pool appearances, and the Reds should have enough quality to go through.”
Ladbrokes: Europa League Match Odds
Trabzonspor vs Liverpool
To win: Trabzonspor 15/8, Liverpool 11/8, The Draw 23/10
To qualify: Trabzonspor 10/3, Liverpool 1/5.
Aston Villa vs Rapid Vienna
To win: Villa 4/9, Rapid 6/1, The Draw 10/3.
To qualify: Villa 1/4, Rapid 11/4
Next Villa manager: Bob Bradley 6/4, Kevin MacDonald 9/2, Sven 5/1, Jol 7/1, Klinsmann 8/1
Man City vs Timisoara
To win: City 1/7, Timisoara 18/1, The Draw 13/2.
To qualify: City 1/100, Timisoara 20/1.
