3 Europa League belters for Liverpool backers against Besiktas
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Liverpool go into their Europa League last-16 clash with Besiktas in Istanbul on a frankly astonishing run, given their woeful early season form, going 18 games on the bounce unbeaten and winning four of their past five fixtures, including against their next opponents 1-0 at Anfield.
It seems the best way to ensure profit is by siding with the Reds, so we’ve picked out three away-heavy wagers aimed at maximising dividends.
Remarkably, injured midfielder Jordan Henderson is the only player in Brendan Rodgers’ squad who managed a Europa League goal during the Northern Irishman’s first campaign at the Anfield helm in 2012/13, which represented his only continental experience as a manager prior to this term.
That means Rickie Lambert is the one player available to Rodgers with a European goal for Liverpool on the road since Steven Gerrard put his side 3-1 up away to Unirea Urziceni five years ago, as the former Southampton man bagged in the 2-2 draw at Ludogorets in November.
Such a stat surely makes Lambert the value to make a mark on the scoresheet, despite his presence down the pecking order at present. With the striker likely to be thrown in late on, bank on him closing proceedings.
After failing to make his mark on European debut for the Reds, the former Chelsea and Manchester City forward will be beyond eager to kick start what has been a less-then-stellar return from injury thus far.
Two goals in seven appearances, three of them from the start, isn’t the Sturridge we’ve come to know since he hit Anfield just over two years ago – 38 goals in 59 games speak for themselves.
Sturridge had bagged seven Liverpool strikes in as many February fixtures prior to this term, so he has some catching up to do.
Sturridge’s return to the lineup has seen a clear upsurge in penalties awarded to Rodgers’ side; the one that caused all the furore in the first leg was the second in four matches the England forward has made the starting eleven for this year.
They scored both.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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