Jurgen Klopp will lead his Liverpool team out for the first time at Anfield against Rubin Kazan in the Europa League. The Reds drew their first game under Klopp, an away goalless draw against Spurs and we saw a few glimpses of the playing style that Klopp will hope to cement in the side.
The Liverpool faithful will be in a boisterous mood and will back the new manager to the hilt in their first home game under Klopp and Liverpool do need a good performance after drawing their opening two games in their Europa League group.
The draw against FC Sion at home effectively nailed the coffin for Rodgers, while Liverpool do sit second in the group, which would let them progress to the next round, anything less than a win now would be a huge blow for the club, who have won the defunct UEFA Cup thrice.
Rubin Kazan would be coming to spoil the party at Anfield and the Russians should not be taken lightly by Klopp and his team. Kazan have been Champions League competitors in the past and have lost just one out of their last five games in the Europa League. Liverpool need to be wary of their opposition and not take them lightly.
Recent history is not with Liverpool
If we go back to their stuttering campaign in the Champions League a season ago, Liverpool haven’t had the best of form in Europe. Liverpool have won only two out of their last 10 games in Europe and that will certainly be playing in their minds.
Even in a seemingly easy group with FC Basel and Ludogorets, Liverpool struggled; they have been the same in this season’s Europa League and haven’t hit any gear past the first one in Europe. With a number of strikers also missing for the Reds, the form could be something that plays on their minds and Kazan would be looking to take advantage of any nerves the team might have.
New Manager effect from the away side as well
While Liverpool have a new manager at the helm, it is a similar story for the Russian team as well. Rubin Kazan replaced their manager and have brought in Vately Chaly on a temporary basis. He might want to take the job on a fulltime basis and that would include doing something positive against Liverpool.
Kazan though are not in great form and lie just three points above the bottom-placed team in the Russian League, maybe the tie against Liverpool can be used as a catalyst by Kazan and Liverpool need to be wary of this.
Rubin have a decent record against English clubs
While Liverpool have lost four games out of their eleven played against Russian opposition but Kazan have a better record having lost just twice in their six games against English opposition, they might have never faced Liverpool but this is their chance of doing well in the competition and with the club rock bottom of the group and having nothing to lose, they could just pull off a victory against Liverpool, who need to be careful of a slip up against the Russian club.
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