Liverpool will hope to leave their domestic woes behind when they meet Rangers in the Champions League this evening. Can Jurgen Klopp’s wilting Reds rediscover that winning feeling against Group A’s bottom side, Rangers, at Anfield?
Below, you can find a collection of stats with key info on corners, cards, shots, xG, assists, goals and more from the teams’ previous domestic matches. Use our data to construct better bet builders this evening. Good luck!
Predicted Lineups
Ibrahima Konaté, Andrew Robertson and Naby Keita are expected to miss out again for Liverpool this evening. Luis Diaz, Harvey Elliott, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez were all on the bench against Brighton on Saturday, so expect most of them to feature against Rangers.
Liverpool have won only three of their ten competitive fixtures this season and they could really do with a morale-boosting victory this evening.
Rangers have several personnel issues to contend with at present and Kemar Roofe, Ianis Hagi, Filip Helander, John Souttar and Tom Lawrence are unavailable through injury this evening, while James Sands is suspended following his dismissal against Napoli last month.
Rangers lost heavily (4-0 vs Ajax, 3-0 vs Napoli) in each of their first two Champions League assignments this season and they should find the going just as tough against Liverpool at Anfield.
Team Stats
Despite a poor overall set of results (two wins in seven), Liverpool’s underlying Premier League stats this season show promise, though their 9-0 victory over Bournemouth did skew reality a little.
Liverpool have been mustering 19.00 shots per 90 minutes, while conceding just 8.43 attempts p/90 at the other end, while their xG for 2.64 (p/90) is far meatier than their xG against (1.11). The Reds have also been winning buckets of corners (7.86 per 90).
Rangers have looked comfortable domestically this season as evidenced by their strong shots for (18.60), shots on target for (5.88) and xG for figures (2.32) per 90 for the campaign.
However, their performances in the Champions League could have hardly been more contrasting and Rangers conceded 42 shots across 180 minutes against Ajax and Napoli on matchdays one and two. They also conceded 12 corners, combined which might be something to look out for against a Liverpool side that are prolific in that area.
Player Shots and Shots on Target
Brazilian Roberto Firmino is the least fancied attacker from Liverpool’s array of options up front, though the linkman has been clocking an impressive 3.88 shots and 2.59 shots on target in the league this term per 90 minutes.
Darwin Nunez’s numbers are warped slightly because he’s played just 78 minutes of Premier League football this season, though Mohammed Salah (3.14 shots p/90) and Luis Diaz (2.67) have posted decent numbers. Midfielder Harvey Elliott (2.18 shots per 90) is an interesting outsider option to consider at longer odds in the shot markets.
Antonio-Mirko Colak (1.76 SOT p/90) has been Rangers’ biggest threat in the Scottish Premiership this season, though he hasn’t made any waves in the Champions League.
American Malik Tillman (2.54 shots per 90) can threaten from wider positions, while set-piece specialist James Tavernier (0.75 shots on target p/90) is always worth keeping an eye on. The 30-year-old has averaged one attempt per appearance in the UCL.
Player Goals and Assists
Roberto Firmino has provided eight goal contributions (5G, 3A) in six Premier League appearances this season, though he has yet to notch a goal or assist in the Champions League.
Luis Diaz, Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez have scored six goals between them in the English top flight, though all three have yet to register in the Champions League. Interestingly, two of Liverpool’s three goals in that competition so far have come from left-backs, Andrew Robertson and Konstantinos Tsimikas.
Antonio-Mirko Colak has plundered eight goals in as many games in Scotland, while James Tavernier has lodged six goal contributions from right back (2G, 4A).
Rangers are still waiting to break their duck in the Champions League however and they’ve managed to hit just four attempts on target in the tournament so far.
Liverpool Cards
Liverpool don’t tend to collect many cards in the Premier League, indeed, only Man City (5) have picked up fewer than the Reds (7) so far this season.
Trent Alexander Arnold has amassed two of those cards himself, while Fabinho has been unusually quiet in the cautions department. The Brazilian (1.67 fouls per 90) was carded eight times in 2021/22, though he has just one to his name this term. Darwin Nunez (1.50 fouls p/90) also has a habit of throwing his weight around when called upon at centre-forward.
Winger Ryan Kent (fouled 2.59 times per 90) has been fouled more often than any other Rangers player in the Premiership this season and the ex-Liverpool youngster will want to trouble a nervous Trent-Alexander Arnold this evening.
Malik Tillman (fouled 1.54 times p/90) will hope to turn Fabinho in the wrong direction if he gets chances to drift centrally, while centre-half Connor Goldson (fouled 1.50 times p/90) could have his feathers ruffled by the aggressive Nunez.
Match-Ups to watch
Trent Alexander-Arnold vs Ryan Kent
Fabinho vs Malik Tillman
Darwin Nunez vs Connor Goldson
Rangers Cards
While we’ve offered some options to consider for Liverpool in the card market, in truth, you’ll probably be better served by sticking with the likeliest candidates to be cautioned in the Rangers camp this evening with the Gers expected to be on the backfoot throughout.
Connor Goldson (4 domestic cards) can be panicked at the heart of the Gers’ defence, while John Lundstram (two cards in Premiership) has already seen yellow in midfield in the Champions League. James Tavernier, who was booked against Napoli, faces a tough task at fullback against Luiz Diaz.
Thiago (fouled 5.33 times p/90) is Liverpool’s heartbeat in midfield and John Lundstram will be doing everything in his power to upset the schemer’s rhythm this evening.
Flying Colombian winger Luis Diaz (3.28 p/90) routinely comes in for rough treatment and he has the pace and quick feet to draw fouls from James Tavernier. If and when Tavernier is bypassed, watch out for Connor Goldson when he attempts to stop Diaz in his tracks.
Match-Ups to watch
James Tavernier vs Luis Diaz
John Lundstram vs Thiago
Connor Goldson vs Luis Diaz
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Remember to keep stakes sensible, the stats pack doesn’t guarantee winners but it certainly boosts your chances.
Good luck, and send in those betslips.
