Liverpool vs Anzhi Makhachkala Europa League Match Preview

PREVIEW

Following their previous Group A loss at Anfield, Brendan Rodgers' men are in need of three points against the big-spending Russian outfit to ease their fears of not advancing

PROBABLE LINEUPS

LIVERPOOL 

Jones 

Wisdom, Carragher, Coates, Enrique 

Henderson, Sahin, Shelvey 

Downing, Suarez, Assaidi 

ANZHI MAKHACHKALA

Gabulov 

Agalarov, Samba, Tagirbekov, Zhirkov 

Jucilei, Shatov, Carcela-Gonzales 

Bousouffa, Traore, Eto'o 

TEAM NEWS

With the eagerly anticipated Merseyside derby with Everton on the horizon, Brendan Rodgers will again look to rotate his squad for the Europa League as he prepares for the visit of in-form Russian moneybags Anzhi.

Rodgers' hand has been forced somewhat by the injuries to Pepe Reina (hamstring), Martin Kelly (knee) and Fabio Borini (foot), all of whom would have surely played in this fixture. The likes of Steven Gerrard, Daniel Agger, Martin Skrtel, Joe Allen and Raheem Sterling could all be rested.

In their place should come fringe squad members such as Jamie Carragher, Sebastien Coates, Jose Enrique and Stewart Downing. However, without any other senior striker available to them, Luis Suarez looks set to lead the line once again for the Reds.

Big-spending Anzhi, led by former Netherlands and Russia coach Guus Hiddink, have impressed in the Russian league this season and currently top the standings by two points from CSKA Moscow.

Hiddink could make only one change from the starting XI that secured a 2-1 victory over title rivals Spartak Moscow at the weekend, with France international midfielder Lassana Diarra (knee) dropping out.

In Christopher Samba and Yuriy Zhirkov the Dagestan outfit have players who will have competed at Anfield before, while their attack is set to be spear-headed by African legend Samuel Eto'o, reportedly the highest-paid player in world football.

Source: Goal