Liverpool will host Girona in a UEFA Champions League clash at Anfield on Tuesday, looking to get back to winning ways.
Liverpool were held to a 3-3 draw against Newcastle United in their last outing, and they will look to pick up a victory when they lock horns with Girona at Estadi Montilivi on Tuesday night.
The Reds have been outstanding in the UEFA Champions League so far, amassing five wins from as many outings to occupy the top spot in the standings. They will look to continue their impressive runoff form and grind out a positive result away from home.
Meanwhile, Girona are coming into this game on the back of three defeats from their last four outings, and they have lost four of their five Champions League matches this season. This is an uphill challenge for them, and it will be interesting to see if the Catalan outfit can grind out a good result here.
Girona will need to raise their performance levels dramatically to beat Liverpool at home on Tuesday. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Girona
The home side will be without Yangel Herrera (foot) and Viktor Tshgankov (ankle) due to their respective injuries. Girona are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against Liverpool, with Paulo Gazzaniga in goal.
Arnau Martinez and Daley Blind will start as the full-backs. They will look to keep things compact defensively and hit Liverpool on the break. Juanpe and Ladislav Krejci will start at the heart of the defence.
As for the midfiled unit, Ivan Martin will start alongside Oriol Romeu in the double pivot. They will look to protect the central defenders and break down the opposition’s attacking moves.
Miguel Gutierrez will start as the attacking midfielder here, and he will look to create goalscoring opportunities for his teammates and link up with the striker. Donny van de Beek and Bryan Gil will start in the wide areas. They will look to create goalscoring opportunities from the flanks. Finally, Bojan Miovski will lead the line for Girona against Liverpool.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Gazzaniga; Martinez, Juanpe, Krejci, Blind; Martin, Romeu; van de Beek, Gutierrez, Gil; Miovski
Liverpool
Liverpool will be without Alisson Becker due to a hamstring injury. Diogo Jota has an abdominal injury, Conor Bradley has a hamstring injury, while Ibrahima Konate recently picked up a knee injury.
Liverpool are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against Girona, with Caoimhin Kelleher in goal. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson will start as the full-backs, and they will look to help out at both ends of the pitch. Joe Gomez will feature alongside Virgil van Dijk in the central defensive pairing.
Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch will add composure and control to the side in the midfield. Dominik Szoboszlai will start in the attacking midfield role, and he will look to create goalscoring opportunities in the final third. Finally, Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz will add pace, flair and goals from the flanks, with Darwin Nunez leading the line for Liverpool.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz; Nunez
Key Stats
Liverpool are unbeaten in their last five matches in all competitions.
Girona are winless in their last four matches in all competitions.
Liverpool have won their last five Champions League matches.
Girona have lost four of their last four Champions League matches.
Liverpool have scored 12 goals in their last five Champions League games, conceding just once.
Player to Watch
Mohamed Salah
Embed from Getty Images
The Egyptian international is in spectacular form right now, and he will look to add to his goal tally for the season. Salah has 26 goal contributions in all competitions, and he will look to get on the score sheet and create opportunities for his teammates as well.
Girona has been quite poor defensively, and they will struggle to keep the experienced attacker quiet. Salah should be able to punish them in the final third with his goalscoring ability and creativity.
Prediction
Girona 1-2 Liverpool
The home team will look to bounce back strongly with a positive performance here, but they are lacking in confidence and momentum. Liverpool have the better team, and they should be able to grind out all three points against Girona. In addition, they come into this game on the back of an extended rest after their weekend game was postponed.
Girona will look to put up a fight here, but the gulf in class between the two sides should see Liverpool come out on top here. They are likely to pile further misery on the La Liga side. A narrow away win is on the cards for the visitors.