Liverpool have one foot in the Champions League knockouts, but they have to get past Qarabag.
With the Premier League campaign feeling pretty hopeless, chasing European glory has become priority number one.
Liverpool’s form in the Champions League this season has been much improved from what we have seen domestically. They have managed wins over Inter Milan and both Madrid teams, and now sit in fourth on 15 points.
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That puts them in a favourable position heading into Wednesday night’s clash, but they are still at risk of falling out of the automatic qualification spots and needing to go down the play-off route.
How would you feel if Slot sent this XI out against Qarabag?
Four changes from Saturday…
Liverpool Predicted XI vs Qarabag
Liverpool Predicted XI vs Qarabag
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How Liverpool can secure Top 8 qualification against Qarabag
The simplest solution is for Liverpool to grab a win. Victory in the final match eliminates all uncertainty.
The Azerbaijani side will do all they can to prevent that from happening, themselves needing a result just to sneak into the play-offs.
Defeat for Arne Slot’s side combined with victories for Barcelona, Sporting Lisbon, Atalanta, Manchester City and Atletico Madrid, would be enough to push the Reds down the standings.
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Sharing the points at Anfield could be enough, but only if one of that same chasing pack fail to win. Of those, City, Atalanta and Atletico also would need a five-goal swing to overtake Liverpool.
The Reds should win this game. A loss would be catastrophic, and a real test of the club’s patience with Slot under so much pressure at Liverpool already.
Arne Slot pictured on the touchline during Liverpool's Premier League match against Burnley at Anfield.
Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images
Liverpool need to act like the home side
One of the biggest differences this season is that Liverpool have lost their edge at Anfield.
When you look at games like Burnley and Leeds, the champions are playing like they’re the team on the road.
Qarabag have taken points off Chelsea, and they beat Copenhagen, Benfica and Frankfurt. This is a side that deserves respect.
But Liverpool are the heavy favourites, and they need to behave as such.
Will Liverpool beat Qarabag and qualify for the last-16?
The Azerbaijani's have a poor record against English teams
Qarabag players line up for a squad picture before their UEFA Champions League match against Ajax at Tofiq Bahramov Stadium (Credit: Getty Images/Resul Rehimov/Anadolu).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Resul Rehimov/Anadolu
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Put pressure on from the start and produce an exciting, dominant game of football. The kind they have managed on numerous occasions during this league phase.
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