Sports Mole previews Wednesday's Champions League clash between RB Leipzig and Liverpool, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Soon I will be bound by the only one Jurgen Klopp, RB Leipzig AND Liverpool Lock horns on Wednesday champions league League phase match at the Red Bull Arena.
The Reds have already made it easy to win against Bologna and AC Milan in this year's new competition, but their Bundesliga hosts are yet to pick up any points.
Competition Preview
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Arne SlottLiverpool's revolution shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon The Reds have yet to pass one of the toughest tests of their Premier League title credentials. On Sunday, the Dutchman won the battle between the newly christened Premier League bosses. Enzo Maresca.
a medicine Mohamed Salah Sorrow and bitterness Curtis Jones The effort confirmed it nicolas jacksonChelsea's strong finish will give Liverpool some consolation as Liverpool regain their one-point lead over Manchester City. Premier League Summit He achieved 10 wins out of 11 under the wing of Slott.
Two of those victories came against Italian rivals in Europe, with Liverpool doing the same. They beat AC Milan 3-1 with a 2-0 victory over Bologna On the second day, they were lucky at times, although it was luck that left Roséblue with their shooting boots.
There are still tougher options ahead – Sunday's trip to title rivals Arsenal has all the makings of a blockbuster battle – but the Merseyside powerhouses sit in fifth place. UCL table of 36 teamsThey are currently on cloud nine as they chase their eighth win in all competitions.
What's more, the Reds have won all five of their away games so far (keeping three clean sheets and conceding just two goals) and Liverpool are unbeaten against the German side since the 2001-02 season. Way in the Champions League.
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That run included a 2-0 win over Leipzig at the Red Bull Arena in February 2021, when Klopp was on the Liverpool bench, but the German will soon help the hosts' operations on Wednesday after agreeing to become the new global director of Red Bull. of football. Starting in January.
pink frameHis team could now use some European inspiration from the 2019 Champions League winner, as their 2024-25 record shows two defeats in two European matches, albeit against titanic opponents such as Atlético Madrid and Juventus.
Die Rotten Bullen managed to keep both matches tied, losing only in the last minute Jose Gimenez Goal vs Atlético – But they let a one-goal lead slip away on two occasions against a 10-man Juventus, falling 3-2. Dusan Vilahovic– The inspired Bianconeri.
That night, Juve lost a key defender. Bremer After seven minutes he was injured and saw the goalkeeper Michael DiGregorio Sent close to the bottom 30, but still managed to attack twice with a numerical disadvantage as Leipzig suffered a truly disastrous collapse.
Things are looking a bit positive for Rose's team – they opened their Bundesliga wins against Mainz 05 and Heidenheim with two clean sheets – but they could now become the first team to lose three consecutive Champions League games. He scored the first goal in all of them.
RB Leipzig's form in the Champions League:
RB Leipzig form (all matches):
Liverpool Champions League format:
Liverpool form (all matches):
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Liverpool's victory over Chelsea came at a cost Diogo Jota He lasted only half an hour before succumbing to the effects. Dosin Atarabioyo challenge, and Slott will be surprised to see Portugal's international cut On Wednesday.
Alison Becker (femur) and Harvey Elliott (Cal) Even those unfortunate ones, take their place in the hospital. federico chiesa One hesitation, and the young man is right behind. Conor Bradley He is also missing from the matchday squad against Liverpool for unexplained reasons.
Bradley's omission has left Slott in a crisis at right back, the Dutchman revealed Trent Alexander-Arnold There was a doubt before the game, so Joe Gomez The Liverpool boss could get an unexpected start in defense if he lands Alexander-Arnold before the Arsenal affair.
With Leipzig losing their top scorer, Rose can sympathize with Slott amid new attacking concerns. Lois Opanda A knock in the closing stages of Mainz's victory, but the Belgian played down his problem after the game and insisted he would be fine on Wednesday.
it's the same Amadu HaidaraHe suffered an injury scare in the second half of the weekend's victory, but Xavier Slager (LCA), David Ron (muscle), Nicholas Sewald (hip) and Asan Audarogo (knees) are all under the care of doctors.
Assuming his hit doesn't explode, Opanta could be part of a threatening-looking front three. Xavi Simon AND Benjamin SescoSo far he has scored all three of Leipzig's goals in the Champions League.
Possible starting lineup for RB Leipzig:
Gulachi; Orban, Klostermann, Lukeba; Geertruda, Haidara, Vermeeren, Nusa; Simon; Cesco, Opanta
Liverpool's probable starting lineup:
Kelleher; Gomes, Conade, Van Dijk, Simikas; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Jones, Díaz; Nunez
We say: RB Leipzig 1-2 Liverpool
Leipzig appear to have improved defensively since Juventus' capitulation, although Liverpool are a different species to Mainz and Heidenheim, and we have our vote for the Reds to move from 12th to 11th in the position.
However, don't be surprised if this is a late decision; Leipzig have scored 17 goals in the last 10 minutes of Champions League matches since the start of the 2019-20 campaign.
Click here to see the data analysis of the most likely results, scores and more for this match.
