Lille vs Liverpool Match Preview
Lille is striving to make the quarter finals of a major European club competition for the first time in the team's history. They will clash with Liverpool who have plenty of experience on the main stage. These clubs had never met in a competitive game before this season. Lille has an astonishing European home record, losing only once in their last 16 fixtures. Liverpool has only suffered one defeat in their last ten European away trips.
Lille had a small breach in character over the weekend dropping two points to St Etienne in a 1-1 draw. The French side is still competing for a top spot domestically as well as trying to seek out European silverware. This club will try to prevail in the match with the possibility of missing key players such as Mathieu Debuchy, Gervinho and Tuilo de Melo. Lille needs a big showing from Pierre-Alain Frau the team's second leading goal scorer. The French club will be looking to have a similar outing as their counterparts Lyon did against Real Madrid in the Champions League. You can expect an intense and inspired side ready to take destiny into its own hands come Thursday evening.
The Reds are still trying to gain team cohesiveness as they have seen their fair share of injuries and mis- management this season. Rafael Benitez and his squad are strolling into this match after a disappointing loss to Wigan earlier this week. One positive they were able to take from the match was the return of fullback Glen Johnson. He provided energy and a quick spark to the reds but it wasn't enough to draw level.
Rafa has been about his business this week contacting old friends to brainstorm a master plan to take down Lille. He said, "Lille are a good team. People maybe don't know too much about them but we've spoken with people in Valencia, because they played one another, and we have reports from the scouts. We know they're a dangerous team with some ability." At the moment Yossi Benayoun and Daniel Agger are big question marks for the fixture on Thursday. Skrtel is out until the end of April after breaking a metatarsal in his right foot. The Reds need an enthused captain power (Steven Gerrard) to ignite their spirits. Torres and Kuyt must capitalize on their opportunities to bring their side to victory. They need to shed the stigma that has come with them this season. They are a great team who tends to get thumped by inferior opposition.
