Sunday, May 20th, 2012
The Rabotnicki v Liverpool Europa League qualifier marks Roy Hodgson’s first match in charge of Liverpool – before all his players have even reported back for duty.
For Rabotnicki v Liverpool Odds, click here
Will Liverpool emerge safely from Macedonia despite missing many key players?
Liverpool 2/9 (1.22) Draw 4/1 (5.00), Rabotnicki 9/1 (10.00)
Rabotnicki, the Macedonian side, finished runners up in their league and have already won two qualifying rounds to get this far, beating Lusitanos of Andorra, and perhaps more relevantly scoring a narrow 1-0 aggregate win over Armenian side Mika. They mix home grown players with a number of Brazilian imports.
Despite, or because of, these credentials, Liverpool are resting virtually all of their squad players who were involved in the latter stages of the World Cup. Slovak Martin Skrtel will be involved, along with Greek defender Sotiris Kyrgiakos. But there is no Pepe Reina, Joe Cole, Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Glen Johnson, Fernando Torres, want-away Javier Mascherano or Dirk Kuyt.
It gives some younger players like summer signing Jonjo Shelvey (pictured) and Stephen Darby, the full-back who did well on loan at Swindon last season, a chance to show what they are capable of.
You have to presume the Macedonians will have a slight edge in fitness, but it is difficult to imagine Liverpool won’t have enough to take a first leg lead back to Anfield, although there is pressure to give Roy Hodgson a winning start and to make sure the Merseyside club don’t lose an important stream of revenue.
Sportnewsbase.com Tips: Back Rabotnicki 0-2 Liverpool @ 5/1 with Totesport