Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
Liverpool Manager Jurgen Klopp is only 3 days away from potentially lifting his first silverware taking charge of the Anfield hotseat but first he has to make sure he gets through a Europa League tie which is still very much in the balance.
After demolishing Aston Villa 6-0 over a week ago, Klopp then decided to name an unchanged side for the first leg of this tie with Augsburg. Unfortunately they weren’t as hot on Klopp’s return to Germany as the two sides played out a pretty tame bore draw.
The fact that they didn’t manage to get an away goal would have no doubt frustrated Herr Klopp and puts the advantage with Augsburg especially if they can snatch an away goal of their own at Anfield this evening
For Liverpool winning the Europa League is their most realistic prospect of getting into the Champions League next season what with them currently 8th in the Premier League. It’s certainly been a work in progress for Klopp in terms of league form but he’ll have no complaints with his side being labelled a Cup Team especially if they go onto win 2 trophies this season.
He’ll have to decide whether to rest key players Tonight what with the Capital One Cup on the horizon. What will he feel is of major importance, to be honest they probably are of equal importance to Klopp especially as he would love to win a trophy so soon into his Anfield reign.
The fact that Liverpool couldn’t get some sort of advantage from the 1st leg to bring back to Anfield and subsequently allow the sides key men to be rested ahead of Sunday isn’t ideal in terms of preparation but this is the situation they find themselves in so they are going to have to do things the hard way over the next few days.
Their opposition Augsburg are currently doing their best not to get dragged into a Bundesliga Relegation battle and aided that fight with a 1-0 win away at Hannover last Weekend. The Europa League for them has been a welcome disrtaction and they would love none other to claim a Premier League scalp and move onto the Round of 16.
Unfortunately for them I don’t think that’s going to happen as I think it will be another successful European Night in front of The Kop for Liverpool and they’ll move into the next stage of the competition. The away goal for Augsburg could be a threat but I think Liverpool will have a couple of goals in them. A Home win for me.
