Reds In Russia

Dernernernernernernerner, Dernernernernernernerner Shelvey!
Image: telegraph.co.uk
Liverpool are in Moscow on Thursday evening to face Anzhi. The Russian side rose to fame after being taken over by a millionaire but they are aiming to be remembered for more than just their megabucks as they look to get the better of the Reds in the Europa League.

Brendan Rodgers has left several star players at home for this match, obviously wary of the looming tie with Chelsea on Sunday. Whilst the likes of Gerrard and Suarez plus several others have been left out, there are some less used youngsters like Morgan and Coady on the list.

Liverpool are currently in a comfortable position at the top of the group but with Anzhi playing this fixture in the potentially daunting Lokomotiv Stadium (home of Lokomotiv Moscow) there could be a stumbling block on the cards.

Anzhi as we saw at Anfield have some very familiar names in their side with Eto'o and Zhirkov etc but a cautious approach away from home enabled Liverpool to take full advantage. I would assume in Moscow they will be more inclined to pile the pressure on but they can't just rely on Eto'o every time as in the last match.

Surprisingly, Eto'o is not Anzhi's leading goalscorer this season, it's his giant counterpart Traore that has the higher goals tally.

Jonjo Shelvey who has travelled with the Liverpool squad is joint top scorer in this years Europa League competition and so will certainly be looking for another strike on Thursday night.

It's a hard match to predict because Anzhi are still a relatively unpredictable side but going on their performance at Anfield and hoping that Liverpool won't be too affected by the stadium in Moscow I'll go for a 2-1 Liverpool win. I think Anzhi will find the back of the net after failing to last time but I feel Liverpool have the strength to continue their run in the group stages and effectively seal their progress through to the next rounds.

Enjoy the match folks!