To Russia With Love

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How's that for some man love Zenit??? Happy Valentine's Day! Haha...
Image: betfair.com
Liverpool make the rather long trip to Russia on Thursday evening whilst unwittingly creating several arguments between couples on Valentine's night as one pleads to watch the match and the other drags them out for a meal. I went for a blatant pun in the title for this post but as most of you will know there isn't much love being given to the Zenit fans at the moment and I doubt that will change on Thursday evening after they revealed their true opinions about black and gay players last year. I, for this reason alone hope we absolutely hammer them.

Liverpool have no new injury worries and Brendan Rodgers has also indicated that he will be taking all his big names and resting no one. Zenit are also in pretty good shape with their manager able to choose from an almost full side.

Don't hold me completely to it but my research had indicated that Liverpool have never met Zenit and so unfortunately I can't offer any "the last time these two sides met" paragraphs in here. Zenit though have faced British opposition before and at home they have never lost to an English side.

Zenit's last 5 fixtures suggest they are in pretty good form most recently drawing with megabucks Anzhi and also gaining a win over Milan in the Champions League in December. (Russia have a winter break). Zenit haven't lost in any competition for their last 5 matches.

Liverpool on the other hand have notched up 2 losses in their last 5 games, the most recent obviously coming at the hands of West Brom.

Stat Sandwich

  • Martin Skrtel won the Russian league with Zenit.
  • Zenit and Liverpool reached a total of 3 European finals between 2005 and 2008.
  • Liverpool's only defeat away from home in the Europa League was against Anzhi.

This game is a very difficult one to predict as I will be the first to admit my knowledge of Zenit is below par. Zenit though are going strong in their league currently sitting in 3rd place. It's also very clear that trips to Russia are difficult and the home advantage will certainly play into Zenit's palms. 

Despite that I still feel Liverpool can pick up a result here and if I was going to place a quid on the game I'd put it on 1-1.

Enjoy the match folks!