EUROPA LEAGUE BETTING PICK - LIVERPOOL FC V ZENIT ST PETERSBURG

Europa League

2013-02-21 - Liverpool FC vs Zenit St Petersburg

A Sports Betting Pick by Cruiser

Match Preview :

Liverpool will have to make the best of home ground advantage as well as home fans support if they are to overturn the 2 goal deficit if they want to progress further in the last 16 of the Europa League.

Goals by Hulk and Sergei Semak in Russia last week condemned the Premiership side to a 2-0 defeat so they have it all to do to progress in this match.

It should be noted that Liverpool have only once managed to overturned a 2 goals deficit to go through. That was back in 1991 when they did that feat against Auxerre in the UEFA Cup.

However Zenit have not played a match since their last match against Liverpool due to their winter break as their season only resumed next month, that could come into Liverpool's advantage here.

Added the fact that Brendan Rodgers side beat Swansea 5-0 at the weekend, will have no doubt given them a big boost ahead of this match. Rodgers will be fielding his strongest side in an effort to take the deficit here.

This means we will see Luis Suarez will be starting the match however, Daniel Sturridge is cup-tied so cannot be involved as well as Philippe Coutinho. Meanwhile, Martin Skrtel is unlikely to start against his former club as the Slovakian centre-back has a knee injury so Dan Agger should start alongside Jamie Carragher in the centre of defence.

Further good news is that Moroccan international Oussama Assaidi is also back in the side after his stint with Morocco at the African Cup of Nations.

As for the visitors, Zenit have no fresh injury worries, and coach Luciano Spalletti's biggest dilemma is likely to be whether to start with Semak after he came on to the pitch to score in the first leg.

Predictions :

Go for Liverpool to win well and clear the -1 ball Asian Handicap, and probably reach the next round.

The Pick :

BEST BETTING TIP :

Take Liverpool to win