Liverpool to Finish the Job

Champions League | Preview

23/08/17

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Liverpool welcome Hoffenheim to Anfield for the second leg of the UEFA Champions League playoff on Wednesday night.

This is the final match before the draw takes place for the group stages on Thursday and there are no second chances. Win this tie and you are guaranteed a place in the most lucrative club competition in world football.

Liverpool have a great history in the European Cup and Champions League having won the tournament five times. Their last victory came in the 2004/05 Champions League when they famously came back to defeat AC Milan on penalties in the final.

Jurgen Klopp is hoping to take Liverpool back into the Champions League this season and bring back the famous European nights at Anfield.

In contrast, Hoffenheim are playing their first ever season in European competition having never played in a European tournament before in their history. It would a special night for them if they could qualify for the group stages.

However, Liverpool hold the upper hand in this tie having taken a 2-1 lead with them back from Germany. Goals from Trent Alexander-Arnold and an own goal from Havard Nordtveit gave the visitors a 2-0 lead but a late goal from Mark Uth has given Hoffenheim some hope ahead of this match.

Despite the fact Liverpool won the match, both teams had many chances to score and Hoffenheim missed a penalty when the score was 0-0. So, although they are 2-1 behind coming into this game, the German team will feel they still have a chance.

Liverpool picked up a much-needed win in the Premier League on the weekend, beating Crystal Palace 1-0 at home with a much-changed team from the Champions League last week. Hoffenheim also won their domestic league match 1-0 at home to Werder Bremen, which was their first Bundesliga game of the season.

Trends show Liverpool have lost just one of their previous ten home competitive games in all competitions, a run which stretches back to last season. Only once in eleven games at home have they failed to score a goal.

However, in the Champions League their record is not so good and Liverpool have won only one of their last five home games in the competition. There have been defeats to Lyon, Fiorentina, Real Madrid and a draw with Basel.

Hoffenheim have no history in European competition but trends show they have lost two of their last eight competitive away matches. The defeats came at Hamburg and Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga last season.

Hoffenheim have scored at least one goal in their last ten away games.

Team news and Liverpool are still without Adam Lallana, Nathaniel Clyne and Danny Ings while Philippe Coutinho remains doubtful. Hoffenheim have no serious injury worries ahead of the game and will line up in a similar way to the first leg.

One thing which seems certain in this game is goals. Both teams like to score when playing home and away respectively and should get on the score sheet. However, with home advantage expect Liverpool to come through and win the match and take their place in the group stage draw.