Spartak Moscow are coming to Anfield tonight for Matchday 6 of the group stage of the Champions League. LFC know that a defeat will mean that we do not qualify for the round of 16 however, a win would guarantee that we finish top of the group above Sevilla, who face Maribor at home
The two sides met earlier in the season as a 1-1 draw was recorded in Russia. Defensive midfielder, Fernando put the hosts ahead with a curled free-kick to Loris Karius’ left after 23 minutes. 8 minutes later, Phillipe Coutinho equalised for the Reds with an emphatic finish after a one-two with mane. Despite dominating the game, having 65% possession and 16 shots, the Reds were wasteful in Moscow and had 10 shots off target. The Reds will look to be more clinical at Anfield tonight.
Joe Gomez and Ragnor Klavan are available after recent illness but Joel Matip (thigh), Adam Lallana (thigh) and Nathaniel Clyne (back) are all still injured and will be unavailable for the final group stage fixture tonight. For Spartak, their most threatening player, Quincy Promes who was injured for the fixture at the Otkrytiye Arena is available for tonight as the Russian side come to Anfield needing a win to go through.
Spartak Moscow have had an inconsistent season so far in both the Champions League and the Russian Premier League. Spartak haven’t lost since the 29th August in the league and beat Zenit St Petersburg 3-1 last week but currently sit in fourth after 7 of their 19 games so far. In the Champions League, Spartak Moscow shocked everyone by hammering Sevilla 5-1 in Moscow on Matchday 3, however, that is currently the only win that the Russian Champions have in the group-stage so far having lost 3-1 in Seville, drawing 1-1 with Maribor in both fixtures along with the 1-1 draw at the Otkrytiye Arena with LFC in September.
Since the 4-1 defeat to Tottenham at Wembley, Liverpool have gone 8 matches unbeaten in all competitions, scoring 25 and conceding just 6 in this current run of form. The Reds know that this is a great chance for us to reach the knockout stages of the competition for the first time since 2009 and will be hoping to be more ruthless than we were in Russia.
Article by Jack Gill
