Liverpool v Rangers predictions: Sloppy Reds may have to come from behind

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Liverpool v Rangers in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Where to watch

BT Sport 2 & BT Sport Ultimate, 8pm Tuesday

Best bets

Liverpool to win & both teams to score
2pts 6-4 general

Liverpool to win from behind
1pt 7-1Coral, Ladbrokes

Team news

Liverpool
This match may come too soon for Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate while Curtis Jones, Calvin Ramsey, Caoimhin Kelleher, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will also miss out through injury.

Rangers
James Sands is suspended following his red card against Napoli while Keemar Roofe, Filip Helander, John Souttar, Tom Lawrence, Jon McLaughlin and Ianis Hagi are expected to miss out with injuries.

Match preview

Liverpool’s slow start to the season continued on Saturday as they drew 3-3 with Brighton, with Leandro Trossard’s fourth-minute opener meaning that the Reds have failed to score first in 14 of their last 17 competitive matches.

Jurgen Klopp described the defensive performance of his side as “really horrible to watch” as the Seagulls created a number of big chances throughout the match, eventually hitting a late equaliser after Liverpool had come from 2-0 down to go 3-2 up.

After missing out on the title by a single point last season, defeat to early Premier League pace-setters Arsenal on Sunday would leave the Reds 14 points off the top of the table.

Klopp claimed that “the confidence level now is not extraordinarily high,” in his side, a far cry from the team that he described as “mentality monsters” in their pomp.

Now the Reds host Rangers in the Champions League looking to kick-start their campaign.

Last season’s Europa League finalists have failed to land a blow in both of their matches in the group stages so far, losing 4-0 to Ajax and 3-0 to Napoli.

However they will take plenty of hope from the defensive displays of their hosts, who have conceded 14 goals in nine matches in all competitions this season.

The Reds’ relentless pressing, the hallmark of their success throughout recent years, seems to have become disjointed, allowing their opponents space between their midfield and defence and leaving them exposed.

In their opening 4-1 Champions League defeat at the hands of Napoli, the Italian side played through Liverpool’s press at will, hitting the woodwork and missing a penalty to go along with their four goals.

The Reds put in a much-improved performance when hosting Ajax six days later, but still conceded through a Mohammed Kudus thunderbolt and required an 89th-minute winner from Joel Matip to get three points.

Rangers have recovered from a run of three defeats to nil in a row with a 2-1 victory over Dundee United and a comfortable 4-0 win over Hearts.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side face English opponents in Europe for the first time since the 2010-11 season, where they took on Manchester United in the Champions League group stage, drawing 0-0 at Old Trafford.

Given that the defensive issues that Liverpool are facing don’t appear to have a quick fix readily available, the Gers are fancied to score, although the home side’s attacking quality may eventually tell and they should be able to pick up a victory.

Liverpool’s persistent habit of conceding first also makes the Reds to win from behind an attractive betting proposition.

Key stat

Liverpool have failed to score first in 14 of their last 17 competitive matches.

Inside info

Liverpool

Penalty taker Mo Salah
Assist ace Trent Alexander-Arnold
Set-piece aerial threat Virgil Van Dijk
Card magnet Fabinho

Rangers

Penalty taker James Tavernier
Assist ace James Tavernier
Set-piece aerial threat Antonio Colak
Card magnet Connor Goldson

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