WITH Liverpool knowing a positive result in Bulgaria is pivotal to their hopes of qualifying, does Mark O’Haire (@MarkOHaire) think the Reds are a bet on Wednesday night?
Ludogorets Razgrad v Liverpool Tips | Wednesday 19.45 | Sky Sports 5
Ah Liverpool. Sunday’s shocker at Crystal Palace was their fourth consecutive defeat and their fifth loss in seven. They’ve now been beaten in half of their 18 matches in 2014/15 and kept just one clean sheet.
What’s even more alarming for Reds fans is the manner of which they’ve won their games. Bar the 3-0 demolition job of Spurs at White Hart Lane in August, you could argue Brendan Rodgers’ team fumbled their way to victories against Southampton on the opening day and then West Brom, QPR, Swansea as well as their match-up with Wednesday’s opponents at Anfield two months ago.
Daniel Sturridge’s absence has no doubt effected the 2005 Champions League winners. Without the England marksman they’ve won just four of 15 games but with their under-fire boss still struggling to find his best XI, you just have to oppose them.
The best price on an away win in Bulgaria is evens (1/1 Bet365). They were as short as 7/10 in places, just a fortnight ago. Toxic prices.
Instead, I’m getting involved with Ludogorets in the Double Chance market at 19/20 with Coral. Backing this selection, we’ll be in profit should the hosts avoid defeat.
As already mentioned, the Bulgarians deserved a point from their visit to Anfield back in August and can also boast a strong home record in European competition.
The Eagles have W5-D3-L2 of their last 10 continental clashes and have only lost two of their past 27 matches in all competitions when hosting fixtures – those defeats came against Real Madrid and Valencia.
In fact, in the past year Ludogorets have W46-D21-L11 of their 78 matches home and away and have avoided defeat in 14/21 (67%) European games during that spell.
Basel, Lazio and PSV Eindhoven have all come away from the Eagles nest winless whilst Real Madrid were made to work extra hard on their visit last month. Back the home side to avoid defeat at 19/20 with Coral.
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Ludogorets Razgrad v Liverpool – Ludogorets-draw Double Chance (19/20 Coral)
