LIVERPOOL take on RB Leipzig in Tuesday's night's Champions League Last 16 first leg showdown. Tom Love (@TomLove_18) shares his betting thoughts.
RB Leipzig vs Liverpool | Tuesday 16th February 2021, 20:00 | BT Sport
A fascinating tie kicks-off the Champions League Last 16 as a mistake-ridden Liverpool face RB Leipzig on Tuesday night. This game will take place in Budapest due to German authorities not allowing any foreign teams enter the country. That loss of home advantage could play against Die Roten Bullen as their home form this season has been exemplary, losing just the once.
That being said, Julian Nagelsmann will be pleased he’s facing an out of sorts Liverpool. The 2019 champions are decimated with injuries to key defensive personnel meaning Jordan Henderson will likely have to slot into centre half again.
Fabinho is also likely to miss out and it messes the dynamic up when so many are out or playing out of position. Their front three are always going to be a threat, but I’m surprised the Reds are as short as 6/5 in places here given their situation and lack of confidence.
Leipzig didn’t let Augsburg have a sniff in their win on Friday night, their midfield runners in Dani Olmo, Christopher N’Kunku and Marcel Sabitzer are destructive playing off the big Dane Youssef Poulsen and they’ll cause problems for the mish-mash of a Liverpool defence.
I’d like to get with the East-Germans here and I’ll head to the Bet Builder to do so by taking them to avoid defeat in a game featuring 2 or more goals which we can get some 10/11 on.
Jurgen Klopp may try and lure Leipzig out and go for a counter attacking approach, they’ve done it before in Europe to great affect. If so they could try get Mo Salah and Sadio Mane onto the last line of defence and go back to front quickly.
Leipzig have recovery pace at the back so won’t be shy of stepping out. Salah is probably their main threat at the moment and I don’t mind the even-money available with Pokerstars on the Egyptian being caught offside at least once here.
Salah has been caught offside 9 times in his last 18 games in the Premier League and he’s been offside 4 times in his last two Champions League games. Only 4 sides see more offsides against them in the Bundesliga than Leipzig too.
Best Bets
RB Leipzig vs Liverpool – RB Leipzig double chance and Over 1 Goal (10/11 Bet365)
RB Leipzig vs Liverpool – Mohammed Salah 1+ offside (1/1 Pokerstars)
