Besiktas-vs-Liverpool

Besiktas vs Liverpool

Prediction

Besiktas vs Liverpool – 1-1 draw, Liverpool are the in-form team heading into the game with a 1st leg win under their belt. Liverpool should go through to the next round but I expect the Turkish side Besiktas to put Liverpool letting through hell before going through.

Aggregate score: – Liverpool 1 – 0 Besiktas

Besiktas

Besiktas-leading-goal-scorer-Demba-Ba

Besiktas leading goal scorer Demba Ba might miss the clash versus Liverpool (mirror)

Besiktas come into this match on the back of a 1-0 defeat versus Eskisehirspor in the Super Lig on Sunday and have dropped to 2nd place in the league with Galatasaray (ahead by a single point) moving into 1st place.

Besiktas gave the English giants a real run of their money in the first leg but ended up losing the game after Balotelli scored for Liverpool from the spot. They have the home game advantage heading into the second leg and need to utilize it if they are to upset The Reds.

Besiktas has already beaten Spurs this season in the group stages and lost to Arsenal in the qualifying stages of the Champions League by just a single goal over two legs.

Besiktas’ main man Demba Ba who was missing during their domestic league defeat and may also be unavailable for their clash with Liverpool. The defensive duo of Ramon Motta and Ersan Gulum will also be missing for Besiktas as they serve out their suspension.

Besiktas simply needs to win the game by atleast two goals to have a chance at going through to the round of 16’s.

Liverpool

Steven-Gerrard-still-not-fit

Steven Gerrard Still not fit enough to make a return

The last time Liverpool visited the Ataturk Stadium they ended up winning the greatest European final of all-time and captain Steven Gerrard lifted their 5th Champions league trophy.

The stakes aren’t as high as they were last time but the trip to Istanbul is as important as ever. Liverpool have been in really good form off late and come into this match after beating a tough Southampton team 2-0 in the Premier League.

Liverpool, hype up!

They have lost just once in their last 18 matches in all competitions and the lone defeat was against Chelsea in the League Semi-final which went down to extra time.

A draw should be enough for Liverpool to go through but the Turkish team will prove to be a difficult game for the 18 time English Champions.

Liverpool has an ever increasing injury list which now has Jordon Henderson, Glen Johnson and Mamadou Sakho added along with Steven Gerrard and Lucas Leiva.

Liverpool has a game against coming up Manchester City on Sunday so some players like Balotelli and Manquillo may be brought into the starting line-up.

Past Meeting

1st leg

Liverpool’s won the first leg courtesy of a Mario Balotelli penalty which Liverpool earned when young Jordon Ibe was brought down inside the box by Ramon Motta.

This win was Liverpool’s first European win in 6 games. Besiktas almost got an away goal through Demba Ba but his shot produced an excellent save Simon Mignolet.

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