Football Tips Today Acca for Saturday 28/10/2017
Liverpool welcome Hoffenheim to Anfield on Wednesday night hoping to progress to the Champions League group stages. The Reds produced a strong performance in Germany last week to come away with a 2-1 win, thus giving them a convincing advantage heading into this return leg.
Goals from Trent Alexander-Arnold and James Milner put Jurgen Klopp’s team in the driving seat but the Bundesliga club did pull one back through Mark Uth, giving Julian Nagelsmann’s side a glimmer of hope.
Liverpool have an excellent recent record at home in European games. Their last, a Europa League semi-final against Villarreal, ended with an impressive 3-0 win, while under Klopp Liverpool have also beaten the likes of Borussia Dortmund and Manchester United at Anfield under the lights.
Their manager will certainly expect – and demand – much of the same as Hoffenheim aim to spoil Liverpool’s return to Champions League football. The Germans followed last week’s defeat with a 1-0 win over Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga and will hope to use the momentum gained from that triumph as they look to upset the odds and complete what would be a fantastic comeback.
Liverpool, however, have an outstanding record at home against German sides, being unbeaten in 14 encounters, winning 11 of them. They have also won their last five European games at Anfield and are unbeaten in their last nine. It’s going to be a big ask for Hoffenheim, but we’re certainly not discounting their chances entirely at this stage.
The Reds are 3/5 favourites to win with Betwin, a draw is currently priced at 31/10 and Hoffenheim are 4/1 to shock their hosts.
Liverpool do not often draw a blank at home, but Hoffenheim were the fourth-highest scorers in the Bundesliga last season and it is currently 4/7 for both teams to score with Paddy Power.
Klopp’s team have certainly shown signs of defensive frailties this season, particularly when trying to contend with set-pieces, and that will undoubtedly be an area Hoffenheim will target specifically. There are major question marks over Liverpool’s defence but, with Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino in attack, it’s difficult imagining Hoffenheim being able to keep them quiet for 90 minutes.
If Liverpool do score, that means Hoffenheim will have to score three to win the tie in 90 minutes, and that may just be beyond their reach. Stranger things have happened, though, so we’ll be watching this one with interest.
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