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Udinese v Liverpool – Preview, Team News and Lineups

By on December 4, 2012

Udinese v Liverpool
Uefa Europa League Group A,
Thursday December 6th, 2012, 18:00 (UK)

The final round of Uefa Europa League group stage matches are upon us. Group A is set to be determined with Liverpool still in with a chance of making it through to the knockout stages of the competition.

Brendan Rodgers and his side had hoped to have already qualified by the time this match rolled around, but a late equaliser for BSC Young Boys in the previous round at Anfield means the group goes right down to the final round of matches.

Liverpool travel to Italy to face Udinese (bottom of the group at the moment) knowing they need to equal or better Young Boys’ result on the night. The Swiss side host Russians Anzhi Makhachkala with both games kicking off at the same time.

Team news:

With star striker Luis Suarez suspended for the next league match (after picking up 5 bookings) he is almost certain to feature against the Italian outfit to try to help the Reds into the knockout phase of the competition.

Glen Johnson, Daniel Agger, Pepe Reina, Steven Gerrard and Joe Allen may all not travel to Italy.

Australian Brad Jones will be the stand-in goalkeeper if Pepe Reina doesn’t play, while the likes of Andre Wisdom, Nuri Sahin, Jonjo Shelvey and Oussama Assaidi will all be hoping for recalls from the manager having contributed to the campaign so far.

Udinese registered a 4-1 home win at the weekend against Cagliari. They should be confident going into the match having also defeated Liverpool (2-3) at Anfield earlier in the campaign.
Their top scorer in the tournament, Antonio Di Natale, did not get to add to his league tally against Cagliari but got an assist and was a danger throughout the match.

Possible lineups:

Udinese: Brkic, Gabriele Angella, Danilo, Thomas Heurtaux, Allan, DavideFaraoni, Agyemang-Badu, Armero, Roberto Pereyra, Di Natale, Diego Fabbrini.

Liverpool: Jones, Wisdom, Coates, Carragher, Downing, Henderson, Shelvey, Sahin, Assaidi, Suarez, Suso.

Group permutations:

If Liverpool defeat Udinese, they will go through as the second qualifiers along with Anzhi. If Young Boys win against the Russians, then all three teams will finish with 10 points and be in a mini-league of their own where classification will be on head to head results between the three. If that is the case, then Liverpool and Anzhi would still go through to the knockout-stages.

A draw for Liverpool will see them go through if Young Boys failed to win, otherwise the Swiss side will go through ahead of the Reds.

A win for Udinese and Anzhi would leave Liverpool, Udinese and Young Boys on seven points. Anzhi would win the group while in the mini-league, Young Boys would finish top of the group and qualify second behind the Russians.

Preview by Aswin Sankar (@SpectacularSG8)



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  • L Shaw

    Suarez should be a plus for the LFC side fielded on the night. Yet if this competition holds any worth at all for FSG and BR maybe the best side should be fielded, After all if we go through each succeeding fixture (home / away) is a knockout so the best possible side will need to be fielded. The League certainly is a priority, not for top 5 which would be great, but for enough daylight so the bottom 5 is not a worry. Here’s hopeing FSG does’nt stand pat and coughs up the cash needed for player investment.

    • rubyrm

      Udinese at home is not an easy game. BR should come up with a solid team. Johnson Skrtle, and Enrique must play. Sterling needs a rest. he looked jaded with Soton. Gerrard rests..with Dagger. Europa must be viewed as a possible trophy for us. The PL is a forgone conclusion.
      So come on lads and show us fans what we crave. Trophies.

      • junior galtieri

        ‘Glen Johnson, Daniel Agger, Pepe Reina, Steven Gerrard and Joe Allen may all not travel to Italy.’

        Why not – I don’t understand Rodgers logic here. What’s the point in prioritising the league so we finish in a position that will get us into a competition we are already in

        I don’t see us getting in the top 4 and with uys oit of the league cup, a run inb europe could be the only consulation for what looks to be a underwhelming season

        If we do start with the line up suggested and don’t go through, I think Rodgers will have to start answering some important questions

  • Rederik

    Only for mediocre amateurism this match would been of little consequence still it wouldn,t be Liverpool if they didn,t leave it to the last round to qualify, says it all when we are competing against the Young Boys result to progress, F.S.G need to show their commitment to the team when the transfer market starts, if they don,t take the measures needed to strengthen the team in the departments needed then they should do the decent thing and look for new owners.

    • rubyrm

      agreed on the yanks bit.

      • Gerard

        This is a “must” win if brenda want to save something out of this season.
        Brenda better ! or HE out!

  • Butragenio

    This is a “must” win if brenda want to save something out of this season.