Build-up to Euro League quarter final as Klopp returns back to old club
Jurgen Klopp takes his Liverpool side to his former club Borussia Dortmund tonight, in one of football’s most anticipated European ties of the season so far.
Dortmund go into the tie as favourites to win the whole competition, while Liverpool themselves are looking dangerous after comfortably knocking out Manchester United in the last round.
However, they now face a club much loved by Jurgen Klopp, and a team who demolished Spurs by a 5-1 scoreline over 2 legs in the previous round. This is in no way an easy tie for Liverpool.
Klopp won 2 consecutive Bundesliga titles with Dortmund in 2011 and 2012, and also reached the 2013 Champions League final at Wembley, but his side were beaten by a late Bayern Munich goal.
Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino has travelled with the side to Germany after facing a few weeks out of action with a hamstring injury but could be fit to make the bench tonight. It’s a boost for Liverpool as the Brazilian had hit some impressive form before he sustained the injury and Liverpool’s team performances and results have certainly taken a dip without him, especially vs Southampton before the international break.
Striker Christian Benteke still has a hamstring problem of his own and won’t be available for the game, along with Lucas Leiva, who is also not fit to return to the side.
Dortmund, meanwhile, have three key players returning from injury, with Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Ilkay Gundogan and Mats Hummels all training on Tuesday. Centre-back Neven Subotic is out for the rest of the season.
However the game pans out, it’s going to be special, but Liverpool will have a tough job to get any sort of result tonight. Dortmund have won 6 out of their 7 home European games this season, with the only loss a 1-0 deficit to PAOK FC in the closing group game. The German side have only conceded one goal in their 4 Euro League knockout games so far.
Borussia Dortmund vs Liverpool kicks off at 21:05 local time (20:05 UK time) this evening and will be shown on TV in the UK on BT Sport Europe.
By Ben Kelly – @benkelly_10
