RB Leipzig vs. Liverpool preview & Verdict for Tuesday’s clash

2020-21 UEFA Champions' League Round of 16 First-Leg preview: RB Leipzig vs. Liverpool – Puskas Arena, Budapest – Tuesday, February 16th, 2021 – BST

The Champions League is back on February 16th, Tuesday, as RB Leipzig lock horns with Liverpool in the first leg of their Round of 16 tie at the Puskas Arena in Budapest.

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A struggling Liverpool side who have virtually given up on their Premier league title aspirations after their defeat to Leicester City on Saturday, will look to make a point in the only competition where they still have a chance of earning a silverware. But their forthcoming opponents RB Leipzig will be no pushovers being second on the Bundesliga table behind European and World Club champions Bayern Munich.

Unlike Liverpool who have now lost all their last three fixtures in the Premier League, Leipzig have won all their previous three Bundesliga outings. Moreover, they will brimming with confidence having knocked out another English club in the form of Manchester United on their way to the Round of 16.

RB Leipzig & Liverpool Form of last 5 matches

RB Leipzig form guide: L/W/W/W/W

Liverpool form guide: W/W/L/L/L

As far as team news of Leipzig is concerned, Julian Nagelsmann chose to rest key players like Dayot Upamecano, Alexander Sorloth and Marcel Sabitzer in their weekend win over Augsburg – all of whom will be making a start in Hungary. But winger Emil Forsberg will miss out on the Budapest tie owing to a knee injury while Dominik Szoboszlai, Benjamin Henrichs and Konrad Laimer will all be unavailable as well. Another winger Justin Kluivert who was benched against Ausburg will make a start on Tuesday night.

Apart fromm the usual suspects of long-term injuries like Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip, Joe Gomez, Diogo Jota and Naby Keita, James Milner is the latest addition to the list of Liverpool casualties. Right-back Fabinho, ruled out of the match against Leicester due to a muscle problem, looks doubtful for the Champions League tie, too.

RB Leipzig probable starting XI in a 3-1-4-2 formation:

Peter Gulacsi (goal); Dayot Upamecano, Willi Orban, Marcel Halstenberg; Tyler Adams, Marcel Sabitzer, Tasende, Olmo, Angelino; Christopher Nkunku, Alexander Sorloth

Liverpool probable starting XI in a 4-3-3 formation:

Alisson Becker (goal), Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ozan Kabak, Jordan Henderson, Andrew Robertson, Thiago Alcantara, Georginio Wijnaldum, Curtis Jones, Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane

RB Leipzig vs Liverpool Verdict

Two sides with contrasting forms will go into the Budapest clash. Liverpool beset by a host of injuries will obviously be the underdogs. Only an extraordinary performance from their frontal trio of Salah-Firmnino-Mane can deliver a win which otherwise looks to be Leipzig's.

Strangely the UK bookmakers are wagering on Jurgen Klopp's Reds to come back from Hungary with 3 points as the odds suggest. With only a silverware to look forward to, optimists could probably expect Liverpool to put their best forward on the night of February 16th. In fact, an away goal may even do a lot of good.

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RB Leipzig vs. Liverpool betting Odds

Liverpool to win: 5/4

Leipzig to win: 2/1

Draw: 13/5

Correct score odds

Draw 1-1: 6/1

Liverpool 2-1: 8/1 (predicted scoreline)

RB Leipzig 2-1: 10/1 (probable scoreline)

Liverpool 1-0: 10/1

Draw 2-2: 11/1

RB Leipzig 1-0: 12/1

Liverpool 2-0: 12/1

Draw 0-0: 14/1

Liverpool 3-1: 16/1

RB Leipzig 2-0: 20/1

RB Leipzig 3-1: 20/1

Anytime goalscorer odds

Mohamed Salah: 5/6

Sadio Mane: 6/5

Alexander Sorloth: 13/8

Roberto Firmino: 13/8

Emil Forsberg: 11/5 (SkyBet)

Christopher Nkunku: 11/4

Justin Kluivert: 11/4

Angelino: 3/1

Curtis Jones: 15/4

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