(A) Udinese - Pre Match Thoughts

Europa League

Thursday 8th November 2012

Stadio Friuli

Udinese VS Liverpool

Securing a result away from home in Europe is always a difficult challenge. The circumstances aren't as dire as they might be - Udinese are already out and due to the lowly status of the Europa League there won't be that much doom and gloom surrounding the result - but Liverpool Football Club and European football go hand in hand. I want this team to be playing in the next stage and I crave the nervous tension that comes with a tie in the latter rounds of the competition. In order to do that we must get a result tonight.

Forget what happens in Switzerland. That may be the hardest thing for all those involved and yet it's the most basic. Though our fate isn't entirely set by what happens in the Stadio Friuli and we could - in theory - go through with a draw, all that really matters is the knowledge that victory definitely sends us though, regardless of anything else. The same applies to our opponents. We cannot make any assumption regarding their mentality toward the game and instead have to get on with it. Whether or not Udinese will be a team that plays without fear because they're already out and want to put on a performance for their fans or if we turn up and they're not motivated or up for a fight in the slightest. These are all things we cannot control. What we have to do is be better than whatever we come up against.

The consequences of not seeing out the game against Young Boys in our last game will be laid bare here and again underlined against West Ham on Sunday. In terms of points we could easily rue the loss of that extra two, which would have seen us through to the next stage and able to rest players tonight. Now, having got in that difficult position, we'll have to balance things very carefully. The start of that being Agger, Gerrard and Lucas all staying at home. Suarez's inclusion is a great one and if benefited massively by his suspension at the weekend so that Rodgers will have no qualms with throwing him in there for the full ninety as opposed to giving him any rest.

As for the others, I think we need to see Pepe Reina, Glen Johnson and Martin Skrtel to add some solidity at the back wheras elsewhere I think Sahin, Shelvey and Henderson is the likely midfield. Suso could also get a place on the wide areas if he is to be fitted into the starting line up.  Other than that he could quite easily play a part as an impact sub should we need it in a side that will be very short on attacking talent - Suarez aside.

 Tentative though I am going into this game there are two universal things that have been true as I've grown up a Liverpool fan. The first being that when the odds are against us - and going into Italy to try and come out with a win they certainly are - that's when we produce our very best. Secondly, Liverpool in Europe has a way of telling a special story. It may not always be straightforward and they're usually not for the feint hearted but they're the games that stick into the memory long after the season has finished.