Previews

Reds and Fulham fly the flag

Author: Lynda Collins
Date: 11/03/2010
Football betting

Liverpool and Fulham are flying the flag in this season's Europa League and they both face away-day trips to Lille and Juventus respectively in Thursday's last-16 first-leg clashes.

Champions League drop-outs Liverpool take a short trip to the north east of France and they will have a tricky test on their hands.

Lille sit in fifth place in French Ligue 1 this term and with just two home domestic defeats against their name, they are formidable in their own backyard.

They trail leaders Bordeaux by four points and the visit of Rafael Benitez's Merseyside outfit will come as a welcome distraction.

Lille will pin their hopes on star duo Eden Hazard and Pierre Alain-Frau ahead of the showdown at Stadium Lille-Metropole.

Will Liverpool open up a Europa League last 16 first-leg lead awat at Lille on Thursday evening? - Latest Football Betting

Rudi Garcia's plucky outfit may be the online betting outsiders to grab a first-leg lead, but they will fancy their chances against a Liverpool side that have faltered throughout much of this season.

Fabio Aurelio (thigh) and Martin Skrtel (ankle) are both expected to miss the game through injury and as usual, Liverpool will look to match-winners Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres to fire them to glory.

Fulham's recent progress both in Europe and the Premier League has been nothing short of sensational.

Under the guidance of Roy Hodgson, the Cottagers are excelling on three fronts this term.

They sit in tenth place in the Premier League table and face a FA Cup quarter-final replay at Tottenham Hotspur next week.

The Londoners managed to knock last season's holders Shakhtar Donetsk out of the competition 3-2 on aggregate in the last round to be rewarded with their last 16 meeting with Italian giants Juventus.

Fulham have nothing to lose as they prepare for their test in Turin but with striker Bobby Zamora in fine form, he could help his side grab another unlikely victory.

Clint Dempsey is nearing a return from a knee injury and John Paintsil (cruciate ligament) and Kagisho Dikgacoi (ankle) are likely to face late fitness tests ahead of their trip.

Following a fine start to their Serie A campaign, the Old Lady have since dismissed coach Ciro Ferrara as their form faltered and they were eliminated from the Champions League at the group stage.

With talent such as David Trezeguet, Diego, Felipe Melo and Alessandro Del Piero to name a few, this may be Fulham's final soiree on the continent this term.

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