Liverpool hope for victory in the 300th European fixture
Liverpool will be looking to celebrate their 300th club fixture in European competition with a victory as they travel to the Stadion Galgenwaard to take on Utrecht in UEFA Europa League action on Thursday
night.
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Liverpool have not been able to match the kind of domestic league results they were once used to back in the seventies and eighties and have since become a second tier team consistently watching the likes
of Manchester United, Chelsea, and Arsenal dominate the English Premier League. However, other than Manchester United, Liverpool are the only English club to achieve any real European success in the last decade, winning the Champions League in 2005, and the
Europa League in 2001.
This season has been a bit of a struggle domestically as Liverpool currently sit in the bottom half of the table with only a single victory and six points after six matches. They were, however, impressive
in their opening match of the Europa league by crushing Romanian side Steaua Bucharest at Anfield 4-1.
Utrecht have also had a difficult start to their season in the Dutch Eredivisie and also sit in the bottom half of the table with only nine points from seven matches including a 1-0 loss last weekend to
mid-table side AZ Alkmaar. Like Liverpool they were impressive in their opening match of the Europa League and managed to travel to Napoli and steal points by playing to a scoreless draw.
Players to watch
Liverpool have a star-studded cast which has failed to live up to their billing so far this season. Superstar midfielder Steven Gerrard is looked at for leadership every game and he will have to be inspirational
if Liverpool hope to get full points away from Anfield. Joe Cole looked impressive and scored in the first few seconds of the match against Steaua, and Liverpool coach Roy Hodgson was hoping that Cole's move from Chelsea would breathe new life into his career.
That early strike remains Cole's only goal for the club so far this season. Spanish striker Fernando Torres has only a single goal so far this season which came against West Bromwich Albion in a 1-0 victory late last month. Liverpool will be desperate to get
him going if they hope to achieve any real success this season.
Former Utrecht star Dirk Kuyt will be wearing the opponent's jersey this time around as he will dress for Liverpool against his old club. This season Utrecht have placed their goalscoring hopes on the
shoulders of Ricky van Wolfswinkel who has seven goals and is tied with PSV Eindhoven's Ola Toivonen atop the Eredivisie.
What to expect
English clubs always tend to get the higher profile against Dutch clubs because they play in a larger market. And although Liverpool have a good record against Dutch sides, not losing in the Netherlands
since 1966, Utrecht will prove to be a tough side to break down. Utrecht also come into the game with a very impressive home record in European competition winning their last three without conceding a goal. Both teams will feel satisfied with a 1-1 draw.
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