Europa League Preview & Prediction: Liverpool vs FC Sion

Liverpool will be looking to secure a third successive win for the first time this season when Swiss side FC Sion travel to Anfield tonight.

The Reds won 3-2 against Aston Villa on Saturday and under-pressure boss Brendan Rodgers will be expecting his side to claim their first European win of the season ahead of Sunday’s Merseyside derby.

Rodgers’ side played out a credible 1-1 draw in Bordeaux in their opening game; Adam Lallana scoring the opener for the Premier League side.

FC Sion, meanwhile, come to Anfield full of confidence in this competition having claimed a surprise 2-1 win over Rubin Kazan in their opening group match last month.

The Swiss side will be aware that claiming all three points in this one would be a bigger shock as they look to keep upsetting some bigger names in Europe.

However, the Swiss Cup holders, who are currently fifth in the Swiss Super League, travel to England on the back of two successive league defeats.

Rodgers comes into this clash without Daniel Sturridge, who scored two goals against Villa at the weekend, with the Northern Irishman confirming that the striker will be rested after recently returning from injury.

Sturridge will be rested

Belgium international, Divock Origi, is likely to come into the starting line-up in Sturridge’s place, as his international team-mate Christian Benteke (hamstring) remains sidelined.

Roberto Firmino (leg) and Dejan Lovren (amnkle) will also miss this encounter, while club captain Jordan Henderson is out until November with a broken foot.

One player Liverpool’s defenders should be wary of is striker Moussa Konaté,

The Senegal international striker, who scored both of the Swiss side’s goals in their win over Rubin Kazan, was linked with a move to West Ham United in the summer.

Reto Ziegler, who appeared in English football for Tottenham Hotspur and Wigan Athletic, is set to start at left-back for the visitors.

Group Position: Liverpool – 2nd, 1 pt; FC Sion – 1st, 3 pts
Last Meeting: Liverpool 6-3 FC Sion, October 31, 1996
Key Men: Liverpool – Philippe Coutinho; FC Sion – Moussa Konaté
Form: Liverpool – LDDWW; FC Sion – WWWLL
Shoot Says: Liverpool 2-1 FC Sion