Liverpool vs Trabzonspor – Ngog raring to continue hot streak
Published:Liverpool can take a huge stride towards qualification for the Europa League group stages if they beat Trabzonspor at Anfield in the first leg of their play-off.
Liverpool begin the tie as convincing 1/4 favourites to secure a first leg lead, and the Reds are an even more persuasive 1/6 to qualify.
In the previous qualifying round, Liverpool made light work of Macedonian outfit Rabotnicki with a 4-0 aggregate win. Trabzonspor, however, promise to be a tougher proposition.
Goals from David Ngog and Steven Gerrard secured a 2-0 win in the Anfield leg of the Rabotnicki triumph, and a victory of the same scoreline for Liverpool against Trabzonspor is priced at 5/1.
Ngog has four goals from his three competitive appearances so far this season, and the French striker is an enticing 9/2 to open the scoring against Trabzonspor.
Defensively, Liverpool could also prove to be an insurmountable barricade for Trabzonspor, as Roy Hodgson’s side have yet to concede in their two Europa League qualifiers to date.
The two sides have met in Europe before, with Liverpool winning their second round European Cup tie courtesy of a 3-0 second leg victory at Anfield in 1976.
Another 3-0 Liverpool win against Trabzonspor is available at 6/1, though the Turkish side will hope that they can shock their illustrious opponents as a relative unknown quantity.
Trabzonspor finished fifth in the Turkish Super League last season, and they started the current campaign with a 2-0 win at Ankaragucu on Sunday.
In other Liverpool news, Martin Skrtel has signed a two-year contract extension which will keep the Slovakian centre-back at Anfield until 2014.
Do Trabzonspor have even a glimmer of a chance? They are 11/1 to beat Liverpool. See the full Liverpool vs Trabzonspor Match Betting Odds market.
