Liverpool v Besiktas: Ba set to damage Reds’ ambitions again
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Liverpool return to European competition against dangerous opponents Besiktas, containing a familiar foe in attack enjoying a particularly purple patch in front of goal.
Demba Ba’s goal on the stroke of half-time in a Chelsea shirt last season is now immortalised in the infamous taunts of Steven Gerrard by opposition fans.
Judging by Ba’s electric form the Senegalese striker may not be done with upsetting the Anfield applecart just yet either, after bagging five times in his last four Besiktas appearances and plundering 18 in 23 this season.
In such fine fettle for his new club, the 29/10 about another goal on Merseyside rates as one of the best bets on the contest for sure.
Liverpool’s lengthy unbeaten run which now stretches to 16 games gives the home side reason to be bullish ahead of the Europa League round-of-32 first leg, though 3/5 is a little skinny given their opponents’ form.
The Turkish side have won 10 of their last 11 games, tasting defeat just the once.
Brendan Rodgers will have to reverse some pretty terrible fortunes in continental competition this season and without experienced duo Gerrard and Lucas in the engine room to boot.
Besiktas have already claimed Tottenham’s scalp in the Europa League group stages this season after drawing at White Hart Lane and their status as Super Liga leaders adds a fair sprinkling of zing to their price of 5/1 for victory.
However, as is so often the case in European tie first legs, both sides may end up settling for the draw at 11/4.
Both these in-form teams scoring at 1/1 also looks like low-hanging fruit.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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