Maribor v Liverpool Betting Preview – UEFA Champions League 17th October 7.45pm
The Reds are already feeling the pressure in the Champions League group stage having only picked up back to back frustrating draws to start their campaign with. It was supposed to have been much better for them. They need a win in this one now to get some momentum behind them because they still have a tough trip to Seville to come later in the group. This is their chance to get back into the mix of things against a Maribor side who only have one previous victory over English opposition before. The Reds can’t afford to mess this one up on Tuesday night out in Slovenia.
Maribor v Liverpool Betting Tips
Maribor opened their Champions League campaign this season with a 1-1 home draw against Spartak Moscow but then fell heavily in a 3-0 loss at Sevilla. So they need to pick up a win to get themselves up and running really and this is their first ever game against Liverpool. The Slovenians have had experience against English sides before but have won just one of their eight previous matches against English opposition and that was over Wigan in the 2013/14 UEFA Europa League group stage. With that having been said though, they have lost just one of their four previous home games against Premier League opposition. They have only met one English side before in the Champions League and that was against Chelsea in the 2014/15 group stage when they held out for a 1-1 home draw. This may not be the high scoring game that it could be and under 2.5 goals at William Hill is a price of 27/20 to consider.
Maribor’s overall record against English teams is W1 D2 L5 but their current European form isn’t all that bad and that is because they are unbeaten in eight European home fixtures (W5 D3) and have only lost just three of their last 14 games, home and away (W6 D5). However, specifically in the Champions League, they are looking for their first ever victory in the group stage. This is only the third time that they have been in the group stage having been here in 1999/2000 and 2014/15. In that 2014/15 season, they held both Sporting and Chelsea to 1-1 draws before losing 1-0 against Schalke. So that hints at a narrow margin. In the William Hill correct score market, a 1-1 draw is a big 12/1 price with a Liverpool 2-0 victory the shortest priced option at a price of 9/2. Will they be able to frustrate Liverpool who are out of winning touch?
Liverpool are not carrying good form as they have only gone W1 D4 L1 in their last six across all competitions. They played out a 0-0 draw against Manchester United on the weekend and again after dominating the game, their strikers were wasteful which is becoming a real problem for them. Liverpool have only scored more than one goal in just one of their last six fixtures now. They have Daniel Sturridge and Roberto Firmino as joint 8/11 anytime goalscorer favourites at William Hill. The Reds have only met Slovene opposition once before and that was in the 2003/04 UEFA Cup when they drew 1-1 at NK Olimpija Ljubljana before a 3-0 victory at Anfield. So it is just two points from two games from Liverpool on their return to Europe. After producing a 6-3 aggregate win over Hoffenheim in the play offs, Liverpool were expected to have a strong campaign.
In their last eight games in all competitions, Liverpool have picked up only the one win and so they won’t totally be a convincing option for punters. The Reds have picked up just the two wins in their last 14 European away games (D7 L5), as well, one of those a victory over Hoffenheim in the play offs this season. Their previous away win was all the way back in November 2015 when they won at Rubin Kazan in the Europa League. Both teams not to score at William Hill in this one is a price of 1/2. So far in the group Liverpool have found themselves frustrated in a 2-2 home draw with Sevilla before being held to just a 1-1 draw at Spartak Moscow. They have just been lacking that winning touch lately, but they really need to discover it here to light the touchpaper of their Champions League campaign.
Maribor v Liverpool Betting Odds
Liverpool 1/6, Draw 11/2, Maribor 16/1
Maribor v Liverpool Predictions
Liverpool to win: The Reds have to deliver the goods in this one and they should be able to get the victory on the board. Maribor really aren’t much of a threat to anyone despite grinding out a point against Spartak Moscow in their last home game. Liverpool are better than the Russians are and can therefore go and secure three points with a win to nil against Maribor.
