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After a 1-1 draw in Germany, the Reds have a big chance to reach the semi-finals when they welcome the Black and Yellows to Merseyside 

Opportunity is knocking for Liverpool .
After holding Borussia Dortmund to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final in Germany last week, the Reds must feel they have one foot in the semis.
The bad news? Dortmund were below par in the first leg and are likely to be out to redeem themselves. Oh, and they rested all their players at the weekend, so they'll be fresh.
It's all set up for a corker at Anfield. Will it be the hosts or the visitors who win 'El Kloppico'?
Here's all you need to know:

Will Liverpool be able to pick up a result in Dortmund?

1. Where is the match and where can i see it?

The match will kick off at 20.05 on Thursday evening, and will be shown live on BT Sport.
Mirror Football will be running a LIVE blog so you can keep up with proceedings if you can’t get near a television.
Read more: How Borussia Dortmund got their groove back

2. Team news

Liverpool: Roberto Firmino missed out in Germany but returned to action at the weekend, so he could be an option for Jurgen Klopp. But we can probably expect Divock Origi to lead the line after his standout display at the Westfalenstadion. Jordan Henderson is out.
Borussia Dortmund: Ikay Gundogan could be back for the Black and Yellows after a run-out against Schalke at the weekend. Neven Subotic is out, however.

3. Predicted sides

Dortmund:

Liverpool:

Have your say in the comments below

4. Reasons for Liverpool fans to be optimistic

• The Reds have turned in three impressive performances on the spin, thwarting Spurs and Dortmund before thrashing Stoke.
• Divock Origi looks to have found his niche in the side, providing energy to stretch the game in the final third.
• The Anfield crowd tends to have an influence on big European nights.

5. Reasons for Dortmund fans to be optimistic

• Thomas Tuchel rested most of his stars at the weekend, meaning Dortmund will be fresh.
• The Black and Yellows haven't lost since before Christmas.
• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Paul Gilham/Getty

Yellow peril: Dortmund carry a big threat in attack

6. Previous meetings

They played last week, remember? Origi scored the opener before Mats Hummels nodded home the equaliser. Remember that?
Before that, these two teams had met only twice in competitive games: in the Champions league in the 2001/02 season. In Dortmund the game finished 0-0, before Liverpool ran out 2-0 winners at Anfield.
In 2014, Liverpool played host Dortmund in a pre-season friendly and coasted to a 4-0 victory.

VIEW GALLERY

7. Recent form

Liverpool

• Sun 10 April: Liverpool 4-1 Stoke
• Thu 7 April: Dortmund 1-1 Liverpool
• Sat 2 April Liverpool 1-1 Tottenham
• Sun 20 March: Southampton 3-2 Liverpool
• Thu 17 March: Man United 1-1 Liverpool

Dortmund

• Sun 10 April: Schalke 2-2 Dortmund
• Thu 7 April: Dortmund 1-1 Liverpool
• Sat 2 April: Dortmund 3-2 Bremen
• Sun 20 March: Augsburg 1-3 Dortmund
• Thu 17 March: Tottenham 1-2 Dortmund

8. Liverpool’s key man

Stu Forster/Getty

Emre Can will have to step up in midfield for Liverpool

It could be a big game for Emre Can .
The midfielder has really started to hit his stride this term, catching the eye with a series of determined, classy displays for the Reds.
Against Dortmund – opponents he knows better than most – he will have to step up and become a leader in the engine room. With Henderson out and Joe Allen likely to come in, he will be the main man, charged with breaking up attacks and getting Liverpool on the front foot.

9. Dortmund’s key man

Action Images via Reuters / John Sibley

Danger man: Aubameyang has been on fire this term

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been in devastating form so far this season. He scores goals aplenty but his link-up play with Marco Reus and Henrikh Mkhitaryan is key.
His movement frees up space for the midfield runners to exploit, and he is capable of drifting wide and exploding down the middle.
He is devastating in front of goal with both feet and possesses an aerial prowess defenders must be wary off. Arguably the complete striking package... and he doesn't usually draw two blanks in a row.
Read more: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang profile

10. Betting odds

• Liverpool 39/20
• The draw 13/5
• Dortmund 29/20

Odds collected from Unibet.

11. Quote corner

Alexandre Simoes/Borussia Dortmund/Getty

Jurgen Klopp will make an emotional return

Jurgen Klopp: “Against a high quality team you certainly need to be brave. If you just try to defend then your chance becomes smaller and smaller and smaller, and so you have to have your own moments, and be brave to do that.
“Being brave is one of the most important things in football - and most certainly against Dortmund.”
Read Klopp's full quotes here.
Thomas Tuchel: "I don’t care too much about the result in the first leg. I don’t think it will be that decisive.
"We are here to attack, we are here to score goals, to take risks and to enjoy the game. We are not here to feel our boundaries. We are here to feel our potential.
"We are clear we will have to play our best but we feel ready for it. We don’t want to score one, we want two or even more. I am proud to be the coach in this situation
"We're here to enjoy the great atmosphere at Anfield and approach the game with a relaxed mind and enjoy the game."

from http://www.mirror.co.uk

 

Thursday, April 14, 2016