Home of football statistics and historyDeutsche Bank Park sets the stage for a high-stakes Champions League clash between out-of-form Eintracht Frankfurt and unrecognisable Liverpool.
Pressure has begun to mount on Arne Slot despite his Premier League-winning maiden season at Anfield as the Reds head into this clash on a four-game losing streak in all competitions.
Manchester United stunned Anfield into silence on Sunday, claiming an unexpected 2-1 victory to arrest an underwhelming 10-game winless streak on Merseyside.
Harry Maguire’s late winner inspired the Red Devils to their first away league win over the reigning champions since January 2016, while condemning Liverpool to their fourth consecutive loss for the first time since November 2014, via Opta.
As for Frankfurt, they squandered a narrow half-time lead in a 2-2 Bundesliga draw at Freiburg last weekend, extending their winless run to three matches after back-to-back defeats to Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich.
Facing Liverpool in a time of crisis is never a good omen, yet this could be a presentable opportunity for Dino Toppmoller’s side to take a massive scalp and get their Champions League campaign back on track.
Liverpool is still the overwhelming favourite with European sports betting sites; however, the odds have shifted slightly in favour of a draw, with Liverpool’s defensive issues the focus. Betting experts for most bookmakers are predicting that both teams will score.
Mixed start
Frankfurt got their league phase journey off to a dream start as they thrashed Turkish heavyweights Galatasaray 5-1 on matchday one, with Jonathan Burkardt bagging a brace.
However, they found themselves on the receiving end of that same scoreline in their day-two showdown against Atletico at the Metropolitano Stadium after falling three goals down at half-time.
That embarrassing defeat forms part of Die Adler’s unenviable record of just one win from their last five outings across all competitions (D1, L3), which puts Toppmoller on the precipice of an early-season dismissal.
Despite losing significant ground on the top four in the Bundesliga and undoing their opening Champions League win, Frankfurt can draw confidence from their upcoming return to Deutsche Bank Park.
Indeed, they have won their last four European group/league phase matches on home soil, making it for good reading as they bid to post their first-ever victory over Liverpool.
Favourable record
With the media pressure intensifying, Slot cannot afford another poor result in Germany, with Liverpool set to face Frankfurt in a competitive game for only the third time.
The Reds defeated this opposition 2-0 at home in the 1972/73 UEFA Cup group stage before drawing 0-0 on this ground.
However, the defending Premier League giants boast a formidable European record against German clubs, going unbeaten in their last 14 meetings with Bundesliga sides (W11, D3).
Liverpool’s outstanding run against the Germans inspires confidence, yet Frankfurt have lost just twice in nine home meetings with English opposition (W3, D4), suggesting they could still make life difficult for Slot’s charges.
That said, Toppmoller’s men have lost two consecutive home games in the build-up to this clash, conceding 3+ goals on both occasions.
No room for error
Liverpool must take advantage of Frankfurt’s drop-off to get back on track amid talks Slot could bench talismanic forward Mohamed Salah.
According to Fichajes, the Egyptian superstar could soon receive another lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia despite his dip in form this season.
It takes a brave man to bench Salah, but the veteran winger seems to be part of the problem, as he has struggled to make an impact in recent matches.
Perhaps this encounter could be a turning point for last season’s Premier League MVP, with Liverpool seeking their 14th win in their last 16 Champions League group/league phase fixtures (W13, L2).
The sense is that this game is likely to produce a winner, considering none of Liverpool’s last 28 European group stage/league phase outings have ended as a draw (W23, L5).
Whether the Reds can end up on the winning side remains uncertain, considering they have lost their last three competitive games on the road.
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