Europa League 2014/15

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

At least Vertonghen has totally and utterly schooled Salah tonight. Won EVERYTHING off him.

[Szumi]

Atta boy Ibe!

BALOTELLI!

[DavidMarrio]

Just saw something get thrown by the Besiktas fans at our fans in the Anfield road end. Looks like it might kick off.

Also gettin there Mario!!!

[Kaney]

3-3 is a fine finish to what sounded like a great game.

[Thrilla]

Man, the whole thing about Balotelli taking the penalty last night after Henderson looked like he was going to is such a non-story.

[Colly]

It was pretty funny to watch though. Henderson had no control of the situation whatsoever, and Sturridge wasn't helping.

What happened in the Kiev game by the way? Someone got sent off, they made a sub, then the sub was sent off three minutes later. Did anyone catch the highlights?

[Whisper]

To be fair, why is Henderson taking a penalty over Balotelli?

Hasn't he missed like, one ever?

[Thrilla]

26 out of 28 the Beeb article I read said.

[EddieG]

Ironically his first penalty miss was saved by Pepe Reina (At Napoli).

Also, Barton's weighed in and said Balotelli pulled rank, Henderson is vice-captain so how exactly did he pull rank?

[Colly]

Mario outranks all captains. Everyone knows that.

[TCO]

Balotelli was far and away the best penalty taker on the pitch. Henderson was the designated taker at the start because Balotelli wasn't on starting. He rightfully told Henderson to fuck right off when he was on.

Balotelli or Lambert are Liverpool's best penalty takers even when Gerrard is on the pitch.

[DavidMarrio]

I think the only people who wanted Henderson to take the pen were Henderson and Sturridge. No one in the crowd certainly wanted Henderson on the pen.

[King Ellis]

Just a shame this didn't happen last month so we could have "SPURS TO SWOOP FOR DISGRUNTLED MIRALLAS HENDERSON"

[Lineker]

Late to the party, but we scored from a corner AND it was Soldado? Must have been a cold day in hell!

But yeah, we totally should have killed them off in the first half an hour. Optimistic for the second leg, depending on who we rest ahead of the cup final.

[Lineker]

Demba Ba has recovered from the calf problem that forced him to miss of Sunday's 1-0 defeat at Eskisehirspor to lead the Besiktas attack, while former Chelsea youth winger Gokhan Tore is over the ankle knock that kept him out at the weekend. Daniel Opare comes in at left-back with Ramon Motta suspended, while Necip Uysal and Pedro Franco form the centre-back partnership as Ersan Gulum is banned. Mario Balotelli starts a Liverpool game for the first time since 8 November. He will play alongside Daniel Sturridge, who is also restored to the starting line-up in a side showing four changes. Jordan Henderson and Philippe Coutinho are injured, Lazar Markovic is suspended and Adam Lallana drops to the bench. Emre Can moves forward into central midfield to cover for Henderson, defender Kolo Toure makes his first appearance since helping Ivory Coast win the Africa Cup of Nations, and Alberto Moreno comes in for Markovic at left-wing-back.

Besiktas XI: Gonen, Kurtulus, Franco, Uysal, Opare, Hutchinson, Kavlak, Tore, Sosa, Sahan, Ba.

Liverpool XI: Mignolet, Lovren, Skrtel, Toure, Ibe, Can, Allen, Moreno, Sterling, Balotelli, Sturridge.

[Lineker]

Plenty of recognisable faces in the Fiorentina line-up, with ex-Man City duo Micah Richards and Stefan Savic joined in the back four by former Bolton full-back Marcos Alonso, and Chelsea loanee Mohamed Salah up front. With the League Cup final against Chelsea looming on Sunday, Mauricio Pochettino keeps Harry Kane, Ryan Mason and Danny Rose on the bench, but there are starts for Christian Eriksen, Erik Lamela and Roberto Soldado.

Fiorentina XI: Neto, Richards, Savic, Basanta, Alonso, Badelj, Pizarro, Fernandez, Joaquin, Gomez, Salah.

Tottenham XI: Lloris, Chiriches, Fazio, Vertonghen, Davies, Bentaleb, Stambouli, Chadli, Eriksen, Lamela, Soldado.

[Lineker]

John Guidetti is given the responsibility of leading Celtic's attack at the San Siro after coming on as a substitute to score the late equaliser in last Thursday's first leg, which ended 3-3. Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong - rested for Sunday's 4-0 Scottish Premiership win over Hamilton - are recalled to play behind him in place of James Forrest and Kris Commons. Adam Matthews replaces Efe Ambrose at right-back.

Celtic XI: Gordon, Matthews, Denayer, van Dijk, Izaguirre, Brown, Bitton, Mackay-Steven, Johansen, Armstrong, Guidetti.

[DavidMarrio]

It's interesting that Eriksen is starting, I thought he'd be rested for the cup final. You lot lacked creativity against West Ham till he came on as a sub.

Interesting that we have went with two up front as well against Besiktas. Can and Allen should give us plenty of protection in front of the back 3 so I think the game plan looks to be knick one on the counter.

[Lineker]

He won't play for more than an hour, I'd have thought. In Rose, Walker, Mason, Paulinho, Townsend and Kane we have good depth on the bench.

[Lineker]

Jesus Christ that should have been buried by either Soldado or Chadli.