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Can James Collins be the answer to Ireland’s goalscoring problem?

One in. One out. As David McGoldrick called time on his Ireland career, having made 14 appearances for the boys in green, Luton Town striker James Collins was recalled into the squad. Despite his limited amount of caps and only one goal to his name, McGoldrick bows out of the international game as a fan favourite. His tremendous work ethic and ability to bring others into play by dropping deep was what endeared him to the Irish fans.

Where will the goals come from?

Although McGoldrick will be missed, Ireland have continued to struggle to find the net, even with him in the team. Sean Maguire and Shane Long have been omitted from the squad, casting further doubt over their Ireland futures. Aaron Connolly has not started a game for his club Brighton since the last international break. Stephen Kenny hinted at Connolly’s prospects of filling the void left by McGoldrick by moving more centrally.

Adam Idah, like Connolly, has struggled to find game time at Norwich City this season. There was hope that the Cork man would push on as his team dropped down from the Premier League. But this hasn’t been the case. Callum Robinson enjoyed a bright start to the campaign for West Brom, scoring a brace against Chelsea. Since then he has only started one game, left standing in the shadows of new recruit Karlan Grant.

That leaves James Collins. The striker has four Ireland caps to his name, scoring on his debut against Bulgaria last year. Until now, Kenny has opted for youth when selecting his strikers, drafting in Idah and Troy Parrott whilst overlooking Collins in his last two squads.

Since the former Dundalk manager took over, his team have scored one goal in five games. In spite of the obvious scoring drought, Ireland have taken more shots and crafted bigger chances than their opponents in four out of Kenny’s first five games in charge. The game against Slovakia typifies these statistics. The chances have been there, but the goals haven’t.

How does James Collins compare to the rest?

This season, James Collins has scored five goals in all competitions, including a hat-trick against Norwich City in the Carabao Cup. Adam Idah and Aaron Connolly are both on one for the season, whilst Callum Robinson has scored three.

Focusing on last season alone, according to sofascore.com James Collins averaged a goal every 282 minutes, netting 14 times in 46 appearances. These numbers may not look impressive considering Collins is playing in the Championship. However it must be remembered that Luton Town had only been promoted last season, and finished in 19th place. Not a bad return for a struggling side.

In contrast, Connolly managed three goals last season in the league, averaging one every 422 minutes. Idah didn’t feature as much for Norwich, starting only one game with his remaining eleven appearances coming from the bench. He failed to find the net. A hat-trick in the FA Cup against Preston North End was the highlight of his season. Robinson made the switch to West Brom at the beginning of the year, going on to score three goals for the Baggies (goal every 287 minutes).

Ignoring the fact that Collins is playing at a lower level, it is clear to see that his goal-scoring record is superior in comparison to his attacking counterparts in the current squad. Furthermore, Collins’ current form must also be taken into consideration, particularly with Connolly, Robinson and Idah all limited to substitute appearances in recent weeks.

Collins offers an alternative option for Stephen Kenny, who needs to start seeing his side convert chances into goals. Many would view McGoldrick’s retirement as the perfect opportunity for the younger players like Connolly and Idah to step up. Yet domestic football hasn’t been kind to them thus far. Ireland need goals and they need them now, so maybe it is time for Collins to steal the limelight.

Declan Rice and Jack Grealish set for Ireland reunion

The pair have been included in the England squad to face Ireland

It seems a long time ago since Declan Rice rejected Ireland in favour of England. In reality, it’s been less than 2 years. Since then, the West Ham midfielder has established himself as a regular for his country. Some would argue that he’s an Englishman so he should be allowed to play for the country, which is fair. Others would contend that he abused the Irish system for his own gain, thus denying other Irishmen the opportunity to represent their nation.

Similarly, Jack Grealish also played for Ireland but ultimately decided his future rested with England. However, the circumstances surrounding his decision are slightly different. Nearly 6 years following his switch to the Three Lions, many Ireland fans have *somewhat* forgiven Jack Grealish. This may be due to the length of time since his choice. Alternatively, it could be because Grealish never represented Ireland at senior level. Either way, Declan Rice is a far more maligned figure than the Aston Villa man.

The England squad also features Michael Keane, whom represented Ireland up to u19 level before switching allegiance. The Everton defender has represented England since 2012, though.

Callum Robinson, on the other hand, previously represented England at underage level before declaring for Ireland in 2018. He has accumulated 15 caps since then. He’ll be looking to add to his catalogue against the country he once represented.

FIXTURE DETAILS

The nations are scheduled to meet in a friendly on the 12th of November. Thursday is the day of the match which will kick off at 20:00. Wembley stadium will be the venue for the fixture in what promises to be an intriguing affair. It has been over 5 years since the two historical rivals last met. The last match ended in a scoreless draw. Let’s hope there’s more entertainment on show this time around.

Irish TV will not be broadcasting the match. However, ITV will be providing coverage for those in need of an alternative solution.

Ireland are also set to don their newly unveiled kit for the first time on the date. Umbro are the manufacturers of the kit which will feature no sponsor, unlike previous years.

There are no real surprises in terms of team selection for both nations. All players called up have played or been in included in previous squads. Here are the England and Ireland squads for the fixture:

Republic of Ireland: Darren Randolph (West Ham United), Caoimhín Kelleher (Liverpool), Mark Travers (AFC Bournemouth); Séamus Coleman (Everton), Matt Doherty (Tottenham Hotspur), Enda Stevens (Sheffield United), Kevin Long (Burnley), Shane Duffy (Celtic, on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion), John Egan (Sheffield United), Dara O’Shea (West Bromwich Albion); Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa), James McCarthy (Crystal Palace), Harry Arter (Nottingham Forest), Jeff Hendrick (Newcastle United), Alan Browne (Preston North End), Jayson Molumby (Brighton and Hove Albion), Robbie Brady (Burnley); Callum Robinson (West Bromwich Albion), Callum O’Dowda (Bristol City), James McClean (Stoke City), Aaron Connolly (Brighton and Hove Albion), Adam Idah (Norwich City), Ronan Curtis (Portsmouth), Daryl Horgan (Wycombe Wanderers).
England: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Nick Pope (Burnley), Dean Henderson (Manchester United; Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Kyle Walker (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Atlético Madrid), Reece James (Chelsea), Ainsley Maitland-Niles (Arsenal), Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Michael Keane (Everton), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Conor Coady (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Joe Gomez (Liverpool), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur); Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Declan Rice (West Ham United), James Ward-Prowse (Southampton), Harry Winks (Tottenham Hotspur); Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Jack Grealish (Aston Villa), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Tammy Abraham (Chelsea).

7 Concepts in Sports Betting Every Bettor Must Know

There is a wide range of terms used in the gambling world. Some of these words seem like common words, but the meaning is usually different. As a beginner in sports betting or gambling in general, you must acquaint yourself with the terminologies and jargon used in the industry to become a better gambler. Once you have learned the sports betting terminologies we are going to discuss in this article, you are ready to choose a bookmaker to start betting with.

BOOKMAKER

A bookmaker or bookie is a company that calculates/sets odds and accepts your bets. The bookmaker also pays out your winnings if your prediction on a chosen fixture is correct. As a Nigerian bettor, there are several licensed and registered bookmakers to choose from, like – Surebet247 review. Whether, you feel at home with indigenous betting brands, or you prefer the novelty brought by international betting companies, your options are as vast as they come.

ARBITRAGE BETTING

Arbitrage betting or hedging refers to a betting technique where bettors spread their bets across various fixtures to cover possible losses. The goal of an arbitrage betting is to ensure profit gain no matter the outcome of the match. Some bettors bet through several bookies to take advantage of their different odds and profit margins. With this strategy, the bettor makes a profit regardless of a win or loss.

IN-PLAY BETTING

Some sports betting websites or casinos offer a live streaming service of matches, races, or games where bettors can place their bets in real-time. This type of betting is fast-paced as the odds change in real-time.

BETTING EXCHANGES

Most new bettors are not aware they don’t have to bet with a bookmaker always. Betting exchanges exclude bookies from the betting equation. When you participate in a betting exchange, you trade or exchange bets with other bettors through a forum or group. Betting exchanges are not limited to sports betting but online casinos.

FIXED-ODDS BETTING

Fixed-odds betting is the opposite of pari-mutuel betting. In fixed-odds betting, the odds are pre-set by the bookie, and the prize is fixed. This concept is more common in sports betting.

SPORTS BETTING

This is betting on sports event fixtures. The bookmaker sets the odds on events and bettors chose the teams they want to bet on. Recently, sports betting now covers genres such as esports and virtual sports.

PARIMUTUEL BETTING

This betting term refers to a circumstance where the money wagered by a group of players is gathered in a prize or jackpot pool. Players’ odds are calculated based on the total number of the bets and the overall amount of the prize pool. The prize of a pari-mutuel bet is the amount left after the house edge is deducted.

Stephen Kenny names 26-man squad for November’s games

Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny has named a 26-man squad for the upcoming international matches. His team will play against England, Wales and Bulgaria between 12th and 18th November.

Firstly, Kenny’s side will face England at Wembley Stadium on Thursday, November 12. Secondly, they travel to the Cardiff City Stadium to play Wales on Sunday, November 15. Then the squad will return home to host Bulgaria at the Aviva Stadium on Wednesday, November 18.

Luton Town striker James Collins has been called into the squad for the first time under Kenny, while captain Séamus Coleman returns following injury.

Portsmouth striker Ronan Curtis and Wycombe Wanderers winger Daryl Horgan keep their places in the squad after impressing against Finland last October.

Shamrock Rovers midfielder Jack Byrne will link up with the squad ahead of the UEFA Nations League match against Wales.

The squad will meet up on Sunday, November 8, in London ahead of the friendly against England on Thursday.

Republic of Ireland Squad

Goalkeepers: Darren Randolph (West Ham United), Caoimhín Kelleher (Liverpool), Mark Travers (AFC Bournemouth).

Defenders: Séamus Coleman (Everton), Matt Doherty (Tottenham Hotspur), Enda Stevens (Sheffield United), Kevin Long (Burnley), Shane Duffy (Celtic, on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion), John Egan (Sheffield United), Dara O’Shea (West Bromwich Albion).

Midfielders: Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa), James McCarthy (Crystal Palace), Harry Arter (Nottingham Forest), Jeff Hendrick (Newcastle United), Alan Browne (Preston North End), Jayson Molumby (Brighton and Hove Albion), Robbie Brady (Burnley), Jack Byrne (Shamrock Rovers).

Forwards: Callum Robinson (West Bromwich Albion), Callum O’Dowda (Bristol City), James McClean (Stoke City), Aaron Connolly (Brighton and Hove Albion), Adam Idah (Norwich City), James Collins (Luton Town), Ronan Curtis (Portsmouth), Daryl Horgan (Wycombe Wanderers).

Republic of Ireland Fixtures
International Friendly
12th November 2020 – England v Ireland, Wembley Stadium – 8pm

UEFA Nations League
15th November 2020 – Wales v Ireland, Cardiff City Stadium – 5pm
18th November 2020 – Ireland v Bulgaria, Aviva Stadium – 7.45pm

Ireland rugby squad reassembles ahead of Autumn Nations Cup

The Ireland rugby team today begins its preparations for the upcoming Autumn Nations Cup fixtures. The squad will reassemble at the IRFU High Performance Centre at the Sport Ireland Campus in west Dublin.

Ireland will begin their campaign when they host Wales at the Aviva Stadium on Friday 13th November.

They then travel to London to play England at Twickenham on Saturday 21st November.

The following Sunday, Ireland will host Georgia at the Aviva Stadium.

Andy Farrell’s side will complete their series of international fixtures on Saturday 5th December against either Fiji, France, Italy or Scotland.

Both Kieran Marmion and Quinn Rouxwill be available to Connacht this week before joining the Ireland squad on Sunday. Jack Conan, who was rehabbing an issue in camp, will return to Leinster to continue his rehab programme.

Ireland Squad Guinness Series / Autumn Nations Cup
Backs (16)
Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians)
Billy Burns (Ulster)
Ross Byrne (Leinster/UCD)
Andrew Conway (Munster/Garryowen)
Shane Daly (Munster/Cork Con)
Keith Earls (Munster/Young Munster)
Chris Farrell (Munster/Young Munster)
Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster)
Robbie Henshaw (Leinster/Buccaneers)
Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD)
James Lowe (Leinster)
Kieran Marmion (Connacht/Corinthians)
Stuart McCloskey (Ulster/Bangor)
Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen)
Jonathan Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College) (captain)
Jacob Stockdale (Ulster/Lurgan)

Forwards (18)

Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers)
Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne)
Ed Byrne (Leinster/UCD)
Will Connors (Leinster/UCD)
Ultan Dillane (Connacht/Corinthians)
Caelan Doris (Leinster/UCD)
Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf)
Dave Heffernan (Connacht/Buccaneers)
Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy)
Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch)
Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne)
Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution)
Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD)
Quinn Roux (Connacht/Galwegians)
John Ryan (Munster/Cork Constitution)
James Ryan (Leinster/UCD)
CJ Stander (Munster/Shannon)
Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD)

All of Ireland’s games in the Autumn Nations Cup will be televised on RTÉ and Channel 4.

Manchester United suffer shock defeat at the hands of İstanbul Başakşehir

The Red Devils lost 2-1 in the Turkish capital

Manchester United threw away their 100% winning start to their Champions League campaign with an embarrassing loss at the hands of İstanbul Başakşehir. İstanbul ran out 2-1 winners after goals from Demba Ba and Edin Višća.

Both goals occurred in the first half. Demba Ba struck first after some calamitous defending from Manchester United in the 12th minute. Ba was afforded unlimited space as he ran behind the United rear-guard after a clearance. The 35-year-old remained calm as he slotted past Dean Henderson in the United goal.

Premier League fans may remember Demba Ba after impressive stints with West Ham, Newcastle and Chelsea. Manchester United fans will certainly not have expected him to open the scoring tonight, though.

İstanbul got their second in the 40th minute after poor ball retention from Juan Mata. Demba Ba was once again involved as his clever dummy fell to Edin Višća. Višća put the final touches on the move with a tidy finish from close range.

The Man United back four weren’t doing themselves any favours with their first half performance. Axel Tuanzebe came in for his 2nd Champions League start of the season but failed to impress. He consistently lost his 50/50s, receiving a yellow card in the process. He looked very accomplished against PSG a couple of weeks ago but failed to impose himself in the same fashion tonight. Scott McTominay replaced the young defender at half time.

United managed to get one back just after İstanbul’s 2nd. Good feet and an accurate cross by Luke Shaw found Anthony Martial in the box and he accurately placed his header into the net. İstanbul got too comfortable and fell asleep momentarily, leading to the goal.

There were no further goals in the first half as İstanbul lead Manchester United 2-1. Not many would have predicted that first half scoreline prior to kick off.

While Manchester United looked brighter in the second half, they failed to turn their domination into goals. They brought on Paul Pogba and Edinson Cavani in the 60th minute in an attempt to change their fortunes. That, unfortunately for United fans, came to nothing.

United very nearly got their equalizer in the dying embers of added time, but a brilliant goal line clearance denied them of that. Only for Alexandru Epureanu’s incredible reactions it would have been a goal.

The match ended 2-1 to İstanbul in a very disappointing result for Manchester United. Many would have expected a comfortable United win given İstanbul’s previous results, but that wasn’t to be. İstanbul will be very pleased as they managed to pick up their first ever Champions League victory.

Ole Gunnar Solskjær has consistently faced scrutiny since taking the reigns of Manchester United. Tonight’s result – along with their loss to Chelsea at the weekend – will only put the Norwegian under increased pressure.

United remain on top of their group at the minute but that could change depending on the result of PSG vs. RB Leipzig later.

David McGoldrick announces surprise retirement from Ireland international duty

The FAI confirmed the striker’s retirement in a statement earlier this evening

Ireland will be without David McGoldrick for the upcoming games against England, Wales and Bulgaria. This comes after the Sheffield United striker announced his shock international retirement this evening.

“The Sheffield United forward has decided to retire from international football to concentrate on his club career and family”, the FAI announced in a short statement earlier this evening.

McGoldrick had a brief Ireland career but he will be fondly remembered by Ireland fans. His performance against Georgia and his goal against Switzerland were the defining moments of his international career.

The striker won a total of 14 caps – despite being first called up in 2014 – for the Republic of Ireland. McGoldrick has only established himself as a starter within the past year or so. He was named Ireland senior player of the year in August after a fine series of games in the green shirt.

Although not a regular goalscorer for his country – or club for that matter – McGoldrick always gave 100% and his unselfish playstyle endeared himself to Irish fans. His last game for the country came against Slovakia in October. Despite not scoring, McGoldrick was arguably man of the match in that game. His tireless running and exquisite touch contributed to terrific performance.

Stephen Kenny is set to name his upcoming Ireland squad on Thursday. McGoldrick’s absence will come as a real blow to himself and Ireland fans alike.

SSE Airtricity Premier Division Final Week – What’s at Stake?

Heading into the final week of the SSE Airtricity Premier Division, there is still a lot on the line. A global pandemic has impacted the world of sport in 2020. Football as we know it has changed, for now, and the Airtricity League is no different.

The season was brought to a halt in March as restrictions across the country heightened. Fast forward to August and football was back in Ireland, this time without the fans. A decision was made to decrease the number of games by half. So here we are in November about to embark on the final week of the season. The decrease in fixtures has led to an increase in excitement for the neutrals.

Seven out of ten team have something to play for as they head towards the finish line. To put this into context, there is a five point gap between fourth and eighth place. As the season came to a climax last year, this gap was five times bigger, at twenty points.

So what’s at stake for each team?

Shamrock Rovers crowned Champions

Shamrock Rovers will lift the 2020 SSE Airtricity League title on Wednesday evening after their penultimate league game against St. Patrick’s Athletic. Rovers have been a dominant force this season, remaining unbeaten with impressive wins over Dundalk, Sligo Rovers and their arch rivals Bohemians since the league restarted. It has been a long time coming for the Hoops who have not lifted a league title since 2011.

Republic of Ireland international Jack Byrne has been pivotal in their success, with eight goals to his name this season. It will be manager Stephen Bradley’s priority to keep the midfielder in Tallaght for next season, with reports that Rovers have already made Byrne a ‘fantastic’ contract offer. That being said, after another impressive season, interest from abroad seems inevitable.

Ahead of Wednesday’s clash against St. Pat’s, Shamrock Rovers have appealed for fans not to gather outside Tallaght Stadium in accordance with current COVID-19 restrictions.

Relegation Battle

At the other end of the table, Cork City have been relegated to the First Division. The 2017 Champions have endured a fall from grace in recent seasons, and head into their final game seven points adrift at the bottom of the league.

Finn Harps’ survival hopes were dented by Shamrock Rovers as they lost 2-0 on Sunday. The Donegal side need a win against fourth placed Waterford on Sunday evening to give themselves any chance of staying up. They also need to rely on results elsewhere, namely Shelbourne and Derry City.

Derry City were looking comfortable after a convincing win against Shelbourne at the end of October took them up to fifth in the league. However since then things haven’t gone as planned. Following an outbreak of COVID-19 cases within their squad, the club entered a 14-day isolation period and therefore failed to play their scheduled clash against Shamrock Rovers. A forfeit and subsequent 3-0 loss could be on the cards for Derry, who will likely appeal any potential decision.

Similar to Derry, Shelbourne also find themselves at the wrong end of the table following a run of only three wins from thirteen matches since the restart. Shels take on Rovers on the final day. Despite the fact the league has been won, Rovers still have the added incentive of an unbeaten campaign to play for. Both Shels and Derry sit on 19 points, two points ahead of Finn Harps.

The final occupiers of ninth spot will face either Galway United or Longford Town in the relegation/promotion play-off.

European Qualification

A bitter-sweet moment for Bohemians who will finish the season in second place, their highest league position since 2010. Dundalk’s draw with St. Pat’s on Sunday wasn’t enough to claim their spot for European football next season. They need a point against Sligo Rovers on Sunday to secure third place.

That leaves Waterford, Sligo Rovers and St. Pat’s in a final battle for the potential last European spot. Waterford travel to Finn Harps. With a lot at stake for both team, it’s set to be an exciting game. After heartbreakingly missing out on Europa League football in 2019 due to a UEFA technicality, Waterford will be hoping for an upturn in their fortunes this time round.

Although St. Pat’s are four points behind Waterford, they have the added advantage of an extra game in hand. That being said it won’t be easy for the Dublin side as they face champions Rovers before playing runners up Bohs on the final day. Two losses and they might be heading for a relegation play-off if other scores don’t go their way. A prime example of how congested the table is.

Likewise, Sligo Rovers also finish with a tricky trip to Oriel Park to take on Dundalk. Now there’s the added caveat of the FAI Cup. With Shamrock Rovers, Bohs, and Dundalk still in the competition, they will form an orderly queue as strong favourites to lift the cup. However, if Sligo Rovers (albeit they get a bye into the quarter finals after Derry City failed to play the game), Finn Harps or Athlone Town manage to cause an upset, then fourth spot becomes irrelevant. The FAI Cup winners head for Europe.

If that was too much to digest, you can find the full league table ahead of this weeks’ fixtures here. It is set to be a thrilling end to an abnormal season.

Greenwatch: James McClean on the Scoresheet again

Premier League

Another quiet weekend for the Irish lads in the Premier League. Enda Stevens, John Egan, Kevin Long, Jeff Hendrick and Matt Doherty all started for their respective clubs. Ciaran Clark returned from injury to take a seat on Newcastle’s bench whilst Aaron Connolly didn’t make the cut for Brighton as Graham Potter left him out of the match day squad.

Championship

James McClean bagged his second goal in three games as Stoke City beat Rotherham United by one goal to nil. McClean raced through on goal and cleverly dinked the ball over the keeper to give his team the lead.  The Derryman is doing no harm to his chances of occupying the left wing spot in Stephen Kenny’s 4-3-3 formation. Especially with Aaron Connolly struggling for game time at Brighton in recent weeks.

Daryl Horgan started on the right wing as Wycombe Wanderers got their first win of the season, overcoming bottom of the table Sheffield Wednesday.

Millwall continue without Troy Parrott, and struggled for goals as they lost 3-0 to Huddersfield Town. After the defeat Millwall boss Gary Rowett provided an update on Parrott’s injury, stating “he’s not far off being back” whilst also expressing his reluctance with the idea of the young Irish striker heading away with the national team for November’s fixtures. Stephen Kenny is set to announce his squad this Thursday, November 5th.

League 1

Down in League 1, Ireland’s representatives are setting the division alight. Midfielder Jack Taylor made the EFL team of the week after he scored in Peterborough’s 5-1 hammering of Shrewsbury Town. Taylor won’t be a new name on Stephen Kenny’s radar. The former Chelsea academy player made his debut for Ireland U-21’s under Kenny in 2019 at the Toulon Tournament. Peterborough are joint top of the league with Ipswich Town and Lincoln City. Alan Judge set up the winning goal as Ipswich beat Crewe Alexandra.

Meanwhile, former Bohemians defender Warren O’Hora has impressed at MK Dons having made a loan move to the League 1 side from his parent club Brighton.

In Scotland, Shane Duffy started and played his part in keeping a clean sheet as Celtic progressed to the Scottish Cup final, defeating Aberdeen 2-0 in the semi-final.

Liverpool vs. Atalanta preview: Where to watch, time, venue, team news, predictions

All you need to know about tonight’s Champions League fixture

Liverpool play Atalanta tonight in what should be an enthralling contest. This is the first ever meeting between the two sides in any competition and it should not disappoint. Both teams play exhilarating, fast paced football so football fans should be in for a treat tonight.

Some fans may expect a straightforward victory for Liverpool tonight, but that almost certainly won’t be the case. Atalanta are one of the fastest rising teams in European football. Over the past couple of years, they’ve established themselves as one of the best teams in Italy. They currently sit 4th in the Serie A and 2nd in their Champions League behind the Reds, respectively. They may not be the most decorated side in the competition, but they’re no pushovers, either.

After a slow start, Liverpool appear to have gotten their season up and running. They currently sit 1st in their Champions League group and will be looking to cement that position with a victory over Atalanta. They also sit 1st in the Premier League, despite their injury woes and less than impressive performances – which included a 7-2 loss at the hands of Aston Villa.

Here’s all you need to know about tonight’s game:

TEAM NEWS

LIVERPOOL

Liverpool are missing a handful of important first team players – namely Virgil Van Dijk, Fabinho and Thiago. In more positive news, Joel Matip and Naby Keita have returned to training following their injuries. However, Klopp is unlikely to start the pair due to fitness concerns.

Nat Phillips made his Premier League debut for Liverpool on the weekend. It has been an incredible few weeks for Phillip, but he won’t be making his Champions League debut tonight. Phillips looked exceptionally assured against West Ham United during the weekend in a performance which earned him man of the match. He is not registered for the Champions League, though, meaning he won’t play a part. It’s harsh, but that’s football sometimes.

Nat Phillps’ absence means Rhys Williams will likely make his third Champions League appearance tonight. Williams replaced Fabinho last week after the Brazilian picked up a knock and looks likely to make his first Champions League start tonight. Joe Gomez will likely partner Williams – or otherwise – as he looks a nailed-on starter.

The likely absence of Keita and Thiago in midfield means another fringe player will likely get an opportunity. Curtis Jones or James Milner are likely to fill the position. Curtis Jones started against West Ham at the weekend, but Klopp may opt for the experience and reliability of James Milner.

Klopp will also have a selection headache up top. The front three of Mane, Firmino and Salah has been a consistent fixture in recent years, but the recent arrival and form of Diogo Jota is hard to ignore. Firmino’s form has been called into question recently, so the Brazilian may have to make way for the in-form Jota.

ATALANTA

Like Liverpool, Atalanta are also not without their absences. Also like Liverpool, manty of their absences come from within their defensive unit.

Regular starters Mattia Caldara, Marten de Roon and Robin Gosens will all miss tonight’s game due to injury. Recently loaned Cristiano Piccini is also unlikely to feature due to injury.

There is no such problems on the attacking front, however. Liverpool fans should be concerned about Papu Gomez and Duvan Zapata in particular. After stellar campaigns last term, the forwards have started this season in the same fashion. Both have 5 goals so far this season, with a host of assists between them, also. Luis Muriel is another dangerous option up front, having also scored 5 goals in 8 appearances this season.

Josip Ilicic is another man for Liverpool to worry about. The second striker has failed to get going so far this season, but he most definitely displayed his quality last season. The veteran scored 21 goals in all competitions last season in what was a stellar campaign.

Atalanta could cause serious problems for Liverpool if they turn up on the day.

Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Atalanta

WHAT TIME IS KICK OFF?

The match will kick off at 20:00 Irish standard time.

MATCH VENUE?

The match is being played in Italy, meaning Liverpool will be the away side on the night. The Gewiss stadium will host the fixture.

WHERE TO WATCH?

RTE 2 will cover the fixture from 19:30 onwards for Irish viewers. Viewers can also catch up on highlights from the game – and the nights other fixtures – from 22:15 on Virgin Media 2.

BT Sport 2 will also be broadcasting the game for viewers with a BT Sport subscription. Viewers in America can also avail of the match through CBS All Access.

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