Today's Pointers - Europa League 24th Feb

Back onto the Europa League following a largely successful week with the Cricket World Cup. Obviously last night didn't go to plan with the football betting, but Inter's profligacy cost me as far as I'm concerned. 

As I said before the first leg, Liverpool may be short of attacking option going into their second leg against Sparta Prague.  Luis Suarez is ineligible and Steven Gerrard is ruled out through a groin injury, so two of their most crucial players are already out, while Andy Carroll has yet to gain full fitness.

                                                                     

Steven Gerrard - Set to be absent.

Liverpool went into the first leg playing over-cautiously and managing to carve out a dull goalless draw at the Generali Arena. They did even look shaky at times, Sparta having carved out a few chances themselves.  Prague looked to get at Liverpool down the flanks and had some success, although not too much considering they were at home.

Their team today should be stronger though. Martin Kelly and Martin Skrtel could return having been left out in Prague, with Glen Johnson also a possible starter to give the game life down the left wing.

For all that Liverpool are expected to go through comfortably they may really have to work for it against a Spartak side with nothing to lose (and extra fitness thanks to the first leg) and the Boylesports offer of the first goal being after 27 minutes looks good, with the William Hill offer being just too long at 31 minutes. Both would have been successful in four of the last 5 Liverpool games. Extrabet are also willing to give 5/2 that the first goal will be in the second half and that makes a lot of appeal.

Given the record of the two teams the same bet makes a lot of appeal in the Man City – Aris game. Aris have won only one of their last six league games and didn’t do much going forward against Manchester City at home, which was their only real chance of taking a hand in the tie. Don’t get me wrong, they could easily take a big hand in the tie given the chance, but it’s harder to see them doing that at Eastlands than Greece.

Despite winning 5 at the weekend, City weren’t that impressive. County nearly took the lead 60 seconds in as Joe Hart left the goal open, having missed one of several impressive deliveries given by Notts County.

From the resulting corner, centre-back Krystian Pearce then headed just over the bar from six yards out and several more chance followed, with a fierce shot on 10 minutes and they nearly scored after 20, a cracking shot blasting off the post. They could take a while to warm up against a solid Aris side that won’t give much away, so Paddy Power’s offer of just 22 minutes for the first goal makes a smashing pick.

In the other games, an out of form Rangers or Lisbon makes no appeal, while Bayer Leverkusen won’t give much thought holding a 4 goal lead, so back Twente, who held Inter, Bremen, and Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League, to beat Rubin Kazan for the second time at home following a clear cut win in the first leg.

Advice

2 pts After 27th Minute - Liverpool v Sparta Prague: Time Of First Goal (10/11 Boylesports)

2 pts After 22nd Minute - Man City v Aris: Time Of First Goal (10/11 Paddy Power)

2 pts First goal in 2nd half of Liverpool v Sparta (5/2 Extrabet)

2 pts win Twente to beat Rubin Kazan (10/11 General)