Liverpool should mark their return to the Champions League by recording their 100th win of all time in the competition. They welcome tournament debutantes Ludogorets Razgrad to Anfield on Tuesday, and it's nigh-on impossible to imagine the Bulgarian minnows picking up anything away at last season's Premier League runners-up. However, they may take some heart from Liverpool's stuttering start to the new season -- Brendan Rodgers' side were beaten 1-0 by Aston Villa on the weekend.
Liverpool vs. Ludogorets, 2014 UEFA Champions League: Team news and game preview
Liverpool should have no problem recording a historic 100th European Cup win on Tuesday, as Bulgarian minnows Ludogorets visit Anfield.
Alex Livesey
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Key player - Raheem Sterling (Liverpool)
Rodgers benched Liverpool’s attacking starlet Raheem Sterling in their defeat to Aston Villa, with the intention of starting him from the off against Ludogorets. The Bulgarians should be quaking in their boots at such a prospect, with the tricky forward having established himself as England’s hottest young prospect. He has the potential to do serious damage in this match.
Key matchup - Liverpool vs. Ludogorets keeper Milan Borjan
By now, you’ve probably all heard of how Ludogorets made it into the group stages. If you haven’t, in sum, their goalkeeper Vladislav Stoyanov was sent off seconds before a penalty shootout, forcing defender Cosmin Moţi to take his place between the sticks. Moţi saved two spot-kicks, and the Bulgarians eliminated their more esteemed opponents, Steaua Bucharest.
For this match, Stoyanov is out suspended, and when backup goalkeeper Ivan Čvorović picked up a serious shoulder injury recently, it looked amusingly like Ludogorets would have to turn to Moţi again. However, they’ve managed to snap up Canadian international Milan Borjan on a free transfer; the 26-year-old moves to Bulgaria after playing for various clubs in Serbia, Argentina, Uruguay, Turkey and Romania. He’s going to be a busy man against Liverpool, so hopefully he’s match fit.
Liverpool injuries and suspensions
Out: Daniel Sturridge (thigh), Emre Can (ankle; suspended), Lazar Marković (suspended), Glen Johnson (thigh). In doubt: Joe Allen (knee), Martin Škrtel (knee).
Ludogorets injuries and suspensions
Out: Vladislav Stoyanov (suspended), Ivan Čvorović (shoulder). In doubt: None.
Liverpool will be without first-choice striker Daniel Sturridge with a thigh injury, while midfielder Emre Can is missing with an ankle problem. His fellow summer arrival Lazar Marković is also out, after he was given a two-match ban for being sent off for Benfica in last season’s Europa League semifinal. There are other injury issues along the defense, but Liverpool have quite a bit more depth there now than they did last season. Ludogorets are without their first and second-choice goalkeepers Vladislav Stoyanov and Ivan Čvorović.
Match Date/Time: Tuesday, 7:45 p.m. local, 2:45 p.m. ET
Venue: Anfield, Liverpool, England
TV: Fox Sports 2 (U.S.), Sportsnet One (Canada), ITV1 (U.K.), bTV Action, Voyo Sport (Bulgaria)
Online: Fox Soccer 2Go, Fox Sports Go (U.S.), Sportsnet World Now (Canada), ITV Player (U.K.)
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