UEFA Champions League Qualifying Rd 3 Leg 1
Wednesday 15th August 2007
Kick off: 3:30pm at Stadium Municipal
Live on Setanta Sports (available for UK viewers and worldwide via the web)
Liverpool’s first competitive European fixture of the season as the reds face a mid-afternoon clash against last season’s 3rd place side in France.
Previous Meetings
Liverpool have only played Toulouse once before 51 years ago. The reds lost a friendly at the Stadium Municipal 3-1 in 1956.
Team News
Rafa intends to keep the same line up that won against Aston Villa. But seriously, expect some more of the infamous squad rotation. With Crouch, Benayoun and Mascherano all missing out even on places on the bench, they are likely to feature in this clash. Rafa will not be underestimating the importance of this game, and although the reds have a weekend clash against Chelsea in their sights a strong first team presence is expected. The reds have no major injury worries ahead of this game.
Opponents
Toulouse lost their first game of the season but scored a last minute winner to defeat 10 man Lyon (reigning French champions at the weekend). Johan Elmander was the goalscorer. Their most interestingly named player is Moussa Sissoko (apparently no relation to our Momo). The club itself was only founded in 1937, and in 1967 sold it’s place in the league and all of its players to Red Star Paris. The club was reformed in 1970. The club can consider itself lucky to be playing Champions League football. They were awarded a victory after a draw with Nantes due to the opposing supporters invading the pitch to express their displeasure at Nantes performances.
Television Coverage
The game will be broadcast live on Setanta Sports in the UK and across the web to subscribers. Setanta covered Liverpool’s first game of the season, the first Premiership game televised live on a UK station other than Sky. Setanta will also exclusively carry Liverpool’s brand new TV channel due to be launched in the coming months. Setanta’s packages can be subscribed to via their website
Match Betting
Liverpool start the game as favourites to win (3/4) with Toulouse at 10/3. The draw is 11/5.
The bookies seem a bit unsure as to the extent of a Liverpool victory with a 1-0 win (5/1) a 2-0 win (6/1) and a 2-1 victory (7/1) all strong favourites. A Toulouse 2-1 is rated as a 14/1 chance. If you think we will hand out a hammering you can get a reds 5-0 demolition job for 80/1.
Crouch and Kuyt are both fancied as first scorers at 6/1. Lyon’s weekend hero Elmander is priced at 8/1. New boys Ryan Babel is at 9/1 and if he starts then Benayoun looks worth a punt at 16/1.
Odds supplied by Victor Chandler (who are offering up to a £50 free bet when you register with them)
Forum
Discussion about our line up, predictions for the game and an online vote are in the forum here
This game is certainly one the reds will not want ‘to lose’ (sorry – was dying to get that one in).