By Gary Fulcher.
Liverpool will be hoping to book their place in the last 32 of the Europa League with victory over Bordeaux at Anfield on Thursday night; 8.05pm kick off UK time. After four games played, the Reds are 2nd in Group B with six points, two behind leaders Sion and three points clear of their third placed French opponents. A win for Jürgen Klopp’s side would put Liverpool six clear of Bordeaux and four clear of Kazan (if the Russian side defeats Sion) with one game left to play. A draw would also seal Liverpool’s qualification to the knockout stage so long as Kazan fail to beat Sion on home soil.
Liverpool and Bordeaux drew 1-1 in France on Matchday 1, with Adam Lallana putting the Reds ahead on 65 minutes before Ferreira Vieira denied Liverpool the win with an 81st minute equaliser. Since that draw Les Girondins drew with Rubin Kazan 0-0 in Russia, lost to Sion at home (0-1) and drew 1-1 with the Swiss side in Switzerland.
Liverpool followed up the draw in France with 1-1 draws with Sion and Rubin Kazan at Anfield before recording their first win in the group stages by defeating Rubin Kazan 1-0 in Russia.
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