[Liverweb] Real Betis Match Preview

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Liverweb Champions League Match Preview

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Opponents : Real Betis
Date : Wednesday November 23 @ 7.45 pm BST
Venue : Anfield
TV Coverage : Premiere Sport Portal, Canal+ (Spain), Sky Sports
Extra, RTE2, ZTV Sweden, TSR2, 3+, SKY Calcio 14, CT-2, Sport TV
Multijogos

Tape Delay : Viasat (1hr 55mins), NTV+ Football(2hrs), TV3 Norway
(2hrs 5mins), Polsat Sport Extra (5hrs 45mins)

Highlights : ITV1

The Reds aim to make it throughto the last 16 in this game by
avoiding defeat. However a win for the Reds could set themselves up
to win the group. Real Betis arrive at Anfield knowing that a draw
would at minimum mean they will have UEFACup football to look
forward to in the new year. A draw coupled with a win for Chelsea in
the other group game will mean that Betis will have to be content
with that UEFA slot.

Liverpool have two injury checks to make on Xabi Alonso and Luis
Garcia who both limped out of the Portsmouth game on Saturday. Both
will have late fitness tests.

Real Betis are definitely without Olivera and also Dani through
injury and also miss Fernando Varela due to suspension.

League form : The Reds warmed up for this clash with an easy 3-0
victory at home to Portsmouth on Saturday. Zenden, Cisse and
Morientes were all on the scoresheet. The result moved the Reds in
to the top half of the Premiership as a result.

Real Betis lost on Saturday to Sevilla - their local derby. In fact
Betis have failed to win away from home this season in La Liga. At
home they have just two wins - their last came in October and they
sit one place above the bottom so far this season.

Squads :

Liverpool : Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise, Traore,
Warnock, Gerrard, Xabi Alonso, Sissoko, Hamann, Luis Garcia, Zenden,
Morientes, Crouch, Cisse, Kewell, Carson, Sinama-Pongolle.

Betis : Arzu, Capi, Doblas, Israel, Juanlu,Rivas, Assunçao,
Castellini, Edu, Joaquín, Melli, Rivera, Cañas, Contreras, Fernando,
Juanito, Óscar López y Xisco

Team Stats : Liverpool have conceded just the one goal in the
Champions League proper since Hernan Crespo scored his second and
Milan's third in Istanbul. Of course the Reds still came back to win
the trophy that night in May. The Reds are one of just four sides to
have conceded a single goal in this season's competition proper.

The Reds are two goals away from conceding their 100th goal in the
top European competition (qualifiers included).

After the first four matches Betis had been awarded the most yellow
cards this season.

A win for the Reds in this match would be their 10th against Spanish
opposition in all UEFA Competitions. This is the 22nd game between
the Reds and Spanish sides. The current nine wins of course includes
two wins which saw the Reds lift a European Trophy - this cup in
1981 against Real Madrid and the UEFA Cup in 2001 against Alaves.

Real Betis have won just once against English sides in five games.

Player Stats : Sami Hyypia and Djibril Cisse hope to maintain their
record of appearing in every Champions League match this season.

Sami Hyypia in fact has played in every minute of the Reds' last 54
European matches.

Jamie Carragher will play in his 75th European game in this one.

Fernando Morientes with 87 has the most European appearances from
the two squads. A hat-trick for the Reds' striker would ensure he
reached 30 goals in the main Champions League competition.

Peter Crouch is looking to play his 10th European career appearance
in this one. That feat is also hoping to be achieved for Betis by
Juanito Gutierrez and Oscar Lopez.

Pepe Reina and Xabi Alonso are one booking away from a suspension.

Referee : Eric Poulat (FRA) - first time a French ref has arrived
for a Champions League game at Anfield. In away ties they have
reffed 5 times and the Reds have won 3 and drawn 2 of the games.

The Frenchman will officiate his 11th Champions League game in this
one. The 41 year old has taken charge of two groups games so far
this season. This is only his second visit to England - his other
visit came in 2003 where he oversaw a Man United win.

Betting : Liverpool 8/11, Betis 10/3, Draw : 11/5

Group Winner odds : Liverpool 11/10, Betis 14/1

Tournament winner odds : Liverpool 14/1, Betis 150/1

Liverweb Prediction : Liverpool 2 Real Betis 0

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