Early team news for Betis clash

Tuesday 07 March 2023 10:00

The focus turns to Thursday's Europa League tie with Real Betis, thankfully, after the weekend events at Anfield.

Erik ten Hag's side did superbly to eliminate Barcelona over two legs in the play-off round and now face another team from La Liga, who sit fifth in the table and earned a goalless draw with Real Madrid on Sunday.

It promises to be another stern test for the Reds, on the road to Budapest, with the second leg to come at the impressive Estadio Benito Villamarin, which houses more than 60,000 spectators.

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There must be a temptation for the manager to make changes, after he labelled the performance "unprofessional" at Liverpool, but also a likelihood that he will act rationally in response to the 7-0 defeat, particularly given the form of the side prior to the chastening experience on Merseyside.

After all, the XI picked on Sunday was the same as the one that started the Carabao Cup final, when victory over Newcastle United secured the first piece of silverware of the Ten Hag era.

Victor Lindelof was ruled out of the Liverpool game with a minor injury, while Anthony Martial remained on the sidelines with Christian Eriksen and Donny van de Beek. 

Marcus Rashford is joint-top scorer in the competition, with four goals, and he will be looking to add to his tally back on home turf.

Casemiro is one booking away from a European suspension, that would see him miss the second leg, and there have been some suggestions both he and Raphael Varane were carrying knocks at Anfield, although this is yet to be verified.

Jadon Sancho, who missed the Emirates FA Cup win over West Ham United with illness, is one option to come into the side, after being an unused substitute last time out, but the manager may provide some more clues to his plans in Wednesday's press conference at Carrington.

Former City boss Manuel Pellegrini is the man in charge of Real Betis.

REAL BETIS'S TEAM NEWS

Former Manchester City coach Manuel Pellegrini has a choice to make in goal between Rui Silva and another ex-Blues man in Claudio Bravo.

The visitors suffered a real blow recently when Nabil Fekir, who scored the winner in the friendly between the two sides in December, was forced to undergo a knee operation.

However, there is a positive update on influential midfielder Sergio Canales, who has returned to training and looks set to make the squad, even if the Real Madrid fixture came too soon for him. Winger Juan Cruz is likely to miss out.

Bravo, German Pezzella, Luiz Felipe and Aitor Ruibal are one yellow card away from a ban in the competition.

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