Liverpool are set to welcome FK Rabotnicki Skopje to Anfield as Roy Hodgson’s side play the second leg of their Europa League third qualifying leg against the minnows from Macedonia.
The Reds hold a 2-0 lead from the first leg and will be expected to build on their comfortable outing in the Philip Arena last week, where two goals from David Ngog ensured that the Merseyside club won their first competitive game of the season.
The game comes just days after Chinese businessmen Kenneth Huang was strongly linked with a takeover bid.
Liverpool will line up against Rabotnicki with a near full strength line up, and Hodgson could very well treat the game as another chance to analyse his team ahead of the Premier League season — which is just over one week away.
The five-time European Champions will be hoping to continue the high levels of optimism that is currently sweeping through Anfield, just weeks after the club were in turmoil under Rafael Benitez.
They finished seventh in the Premier League and ended a miserable season with boardroom fallout and uncertainly over the futures of two of their finest players in Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.
However, Hodgson’s arrival from Fulham has given the club a new lease of life and a new sense of enthusiasm this season has been maximized with the signing of Joe Cole from Chelsea.
Steven Gerrard quickly pledged his future to Liverpool soon after the former Fulham manager's appointment, and Fernando Torres also spoke of his plans to remain at the club, something which has come as a huge relief to everyone connected with the Merseysiders.
Another victory will only boost confidence levels ahead of a much tougher test against Arsenal in Hodgson’s opening Premier League fixture.
As for Rabotnicki, they will be coming into the game as huge underdogs following their 2-0 defeat at home, and even manager Zoran Stratev admits that they face a near impossible task.
"Macedonian football is at this level and I don't think we can do any more - but our fans may hope for something special in the match," Stratev said.
Team news
Liverpool are expected to field a near full strength line up for their first game at Anfield this season, with Joe Cole set to make his first appearance at Anfield in a Liverpool jersey.
The England quartet of Carragher, Gerrard, Cole and Johnson have all been placed in the Liverpool squad, and the team that will be much stronger than the inexperienced side that did such a professional job in Macedonia last week.
All four featured in Liverpool’s 1-0 friendly defeat against Borussia Moenchengladbach at the weekend and will continue their return to match fitness by featuring on Thursday.
There is also a return for January signing Maxi Rodriguez, who is another player to return from his break and will be hoping for a good performance to kick start his Liverpool career.
The Reds are still without a number of key players though, with the likes of Fernando Torres, Dirk Kuyt, Jose Reina, and wantaway midfielder Javier Mascherano all still resting from their World Cup efforts.
Fabio Aurelio is also in the squad following his return to the club: the Brazilian full back had been released at the end of last season, but Hodgson has moved to re-sign the full back after failing to land other targets.
"I will put out the strongest team possible," Hodgson told the press on the eve of the game.
“We are stronger on paper than we were in the first game because players that I did not consider using have now played at least 45 minutes on Sunday. That gives me a chance to throw them into the game.
"If they are senior players and they have been training with us for the last week or so since we got back and the medical people are confident we can use them without prejudicing their future we will use them."
As for Rabotnicki, they are expected to keep the same team which fought so well in the first leg.
Players to watch
Liverpool
David Ngog finally appeared from the shadows last week to become Liverpool’s man of the moment with two well taken goals, which have given the Reds one foot in the next round of the Europa League. Ngog has struggled to find his best form in a Liverpool shirt since his move from Paris St Germain in 2008, and has been strongly linked with a £6 million move away from the club. He has all the attributes to do well, Ngog has pace to burn and a good eye for goal and Kop fans will be hoping he can continue his goalscoring form with some more tonight.
Rabotnicki
Martin Bogatinov is definitely going to be a very busy man tonight and will need to perform out of his skin if his team are to avoid a hammering at Anfield. The 24-year-old Macedonian keeper will be hoping to impress on the bigger stage
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