Liverpool vs Rangers Picks and Predictions: Onslaught of Goals at Anfield

Tuesday sees a ‘Battle of Britain’ as Liverpool face Rangers in the Champions League. We don’t get these games often but it’s always exciting when clubs from neighboring England and Scotland meet. It means more than just soccer.

Both Liverpool and Rangers finished second in their leagues last year and neither has reached expectations yet this season, but who will come out on top of this Champions League Group A clash. Don’t miss our Liverpool vs. Rangers tips and predictions.

Liverpool vs Rangers odds

Liverpool vs Rangers picks and predictions

Judging by the odds of a Liverpool win, as short as -750 with some sportsbooks, you could be forgiven for thinking that this will be an easy win for Liverpool. If you’ve studied their games this season, then you probably know it won’t be.

Let’s be clear, Liverpool should — and most likely will — win this game, but they currently sit ninth in the Premier League, already 11 points behind Arsenal. They’ve also played poorly in the Champions League and found themselves torn apart by Napoli, losing 4-1, and to be honest, that scoreline flatters the Reds. 

Despite Sadio Mane's departure this summer, there were huge hopes after the signing of Darwin Nunez but Liverpool’s attack still doesn’t look gelled or coherent. They’re still scoring a lot of goals — they rank fourth in the Premier League in scoring — but unlike the Liverpool we’ve seen in previous years, they have a soft underbelly. 

Injuries across the center of defense and midfield haven’t helped but even the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has previously been brilliant, just doesn't look confident anymore and is struggling defensively. Their city rivals Everton have conceded fewer goals in more games and their best players like Virgil van Dijk no longer feel unbeatable.

Rangers might be the second-best team in Scotland but in Premier League terms, they’d be in the bottom half of the table, at best, and Liverpool are far better in every aspect, regardless of their shortcomings. Rangers have averaged one goal conceded in the Scottish Premiership this season and have allowed seven goals in two Champions League games, so we can expect Liverpool to score. 

The question isn’t whether Liverpool find the back of the net — because they will — but whether Rangers can score and the evidence points to yes. They’ve scored 20 goals in eight league games in Scotland and now face a Liverpool defense devoid of confidence. Liverpool come into this after giving up three goals to a Brighton team that just lost their manager and even worse Liverpool have only had two clean sheets all season. 

You can get +150 on Liverpool winning this with both teams scoring, which looks like a great bet based on recent results.

My best bet: Liverpool to win and both teams to score (+150 at bet365)

Liverpool vs Rangers side analysis

Despite Liverpool’s recent struggles, they’re still packed with talent and have some world-class players. Jurgen Klopp will as always send his team out in a 4-3-3 with Joel Matip likely to partner Virgil van Dijk. Fabinho and Thiago will make up the midfield alongside one of Jordan Henderson or Harvey Elliott. 

Klopp’s biggest dilemma will be the front three, with Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz, and Roberto Firmino all in contention to start. Given that Firmino managed two goals against Brighton, you’d expect him to get the start. That’ll likely see him flanked by Salah and Diaz. 

Rangers come into this fresh off a 4-0 win over Hearts in which Antonio Colak scored a brace. He’s scored eight goals in eight games domestically, so you can expect to see him up against Matip and Van Dijk. He’ll be the sole striker with Rangers likely to field a 4-2-3-1 formation, with two holding midfielders to drop back in and shield the backline. 

There’s simply too much quality in Klopp’s team to think that they won’t secure the three points here, especially when Rangers sit bottom of Group A with zero points. This isn’t a vintage Liverpool team but they’ll get the job done in front of that Anfield crowd.

Liverpool vs Rangers Over/Under analysis

The bookies are very confident in goals with the odds of -300 and with good reason. Liverpool have seen eight goals in their two Champions League Group A games so far and Rangers seven. 

Domestically, both teams have also seen their games full of scoring. Liverpool’s Premier League games have seen Over 2.5 goals 71.4% of the time, with that rising to 75% when they’re playing at Anfield. It’s similar for Rangers, who have seen Over 2.5 goals in 87.5% of their games domestically this season, with that rising to 100% when they’re away from home. Yes, all four away games have hit the Over.

For that reason, you’d have to think Over 2.5 lands, but at odds of -300, you would be wiser to look at alternate markets such as Over 3.5 goals, where the line currently sits at -110.

Liverpool vs Rangers game info

Liverpool vs Rangers key injuries

Liverpool: Ibrahima Konate CB (Questionable), Naby Keita CM (Out), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain CM (Out), Curtis Jones CM (Out).
Rangers: Ianis Hagi CAM (Out), Kemar Roofe CAM (Questionable).

Liverpool vs Rangers weather

A wet day in Liverpool will see the temperature around 60 degrees when it kicks off at 8:00 p.m. local time.

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