Genk vs Liverpool 24/10/19

24 October 2019

For the first time in history, Genk and Liverpool will face-off in the UEFA Champions League (CL) at the Luminus Arena.

Although they have secured their third-ever group stage appearance, the defending Belgian champions are still chasing their elusive first triumph in the CL proper (D8, L6). After a dismal 6-2 defeat to RB Salzburg in the Group E opener, the Blauw-Wit held Napoli to a goalless home draw, remaining the only side in this section to fail to pick up a win after the opening two matches. However, Genk’s CL home record (W4, D6, D2), qualifying included, indicates they might cause problems to Liverpool, although they’ve struggled to clinch a triumph in both of their previous European meetings with Premier League rivals (D1, L1). Another consolation for the home fans is that Felice Mazzù’s players have racked up a four-game unbeaten home run in all competitions in the build-up to this fixture (W3, D1).

Although the reigning champions kicked off their 2019/20 campaign with a 2-0 away loss to Napoli, they’ve undone the damage by securing a tense 4-3 home triumph against RB Salzburg. Interestingly, the Reds have now lost four consecutive away games in the group stage, failing to find the back of the net on three of those occasions. However, Jurgen Klopp’s men have pulled off six wins in their last eight CL outings (L2), with seven of their results (win/loss) in that sequence being settled by at least a two-goal margin. The Merseyside giants go into this encounter on the back of a 1-1 away draw with Manchester United in the Premier League that brought their five-game winning run in all competitions to a halt.