Liverpool vs Qarabag

Anfield takes center stage tonight, Wednesday, January 28, 2026, for a historic first meeting between Liverpool and the Azerbaijani champions, Qarabag. Kick-off is set for 20:00 GMT (15:00 ET).

For Arne Slot’s Liverpool, the mission is simple: a victory guarantees a Top 8 finish (currently 4th with 15 points) and a direct ticket to the Round of 16. Qarabag (currently 18th with 10 points) arrives as the "dark horses" of the competition; having already taken points off Chelsea and beaten Benfica, they are fighting to cement a spot in the knockout play-offs.

Match Information

Liverpool: Navigating a Defensive Crisis

The Reds enter this finale in a strange position: dominant in Europe (winning 5 of 7) but struggling domestically after a shock 3–2 defeat to Bournemouth on Saturday. Arne Slot’s main headache is a decimated backline that will force some creative reshuffling tonight.

Team News and Selection:

• Center-Back Shortage: Ibrahima Konaté remains absent due to personal reasons (family bereavement), while Joe Gomez is out after a collision with Alisson over the weekend. With Giovanni Leoni also out long-term, Wataru Endo is expected to drop back and partner Virgil van Dijk.

• Long-term Absentees: Alexander Isak (broken leg) and Conor Bradley (knee) are both sidelined. Jeremie Frimpong will continue at right-back.

• Attack Boost: Mohamed Salah and Hugo Ekitike are both fit and expected to lead the line. Curtis Jones is one yellow card away from a suspension, which may influence Slot's midfield rotation

• Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Frimpong, Endo, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Ekitike. 

Qarabag: The Giant-Killers from Baku

Gurban Gurbanov’s side has earned the nickname "The Horsemen" for their relentless work rate. They have defied the odds all season, and despite a domestic loss to Kapaz over the weekend, they have saved their best for the big stage. A win at Anfield would be the greatest result in Azerbaijani football history.

Team News and Selection:

• Key Miss: The visitors are without Brazilian playmaker Kady Borges, who has been out since November. Ramil Sheydayev is also ineligible

• Ones to Watch: Camilo Duran has been lethal in Europe, scoring twice in their 3–2 win over Eintracht Frankfurt. The creative burden will fall on Abdellah Zoubir and Joni Montiel.

• Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Kochalski; Silva, Mustafazada, Medina, Cafarquliyev; Jankovic, Bicalho; Andrade, Montiel, Zoubir; Duran.

 Head-to-Head (H2H) and Key Stats

• Historic First: This is the first-ever competitive meeting between these two clubs.

• Anfield Factor: Liverpool has not lost a Champions League group/league phase match at home since 2020.

• Qarabag’s Road Woes: While formidable at home, Qarabag has struggled away from Baku against English opposition, conceding 10 goals across their last two trips to London.

• Early Pressure: Liverpool has scored 29% of their goals this season between the 31st and 45th minutes. 

Tactical Analysis and Prediction

Arne Slot will demand his side controls the tempo through Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch to protect the makeshift center-back pairing. Expect Liverpool to utilize the pace of Frimpong and Gakpo to stretch a Qarabag defense that has conceded 15 goals in the league phase so far.

Qarabag will likely deploy a "cautious" 4-2-3-1, looking to hit Liverpool on the break. If they can isolate Wataru Endo in a footrace with the rapid Duran, they may find joy. However, the sheer individual quality of Salah and Szoboszlai in front of the Kop is usually too much for visiting defenses to handle.

Final Score Prediction: Liverpool 3–1 Qarabag