Liverpool Face Qarabag In High-Stakes Champions League Showdown

The stage is set at Anfield for a pivotal Champions League clash as Liverpool host Qarabag FK in the final league phase match of the 2025-26 campaign. With a place in the Round of 16 on the line, both teams enter this encounter with plenty to play for, and the stakes could hardly be higher for the Reds, who have endured a rollercoaster season across domestic and European fronts.

Liverpool, currently sitting fourth in the Champions League table with 15 points after seven matches, find themselves in a strong position to secure automatic qualification to the knockout rounds. A win against Qarabag would guarantee their spot in the top eight, while even a draw could be enough depending on other results. But anything less could see them nervously relying on the fortunes of their rivals, given the razor-thin margins separating the top teams. As reported by multiple sources, there are just three points between 15th-placed Juventus and third-placed Real Madrid, underscoring the intensity and unpredictability of this season’s league phase.

Qarabag, on the other hand, have emerged as one of the Champions League’s surprise packages. The Azerbaijani side, currently 18th in the table with 10 points, have already secured a playoff spot and are on the brink of making history by reaching the knockouts for the first time. Their journey has been marked by resilience and attacking flair, averaging 1.9 goals per game and failing to score in just one match throughout the campaign. Notably, they stunned Eintracht Frankfurt 3-2 last week, with Camilo Duran netting twice and Bahlul Mustafazade adding another, proving they’re more than capable of upsetting the odds.

For Liverpool, this European form has been a welcome respite from domestic woes. Arne Slot’s men have struggled in the Premier League, going winless in their last five matches and slipping 14 points behind league leaders Arsenal. Their most recent league outing saw them fall 3-2 to Bournemouth, a result that cranked up the pressure on Slot and his squad. Yet, in the Champions League, the Reds have been a different beast. They come into this match unbeaten in their last six competitive fixtures at Anfield and have won 10 of their last 13 home Champions League games since the start of the 2023/24 season. Their latest continental triumph was a commanding 3-0 victory over Olympique Marseille, with Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo finding the net and an own goal from Geronimo Rulli sealing the win. Mohamed Salah also made his return to the lineup in that match, offering a timely boost to Liverpool’s attacking options.

The confirmed Liverpool lineup for this crucial encounter features Alisson Becker in goal; a defensive line of Andy Robertson, Virgil Van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch, and Jeremie Frimpong; midfielders Alexis Mac Allister, Florian Wirtz, and Dominik Szoboszlai; and a forward trio of Mohamed Salah, Hugo Ekitike, and Cody Gakpo. However, the Reds are not without their injury concerns. Federico Chiesa, Joe Gomez, Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni, Stefan Bajcetic, and Alexander Isak are all sidelined, while Ibrahima Konate is absent due to personal reasons. Curtis Jones also misses out through illness, though Chiesa’s return to training offers a glimmer of hope for future fixtures.

Qarabag’s lineup is equally settled, with Mateusz Kochalski between the posts; defenders Elvin Jafarquliyev, Kevin Medina, Bahlul Mustafazade, and Matheus Silva; midfielders Marko Jankovic, Pedro Bicalho, and Jonathan Montiel; and forwards Abdellah Zoubir, Camilo Duran, and Leandro Andrade. The only notable absentee for the visitors is Kady Malinowski, who remains sidelined due to injury. Qarabag’s head coach, Gurban Gurbanov, expressed confidence ahead of the match, stating, “We will face a team with a very magnificent stadium, with magnificent fans and a unique game. The players who have always been in this team have always been willing. We really want to show a good game here, to fight well. I believe in my players. I believe that they will try to show their best game. We will try to show a good, disciplined game until the end.”

Arne Slot, meanwhile, emphasized the need for ruthlessness in front of goal, especially after the narrow defeat to Bournemouth. “For me, it’s so simple. In between the boxes we are a very good team. Also, against Bournemouth, so many times we were in positions I want my players to be in. But killing those moments. Bringing it from promising positions to creating chances. If we have the chances, then be clinical and finish it off. That is something we have to improve,” Slot told reporters ahead of the match.

Despite being heavy favorites, Liverpool cannot afford to underestimate Qarabag. The visitors have shown a knack for coming from behind, collecting seven points from losing positions—tied with Barcelona for the most in the competition. Their counter-attacking prowess and ability to exploit defensive lapses have made them dangerous, particularly against teams that press high and leave space at the back. Liverpool’s defense, marshaled by Van Dijk, will need to be alert, especially given that the Reds have conceded more goals at home than away in this season’s Champions League.

Offensively, Liverpool will look to Florian Wirtz and Mohamed Salah to drive the attack, with Gakpo and Ekitike providing additional threat. The Anfield faithful will be hoping their side can replicate the intensity and clinical finishing displayed against Marseille, as anything less could open the door for a nervy finish to the league phase.

For fans eager to catch the action, the match kicks off at 8 p.m. local time in Liverpool (3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT in the United States), with coverage available on a host of platforms including Paramount+ (US), ViX and ViX Premium Deportes 10 (USA), TNT Sports 2 and discovery+ (UK), and CBC Sport (Azerbaijan), among others. Online radio coverage is also accessible via LFCTV GO, ensuring supporters worldwide won’t miss a minute of the drama.

With so much riding on the outcome, both teams are expected to go all out. Liverpool’s superior European pedigree and home advantage make them favorites, but Qarabag’s resilience and attacking intent suggest this will be anything but a walkover. As the whistle blows at Anfield, the tension will be palpable, with every pass, tackle, and shot potentially shaping the destiny of both clubs in this season’s Champions League.

As the league phase draws to a close, all eyes are on Anfield to see whether Liverpool can cement their place in the last 16 or if Qarabag will spring yet another surprise in a campaign already full of twists and turns. One thing’s for sure—the Champions League drama is far from over.