Middlesbrough continue to prove a hard side to break down without proving too much of a threat themselves. Aitor Karanka’s side have only lost by more than a one-goal margin on one occasion all season.
However, they have scored the fewest goals in the Premier League this season (13) and Karanka will need to change that for Boro to boost their chances of survival.
Liverpool only managed to a somewhat surprising 2-2 draw with West Ham at the weekend and are now six points behind league leaders Chelsea. Their vulnerability at the back continues to undermine progress and Jurgen Klopp will need to address that. Place your bet on Naijabet.com
This is the first league meeting between the sides since 2009 when Boro triumphed 2-0 on home soil. In fact, Liverpool have a poor recent record at the Riverside Stadium.
They haven’t won any of the last six matches and have failed to score in five of them! They were different times to this free scoring Liverpool side and it would take a monumental effort from Boro to keep Liverpool out for only the third time this season.
Team News
Middlesbrough – Alvaro Negredo and Gaston Ramirez both missed Middlesbrough’s 1-0 defeat to Southampton at the weekend and Aitor Karanka has revealed Ramirez is definitely out, while Negredo will require a late test.
Karanka has tended to set up his team in a 4-5-1 formation against the
bigger teams and could revert to that system here, which could see Adama Traoré return after a two-game absence.
George Friend is back in training but Karanka says they need to make sure he is “150% ready” before making a decision whether to bring him back into the team after a four-game absence.
Liverpool – Emre Can missed Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with West Ham at the weekend after picking up a minor knee injury in training and the midfielder remains a doubt here.
Dejan Lovren is unlikely to recover in time from the hamstring problem he picked up half way through their draw with the Hammers. Ragnar Klavan or Lucas will deputise in his absence.
Loris Karius has come in for heavy criticism this season but Jurgen Klopp is expected to stick with his No.1 goalkeeper.
Philippe Coutinho isn’t expected back until the end of the month, while Danny Ings is out for the season. Daniel Sturridge could be sidelined for the fifth game in a row.
Match Facts
Middlesbrough have seen under 2.5 goals in 14 of their last 16 matches against Liverpool in all competitions.
Middlesbrough have kept a clean sheet in 6 of their last 7 home matches against Liverpool in all competitions.
There have been under 2.5 goals scored in 8 of Middlesbrough’s last 9 Premier League games .
Liverpool are undefeated in 12 of their last 13 matches in Premier League.
Liverpool have scored at least 2 goals in 6 of their last 7 matches (Premier League).
Middlesbrough are undefeated in their last 7 home matches against Liverpool in all competitions.
Liverpool are undefeated in 9 of their last 10 matches against Middlesbrough in all competitions.
As at this post Middlesbrough has 6.15 odd to win the match on NaijaBet while Liverpool has 1.58 odd to win the match also, while the odd to draw the match is 4.10.