Young Boys v Liverpool - 20/9/12

Liverpool FC will hope to extend their 40-year unbeaten run against Swiss opposition when they face BSC Young Boys in Berne, as the two clubs meet for the first time in Europe.

BSC Young Boys will look to become the first Swiss side to beat Liverpool FC in over 40 years as the Reds come to Berne in UEFA Europa League Group A.

Previous meetings
• The sides are meeting for the first time in Europe.

• Young Boys' only previous encounter with English opponents saw them lose out to Tottenham Hotspur FC in the 2010/11 UEFA Champions League play-offs. They won 3-2 in the first leg in Berne, but three goals from former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch helped Spurs win the return leg 4-0.

• Liverpool's record in eight games against Swiss sides reads W5 D2 L1 (W2 D1 L1 in Switzerland – W3 D1 L0 at home). Their only defeat against Swiss opponents came at Servette FC in September 1971, and they are now unbeaten in seven games against Swiss clubs.

Match background
• Young Boys reached the round of 32 at the end of their only previous group stage campaign in 2010/11, losing out to FC Zenit St Petersburg.

• A 2-0 defeat against FC Midtjylland in their play-off decider brought an end to Young Boys' ten-game unbeaten home run in UEFA club competition, which comprised eight wins and two draws.

• UEFA Champions League regulars Liverpool competed in the UEFA Europa League group stage for the first time in 2010/11, making it to the round of 16, where they lost out to SC Braga.

• The Reds are unbeaten in five European games, including all four under their new boss Brendan Rodgers. Both their away games in UEFA Europa League qualifying ended in 1-0 wins.

Team facts
• This is Liverpool's 100th UEFA Cup and UEFA Europa League game, with their record in the previous 99 reading W55 D26 L18.

• Liverpool have had two notable Swiss players: defenders Stéphane Henchoz (1999-05) and Philipp Degen (2008-10). Henchoz is remembered particularly fondly, having helped the Reds to win a treble of the FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup in 2000/01.

• Young Boys' right-back Scott Sutter was born in England, and played youth team football for Millwall FC, Barnet FC, Aston Villa FC and Charlton Athletic FC before moving to his father’s home country and starting his professional career with Grasshopper-Club.

• Young Boys' Canadian winger Josh Simpson started his career in England, representing Millwall FC from 2004-06.

• Capped five times by Switzerland, Young Boys' coach Martin Rueda was a defender for Grasshopper-Club, FC Wettingen 93, FC Luzern and Neuchâtel Xamax FC before moving into coaching. He took charge of Young Boys in 2012 following a two-year spell with FC Lausanne Sport, in which his side reached the 2010/11 UEFA Europa League group stage.

• Rodgers replaced Kenny Dalglish as Liverpool coach at the end of the 2011/12 season, having won promotion to the Premier League with Swansea City AFC and led the Welsh club to a comfortable mid-table finish in their first season back in the top flight. Born in Northern Ireland, he had to end his playing career at 20 due to a knee condition, but made his name as a coach with Watford FC and Reading FC. He is coaching in Europe for the first time this season.

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Should be an easy enough game for us, but no games seem to be easy lately

Our young lads could win this one.

Always one for a bit of silly schoolboy humour, I did have a giggle to myself when I found out the nearest station to the Stade de Suisse is Wankdorf, probably named after all Young Boys favourite pastime. 

This club must be where the Swiss guard acquire talent for the priests.

 

Hope yesil starts maybe a run out for the other kid number 11 can't remember his name the morrocan. I reason he'll play suso too. Hopefully put the shits up the first team. Take the opportunity lads!

Liverpool (from): Jones, Wisdom, Carragher, Coates, Enrique, Shelvey, Sahin, Henderson, Downing, Yesil, Morgan, Gulacsi, Robinson, Coady, Suso, Sterling, Pacheco, Assaidi.

That's the squad according to the BBC site.

Absolutely no experience on the bench so we have to get it right. Good to see Pacheco's still in contention, looked good in preseason imo. Nice not to have a bench full of defenders and hopefully if all goes well, Pacheco, Suso and Assaidi will get a run.

Would have thought Flanno would be there too but Wisdom has played well at RB for the reserves he just doesn't offer a lot going forward. Suppose Carra can play there too if need be.