Europa League betting - Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid

Liverpool play their home leg of their Europa League semi-final against Atletico Madrid tonight, needing to overturn a 1-0 deficit they sustained from the first leg. Diego Forlan`s strike gives Atletico the edge tonight, in a match which is Liverpool`s last chance to save their woeful season.

Rafa Benitez`s side have suffered on all fronts this season, failing to make it past the group stages of the Champions League and now very unlikely to make the top four and qualify next season. Even if they manage to win this competition, they could face a mass exodus from the club, with Benitez apparently moving to Juventus, and Fernando Torres unlikely to want to play for a club without Champions League football.

Liverpool are favourites to win the match, priced at 8/13 (bet £130 to make £80 profit), while Atletico are at 5/1. The draw is priced at 3/1. Despite being favourites for the match, Liverpool are underdogs to qualify from the tie, at 13/10 on Betfair. Atletico are at 5/6 with Stan James to make the final.

A win for Liverpool in the game will not necessarily be enough, as they failed to score an away goal. If Atletico score first then Liverpool will have to score three goals to make the final. The favourite scoreline for the match is a 1-0 Liverpool win, which is priced at 6/1. Sky Bet offer 7/1 on a 2-0 win, which would see Liverpool through. A 1-1 draw is at 17/2, and a 2-1 win for Liverpool is at 9/1. Liverpool are 12/1 with Paddy Power to win 3-0, and a goalless draw and a 3-1 Liverpool win are at the same price. Atletico are 19/1 on Betfair to win 1-0.

At the head of the half time / full time market, Liverpool / Liverpool is very short at 11/8. Ladbrokes are best priced on draw / Liverpool, at 7/2, while draw / draw is at 11/2. Atletico are priced at 11/1 with Victor Chandler to be winning at half time and full time.

Liverpool`s strike force is severely depleted for tonight`s match, with Dirk Kuyt and David N`Gog both doubtful. Fernando Torres is already out for the rest of the season, and this means that Ryan Babel could start up front. Alberto Aquilani is also likely to play as Maxi Rodriquez is ineligible. Liverpool`s dearth of decent strikers means that Steven Gerrard heads the first goalscorer market, despite only having scored 12 goals this season. He is priced at 11/2 to score the first goal. In spite of their injury doubts, N`Gog and Kuyt are both 7/1 shots to do the honours, while Diego Forlan is at 7/1. Ryan Babel is at 8/1, while wonderkid Sergio Aguero is at 9/1 on Betfair.

Despite being underdogs to go through tonight, Liverpool are still favourites to win the competition, best priced at 9/4 with Bet365. Atletico are at 11/4, while Hamburg are at 3/1 and Fulham are at 4/1 on Betfair.

Liverpool v Atletico Madrid betting odds

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