Europa League football betting - Benfica vs Liverpool

Liverpool`s only remaining chance of any form of silverware is the Europa League and tonight they go to Benfica to continue their challenge. After the season Rafa Benitez`s side have had they will not be thrilled to be drawn against such a good side but the Reds know that if they can get their big guns on top form they should not be in too bad a position come the return leg at Anfield.

Benfica are favourites for the game at 6/4 (bet £40 to win £60 profit), leaving Liverpool as underdogs at 2/1, with the draw at 23/10. The hosts are unbeaten in 2010 and have won seven of their last eight matches in all competitions, including their last four. Liverpool, however, know defeat only too well having taken nothing from three of their last six games, and will be very aware of the 5-0 thrashing fellow Merseysiders Everton received when they visited the Estadio da Luz earlier this season.

The bookmakers believe the game is shaping up to be very close and have made a 1-1 draw the favourite score for the game at 6/1, followed by a 1-0 home win at 15/2 with Canbet. The same result for the visitors is generally available at the same price and Skybet offer 17/2 that the game finishes 0-0. A repeat of Benfica`s resounding win over Everton is 275/1 with Paddy Power.

As always, Fernando Torres has been made favourite to open the scoring tonight for Liverpool at 9/2, followed by Benfica`s Oscar Cardozo, who has nineteen league goals this season, at 6/1 and Javier Saviola at 13/2. Liverpool`s talismanic captain Steven Gerrard is 8/1 to break the deadlock but he has failed to recreate the form he showed in recent seasons and has only managed six league goals so far this term.

Benfica are 10/3 to lead tonight at both half-time and full-time and 5/1 to win the match after drawing at half-time. The bookmakers offer 4/1 that both halves end in a draw and Liverpool are 9/2 with Coral to be in front at both the interval and the final whistle. Draw/Liverpool is generally available at 11/2.

Liverpool are slight favourites to win the Europa League, despite their troubled season, and the bookmakers offer 4/1. Hamburg are seen as a real threat, however, and the German side are longer at 9/2 only with Coral and Canbet. Benfica are also given a strong chance of mounting a challenge at 6/1.

Benfica vs Liverpool betting odds

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