Liverpool welcome travelling Sion to Anfield in Group B of the Europa League on Thursday as Brendan Rodgers and his men go in search of their first win of the tournament.

The visiting Swiss side, meanwhile, were able to get their group campaign off to a winning start against Rubin Kazan and will be seeking to pull off a memorable upset.

Liverpool

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Liverpool come into the game having at least shifted some of the pressure placed on the shoulders of Rodgers after their 3-2 victory over Aston Villa at the weekend.

Those three points represent the Reds' first in five games in the Premier League, with the club not having picked up a win since their victory over Bournemouth in the middle of August.

Despite their recent run of poor form, the Anfield club will be delighted by the return from injury of Daniel Sturridge, and he appears to have hit the ground running following his match-winning brace over Villa.

One area Rodgers knows that he needs to improve on is in defence, where the club have conceded nine goals in seven games so far on the domestic side of things.

On the European front, Liverpool opened matchday one with a rather lacklustre draw away to Bordeaux as the French club battled back to claim a late point in France.

Rodgers will be well aware that finding form in the Premier League still remains his main concern, but an impressive run on the European stage could potentially boost confidence, as well as bringing hope of some silverware come the end of the season.

Liverpool face Everton in the Merseyside derby at the weekend and Rodgers may decide to leave out key players to ensure that they can compete, although he will also be aware that Thursday's Europa game gives his side the chance to register back-to-back wins for the first time since the opening two weekends of the season.

Recent form (all competitions): LLDDDW

Sion

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Sion began their European campaign in impressive fashion by beating Rubin Kazan 2-1 at home, but things have only gone south for the Swiss club since that victory.

After beating Kazan on matchday one, the club went on to lose their next two league games against Grasshopper Club Zurich and Vaduz in the Swiss Axpo Super League.

Those defeats have left Sion in fifth place in the league and the club's chairman has since launched a scathing attack on his team following their run of poor results.

What will lift the Swiss side for the trip to Anfield will be the prospect of gaining some traction from their European displays and they will be looking to perhaps steal a point that could stand them in good stead for progression in the tournament.

Sion will evidently be looking at games against Kazan and Bordeaux as perhaps more winnable fixtures, but the prospect of playing at the legendary Merseyside club could inspire the visitors with the confidence and hope required to snatch a point on their travels.

Recent form (all competitions): LWWWLL

Team News

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Rodgers is expected to make a number of changes to the team that started against Villa given the looming Merseyside derby.

Joe Gomez could return in defence, while Kolo Toure should also come back into the side after being substituted with an injury against Bordeaux.

In midfield, Joe Allen could return to the starting XI following a lengthy layoff and he could partner rising 18-year-old midfielder Jordan Rossiter in the middle.

The visitors should remain unchanged from the side that beat Kazan last time out, which would see Sion boss Didier Tholot deploy a four-five-one formation.

Lone frontman Moussa Konate scored both the goals in that win and he should keep his place in attack, while creative support will be provided by a midfield five inclusive of the industrious Edimilson Fernandes.

Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Bogdan; Toure, Sakho, Gomez, Moreno; Rossiter, Can, Ibe, Lallana, Allen; Origi

Sion possible starting lineup:
Vanins; Zverotic, Lacroix, Ziegler, Pa Modou Jagne; Assifuah, Xavier Kouassi, Fernandes, Carlitos, Salatic; Konate

Head To Head

The two sides have met each other twice before, but those previous games came way back in 1996 in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. The Reds were able to win 2-1 away in Switzerland in the first leg, while thumping Sion 6-3 in the return game back at Anfield.

We say: Liverpool 3-0 Sion

Regardless of the prospect of having to face Everton on Sunday, Liverpool should have more than enough quality in their team to get past an out-of-form Sion side. Rodgers will be aware that victory at Anfield would lift his club's to two successive wins after Saturday's victory over Villa. Liverpool will likely field a team partially made up of rising talents who will be seeking to prove themselves to a manger who may be considering his selection options for the rest of the season.

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