Besiktas and Demba Ba return to test Liverpool in Europa League

Liverpool, odds-on at 4/7 with Coral to win this last 32 Europa League first leg fixture, will have fond memories of Turkish Super Lig side Besiktas’ last trip to Anfield.

The Merseysiders smashed the Black Eagles 8-0 in 2007 to keep their Champions League hopes alive and will now face Besiktas for just the second time on home turf, where they are 5/2 to score three or more again.

Prolific predator Daniel Sturridge is already back amongst the goals after returning from a lengthy spell on the sidelines, and is a super 7/2 punt to strike last, while reformed Mario Balotelli is 6/5 to make an impact and net anytime.

Skipper Steve Gerrard is the only current Reds player still remaining from that previous 8-0 rout and is also 7/4 to be on target in the anytime market, if fit to return following a hamstring injury.

Gerrard will not want to make his last European outing for Liverpool in the final 32 of this tournament, so back him at 6/1 to fire home first and thrill the Kop.

The Anfield icon will also welcome back a few familiar faces in the form of Besiktas boss Slaven Bilic, said to be a target for West Ham United, and fearsome frontman Demba Ba, but will be hoping they haven’t returned to haunt him.

Bilic was the Croatia coach who comforted Gerrard after preventing England from qualifying for Euro 2008, while bullish Ba benefited from the courageous captain’s now infamous slip against Chelsea last term, a mistake that cut short Liverpool’s title challenge.

Brilliant ex-Blues forward Ba has found his scoring boots again with Besiktas, who have a 5/1 chance of upsetting the apple cart with victory at Anfield.