Jurgen Klopp's second season with Liverpool isn't necessarily going to be one for the record books, but it definitely can be one that delivers fruitfulness down the road. The Reds need three points to ensure a spot in the Champions League next season, and their last match day could be much easier against Middlesbrough at home.
At 10 a.m. ET, tune into the NBC family of networks for live television coverage of this Barclays Premier League match on Sunday, May 21, 2017, at Anfield.
Soccer Odds at BookMaker.eu
Liverpool -600
Middlesbrough +1400
Draw +650
Over/Under 3
Odds Analysis
The bottom line here is that Liverpool is expected to turn on the jets and beat up Boro by multiple goals. It's favored by a whopping two balls on the Asian Handicap, and a to win bet only nets 16.7 percent profits at -600. Still, it's hard to see any other result but this one for a team that is 11-5-2 at home and has oh so much on the line with this 90 minutes.
Key Injuries
The news is good for Adlene Guedioura, who is expected to finish out the campaign for Boro. Daniel Ayala will very likely sit, as too will Victor Valdes and Gaston Ramirez. Dael Fry was called up to the U-20 World Cup and will rejoin the side after the process of relegation back to Championship is complete.
Aside from the long-term absentees, Sadio Mane and Danny Ings, Liverpool is in pretty good shape at the moment on the injury front. Firmino has a muscle injury and is up in the air for the last fixture, but we have to imagine if he's anywhere near capable, he'll be on the pitch.
Recent Form
Middlesbrough has played with a sense of pride at the end of the campaign. The 2-1 loss at home to Southampton easily could have gone the other way, and we know that a 2-2 draw to Manchester City at home probably should have ended in three points. Still, Boro has just one win on the road this season, and the last time it was out against a contender, it was smashed 3-0 by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Its last three away fixtures to Chelsea, Bournemouth and Hull City watched a total of 11 goals go past the combination of Valdes and Brad Guzan.
Liverpool might very well rue the day it was beaten at home by Crystal Palace or managed just a point in a goalless draw against Southampton, but the club did the job it had to in its last fixture against West Ham, winning 4-0 at London Stadium and at least keeping its fate in its own hands for the Top 4.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
There's a lot to digest here for Liverpool, and we're going to make the contrarian pick for sure. Boro has played so well at times in these last matches. Sure, the Chelsea fixture was a dud, but who has played well against the Blues over the course of the end of the season? Not many clubs for sure.
Yes, we recognize that the magician Coutinho could have his say and ultimately end up aiding four balls into the back of the net, but the longer this match stays scoreless, the tighter and tighter Liverpool will get. We do think that the ice is going to break eventually, but when it does, the Reds will be on the back foot the rest of the way just trying to will their way to that Top 4 finish. They'll get the job done, but Middlesbrough will feel at least some sense of accomplishment in its last match before dropping back to Championship.
Barclays Premier League Odds: Liverpool 1, Middlesbrough 0
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