The lights of Anfield will burn a little brighter on 28 January 2026 as Liverpool welcome Qarabag in a UEFA Champions League league-stage showdown that could reshape the knockout picture. With Liverpool sitting 4th in the overall table on 15 points and Qarabag down in 18th with 10, this is very much a clash between established royalty and ambitious outsiders – but both are still firmly in the qualification conversation. The hosts arrive in strong continental form, with four wins in their last five Champions League outings (form: WWLWW), while Qarabag’s more erratic sequence (WLLDL) underlines a side capable of both shocks and stumbles. Under the watch of referee I. Kruzliak, Anfield’s famous European atmosphere will expect a home win, yet the stakes – and the numbers – suggest this could be far more than a routine night for Liverpool.
Form Guide & Season Trends
Liverpool’s Champions League campaign has been largely convincing. Five wins from seven, no draws, and only two defeats underline a team that tends to impose itself rather than settle. They have scored 14 goals at an average of 2.0 per game, a mark of an attack that regularly finds solutions. Interestingly, though, Anfield has not been an impenetrable fortress in Europe this season: two wins and one defeat in three home matches, with 5 goals scored but 6 conceded. An average of 2.0 goals conceded at home – compared to just 0.5 away – hints at a side that occasionally over-commits in front of its own fans.
Defensively overall, Liverpool concede 1.1 goals per match, so they remain relatively solid, particularly on their travels. Three clean sheets from seven underline their capacity to shut games down when needed, and they have failed to score only once, suggesting that even on off-nights they carry a constant threat. Their biggest home win so far, 3-2, and heaviest home defeat, 1-4, both point to the same theme: when Liverpool play at Anfield in Europe this season, chaos is never far away.
Qarabag, for their part, arrive as one of the competition’s more entertaining and fearless sides. Across 13 Champions League matches this season, they have scored 28 times – more than Liverpool – at an impressive average of 2.2 per game. Their away output is strong too, with 11 goals in 6 road games (1.8 per match). This is no timid visitor. Defensively, however, Qarabag are more vulnerable: 20 goals conceded overall (1.5 per game), and 8 of those in 6 away matches (1.3 per game). They have four clean sheets, but when they are beaten, they tend to be opened up – their heaviest away defeat being 3-1.
Form-wise, Qarabag’s long-run Champions League record (WWWWWLWWLDLLW) reveals both purple patches and wobbles. A five-game winning streak earlier in the campaign proves they can build momentum, but recent league-stage form of WLLDL shows inconsistency at a higher level of opposition. Still, with 10 points and a positive attacking profile, they are far from mere passengers in this encounter.
Head-to-Head History
There is no recent head-to-head data between Liverpool and Qarabag in the provided records, which only adds to the intrigue. For Liverpool, Anfield has long been a graveyard for European newcomers, but Qarabag arrive without the burden of bad memories or a historical inferiority complex in this specific matchup. Instead, this becomes a fresh chapter: a traditional powerhouse facing a club that has steadily grown into a credible continental presence.
The stylistic clash implied by the numbers suggests an open contest. Liverpool’s home games in Europe this season have already produced 11 goals in just three matches, while Qarabag’s Champions League campaign has averaged 3.7 goals per game overall (28 scored, 20 conceded in 13). Without any historical template between the sides to lean on, both managers will be forced to trust their current identities – Liverpool leaning on high-tempo, chance-heavy football, and Qarabag on their bold, front-foot approach that has brought them this far.
Team News & Key Men
Liverpool’s squad is stretched in certain areas. Several players are ruled out, including defenders J. Gomez and I. Konate, which could weaken the defensive rotation and force continuity in the back line. The absence of A. Isak with a broken leg is a significant blow in attack, removing a high-calibre option who would otherwise deepen Liverpool’s goalscoring threat. Youngsters S. Bajcetic and C. Bradley are also sidelined, while F. Chiesa is listed as questionable with an injury, potentially robbing Liverpool of another explosive attacking weapon if he fails to prove his fitness.
Even so, the hosts retain star quality. Dominik Szoboszlai has been one of the standout performers in this Champions League campaign. With 4 goals and 3 assists in just 7 appearances, he has been the creative heartbeat of Liverpool’s midfield, contributing directly to half of their 14 goals. His 440 passes and 19 key passes show how much of the play flows through him, while 10 shots on target from 12 attempts underline his dual role as creator and finisher. With other attacking talents around him, much of Liverpool’s attacking responsibility will again rest on Szoboszlai’s shoulders.
For Qarabag, the danger is shared between two in-form attackers. Leandro Andrade has 4 goals and 2 assists from midfield, a driving force who combines end product with work rate – 9 key passes and a decent defensive contribution show his all-round influence. Alongside him, C. Durán has also struck 4 goals and added an assist, operating as a more orthodox attacking spearhead. With 11 shots and 7 on target, Durán is a constant threat in the box. The absence of goalkeeper S. Mahammadaliyev could be significant, though: losing a first-choice keeper in a match of this magnitude at Anfield may leave Qarabag more exposed under Liverpool’s pressure.
The Verdict
All signs point towards a high-tempo, attack-minded contest under the Anfield lights. Liverpool’s superior pedigree, stronger overall defensive record, and home advantage make them clear favourites, especially with a place in the upper knockout rounds within reach. Yet Qarabag’s scoring power and fearless approach mean this is unlikely to be a procession. Expect Liverpool to dominate territory and chances, with Qarabag always dangerous on the break and from transitions. The hosts look likeliest to edge a lively, goal-rich encounter – but they may have to work hard, and score more than once, to subdue their ambitious visitors.
