Standard Liege vs Westerlo Preview & Prediction
When is Standard Liege vs Westerlo on and what time does it start? Standard Liege vs Westerlo will take place on Friday 22 September, 2023 – 19:45 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Standard Liege vs Westerlo? Visit each team’s official website for the latest ticket information
Where can I watch Standard Liege vs Westerlo in the UK? Standard Liege vs Westerlo will not be televised live and cannot be streamed in the UK
THE LOWDOWN
STANDARD LIEGE
As one of ‘the big three’, Standard Liege have consistently underperformed their expectations and reputation in recent seasons with the ownership of 777 Partners coming under significant scrutiny. They improved last season with the management of former NCYFC and Celtic boss Ronny Deila helping but have since regressed once, again, after Deila’s shock departure to Club Brugge.
Replaced by former Club Brugge manager Carl Hoefkens, Standard have started the 2023/24 Jupiler Pro League campaign very badly. They do, though, come into this on the back of their first win of the season after seven matches as they pulled off a surprise 3-1 hammering of Eupen in their most recent outing, last weekend.
WESTERLO
Westerlo gained promotion to the Belgian top-flight in 2022 and, despite losing their key striker Lyle Foster to Burnley in the January transfer window, they performed very well in finishing inside the top eight and the European playoff places. They did so by playing an extremely entertaining and high-scoring style of football, under the management of Jonas De Roeck.
De Roeck, though, is under pressure as Westerlo endure a major case of ‘second season syndrome’. They begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting rock-bottom in the Jupiler Pro League with just one point collected in their opening seven matches. They come into this one on the back of being hammered 3-0 by reigning champions Royal Antwerp last weekend.
THE TEAM NEWS
STANDARD LIEGE
Carl Hoefkens still has Croatian striker Stipe Perica as an injury doubt, whilst Steven Alzate, who joined loan from Brighton in the summer, is unavailable due to suspension.
PREDICTED XI (3-5-2): Bodart; Vanheusden, Bope, Laifis; Fossey, Kawabe, Hayden, Christie-Davies, Djenepo; Kanga, Sowah
UNAVAILABLE: Alzate (Suspended)
QUESTIONABLE: Perica (Injured)
WESTERLO
Life does not get easier for Jonas De Roeck’s bottom-of-the-table side as they must deal with several injury concerns ahead of this weekend’s trip to Liege.
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Gillekens; Reynolds, Neustadter, Bayram, Rommens; Van den Keybus, Sydorchuk, Van Eenoo, Chadli; Frigan, Stassin
UNAVAILABLE: Perdichizzi (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Bos (Injured), Bemat (Injured), Yow (Injured), El Hari (Injured)
THE PREDICTION
At the end of this season, this one could well have been a defining moment in the campaign for both sides. Standard Liege are seeking to really break free and move away from the bottom four spots, especially after their surprise win away at Eupen last weekend. Westerlo, on the other hand, are in danger of getting cut adrift and a loss to a fellow struggler would only exaggerate that possibility. Given their home advantage, Standard Liege are the favourites for this one.
