AUGSBURG FOCUS: Liverpool warned; Baba's Chelsea struggles
Jurgen Klopp is heading home - after Liverpool were drawn against German side Augsburg in the Europa League.
It may be a return to familiar territory for Klopp, but what can Liverpool fans expect from the Bundesliga outfit? An unpredictable opponent.
After two years of serious struggle in the top tier, Augsburg have finished 8th and 5th in the last two seasons - prompting their first European campaign this term.
And key to their progress through a relatively tricky group was their ability to pull a result out of the bag.
Crucial away victories against Partizan Belgrade and AZ Alkmaar helped secure second spot, behind Athletic Bilbao, and seal their passage to the first knockout round.
However, Liverpool will be confident at playing them at their own game - with Augsburg's home form in the group stage questionable.
They shipped seven goals in their three ties, losing twice in front of their own fans.
Domestically, it looks like they're reverting to type, with a fight for survival, as they sit just four points above bottom-placed Stuttgart.
A squad that lacks star names, Augsburg's main threat on the continent has been Paraguayan forward Raul Bobadilla notching seven times during the group stages.
He was the club's top scorer last term, with ten goals in all competitions.
Dutch captain Paul Verhaegh should provide a potentially surprising threat from right back - no one has scored more times for Augsburg in the league, with the defender providing five goals.
But the side's creative spark has been missing this season, after the loss of Bayern Munich loanee Pierre Hojbjerg in the summer.
New arrival Piotr Trochowski has been charged with the playmaker mantle, and has scored twice in four Europa League fixtures, but has been in and out of the side.
Klopp will know all of this, of course, and will be confident of progression - but will be wary of his hit-and-miss side having an off day.
BABA RAHMAN'S CHELSEA BATTLE
Another key miss for Augsburg is flying left back Baba Rahman, who was a surprise signing for Chelsea in August.
The £22million deal struck was met by raised eyebrows in Germany - and mutterings of concern about the Premier League's increasing wealth.
The Ghanaian left back had cost Augsburg less than ten per cent of that fee just a year earlier.
That move, from Greuther Furth, was fuelled by a desire to make a step up in his career, while still getting regular first team action.
His struggles at Stamford Bridge, then, could be attributed to taking too big of a leap too soon.
That cause hasn't been helped by the chaos surrounding him, and with the microscope on his performances brightened by the Blues' need for someone, anyone, to produce the goods.
And his chances have hardly come thick and fast - getting just five run-outs under Jose Mourinho.
A loan return to the Bundesliga, possibly Augsburg, has been mooted recently, something that could well suit all involved.
