Liverpool will be looking to return to Merseyside with a good result from the Round of 16 first-leg away to Lille Metrople, kick-off at 18:00 hours (GMT). The Reds, who will be facing the French outfit for the first time in official competition, will be hoping to put behind them their disappointing Premier League defeat away to Wigan. Liverpool were dealt a blow in their pursuit for a top-four finish losing 1-0.

Fernando Torres could get his run-out in the Europa League after making the bench for Liverpool’s trip to Romania in the last round. The striker had just returned from injury and looked-on as the Reds clinched a 3-1 victory.

Since the win away to Unirea, the Spaniard has been clocking up the minutes, with appearances against Blackburn Rovers and Wigan. Torres grabbed his 13th league goal of the season against Rovers in his first start back from his successful knee surgery.

Lille will be looking to their home form to help them through to the quarter-finals of a major European club competition for the first time in their history. LOSC have lost just one of their last 16 European fixtures at the Stade Lille-Metropole.

The Reds however are unbeaten in their last five trips to France, winning four and drawing one. The last draw was away to Olympique Lyon in this season’s group stages of the Champions League.

In the previous round Liverpool beat Romanian side Unirea 4-1 on aggregate to book their place in the last 16. As for LOSC, they defeated Turkish team Fenerbache in the last round 3-2 on aggregate.

Lille are currently fifth in the French League, four points behind first-placed Bordeaux but having played two games more than the leaders. Last weekend the French side lost ground on the top four with a 1-1 draw away to St.Ettiene.

Thursday’s match will be held at the stadium in Villeneuve d’Ascq as Lille’s new stadium, the Stade Borne l’Espoir, is currently under construction.

The return-leg will take place at Anfield on 18 March, with the draw for the quarter-finals held the following day.