Good evening! Thank you very much for joining
Sports Mole for tonight's
Champions League Group C clash between Liverpool and
Red Star Belgrade at Anfield!
Both sides are looking to bounce back from defeats on matchday two in this game tonight, and with PSG and Napoli playing each other this evening it could be particularly crucial for Liverpool's hopes of qualifying from the group.
We will have a close look at both teams a little later, but first let's check out the team news...
LIVERPOOL STARTING XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Shaqiri; Mane, Salah, Firmino
LIVERPOOL SUBS: Lovren, Milner, Sturridge, Moreno, Lallana, Mignolet, Origi
RED STAR STARTING XI: Borjan; Stojkovic, Babic, Degenek, Gobeljic; Krsticic, Jovicic; Srnic, Ebecilio, Ben Nabouhane; Boakye
RED STAR SUBS: Popovic, Pavkov, Stojilkovic, Causic, Simic, Jovancic, Savic
What can we make of those two sides, then?
Well, we'll start with the hosts and their headline news is that they are back to full strength in the front three, with Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino returning alongside Mohamed Salah after missing out on the starting lineup at the weekend.
Mane declared himself fit to start earlier this week after undergoing surgery on his thumb following an injury during the international break, and he is thrown straight back into the starting XI tonight.
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Salah was the match-winner against Huddersfield as he ended his longest Liverpool drought with the only goal of the game, which was also his fourth of the season in the Premier League - just one fewer than he had at this stage last term.
Perhaps the biggest threat tonight will be Firmino, though, with the Brazilian having been directly involved in nine goals from his seven Champions League games at Anfield - scoring five and creating four more.
Indeed, since the start of last season no player has been directly involved in more Champions League than Firmino, who has scored 11 and assisted to leave him level with Cristiano Ronaldo on 18.
Liverpool's front three may also need support from the midfield today, and with last season's Champions LEague assist king James Milner only making the bench, Xherdan Shaqiri is the most likely to provide that.
There is also a notable start in midfield for Fabinho, who is named in a Liverpool XI for only the second time since his summer move from Monaco, and the first time in the Champions League due to the absence of hamstrung duo Henderson and Keita.
At the back, Alexander-Arnold returns after sitting out the last two games, while Gomez moves inside to replace Lovren at the heart of the defence alongside Van Dijk.
As for Red Star, their big blow in the buildup to this match is being without former Chelsea winger and key player Marko Marin.
Marin, who also missed the weekend derby win over Rad Belgrade, scored Red Star's first ever goal in the Champions League against PSG last time out, which was his first goal in the competition since his debut for Werder Bremen against Tottenham in September 2010.
Tonight's visitors are also without Milan Rodic and Jonathan Cafu, the latter of whom is on loan from Bordeaux, but there is better news on the injury front for Filip Stojkovic.
The full-back was taken off after just 36 minutes of the weekend win over Rad and so was a doubt for this game, but he has recovered to start in defence once again tonight.
Red Star may be without Marin, but they still have players who can pose Liverpool problems and the main one to keep an eye on tonight is probably Richmond Boakye.
The striker leads the line this evening fresh off the back of a two-goal showing against Rad, taking his tally up to five goals in four league games this season.
In all,
Vladan Milojevic has made just one change from their weekend win against Rad as Ben Nabouhane replaces Ebecilio, and five changes from the drubbing at the hands of PSG in their last Champions League outing.
One of those latter changes sees captain and former Watford player Vujadin Savic miss out once again, having been taken off at half time against PSG and not featured since.
It is a Red Star side that, on paper, Liverpool should really beat on home turf, then, and
Jurgen Klopp will not need telling how important both tonight's game and the return fixture next month could be to their chances to making it through to the last 16.
Just one point separates the top three teams in Group C at the moment, so with at least one of PSG or Napoli guaranteed to drop points over the next two gameweeks, Liverpool simply must take full advantage with six points from six.
As things stand, Napoli sit top of Group C just a point above Liverpool and PSG, who have a better goal difference than the Reds but sit third due to Liverpool's superior head-to-head record.
That could all change from here, of course, but right now it is only Firmino's late winner to clinch a deserved 3-2 victory over PSG on matchday one which would see last season's runners-up through to the knockout stages.
Klopp's side were on the wrong end of a late goal on matchday two, though, with Napoli striking in the final minute of normal time to salvage a 1-0 win which blew the group wide open.
That result - which was once again probably a fair reflection - means that Liverpool have now lost three of their last four Champions League games including the final and semi-final second leg last season - as many as they had lost in their previous 17 games in the competition.
The Reds are now in danger of losing back-to-back Champions League group games for the first time since November 2014, when they were beaten three times in a row, but it would take a fairly sizeable upset for that to be the case.
PSG laid down a marker with their rout of Red Star on matchday two, so the challenge for Liverpool tonight is to respond with their own fearsome attacking trio.
The defeat to Napoli was part of a four-match winless streak which took Liverpool into the international break, with another defeat to Chelsea in the EFL Cup as well as Premier League draws against Chelsea and Manchester City.
The Reds did return to winning ways on Saturday, although they were once again far from their best as Salah's goal saw them scrape past Huddersfield.
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Liverpool have won a few matches in which they have not played very well already this season, which on the one hand is a definite sign of progress but on the other will be a little worrying, as they are yet to really hit their stride this season.
Nevertheless, it has still been their best-ever start to a Premier League season, and after nine games of the campaign they still sit level on points with champions Manchester City at the top.
Liverpool come into this match having lost just one of their last 16 home games across all competitions, although they are also winless in their last two and have not gone three without victory for more than a year now.
The Reds are also unbeaten in their last 17 European outings at Anfield, scoring 43 goals in that time including five wins from seven home games on their way to the final last season.
It is a daunting task for Red Star, then, as they go in search of their first ever victory in the Champions League proper, having finally qualified for the group stages this season.
Serbia's most successful club have had six previous unsuccessful attempts at making it through the qualifiers, but this time around they did manage to make it all the way through - only to be rewarded with a group of death containing Liverpool, PSG and Napoli!
Not many Red Star fans will have held realistic ambitions of challenging for a place in the last 16 once that draw was made, and sure enough they find themselves bottom of the group after two games.
It looked as though they might be able to hold their own when they kept Napoli to a goalless draw in Belgrade on matchday one, but they were brought crashing back down to earth by PSG's 6-1 thumping on matchday two, including a hat-trick from Neymar.
That loss to PSG was Red Star's joint-heaviest ever in European competition, and one thing it does suggest is that the Serbian outfit will be a more difficult proposition in their own ground than on these away trips.
That said, Red Star have only lost two of their last nine European away games including that defeat to PSG, conceding only four goals in that run before the French champions' six-goal haul last time out.
Indeed, Red Star have only lost one of their 16 away games across all competitions this season, with 12 wins in that time, and it is a campaign which began way back on July 11.
The Serbian outfit have been involved in the Champions League since that date, being forced to overcome teams from Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Austria to finally make it into the group stages for the first time.
Of course, the opposition they are coming up against now is on another level entirely to those they encountered on the way to the group stages, and Red Star have now won just one of their last eight games in European competitions excluding qualifiers, scoring only two goals in that time.
However, when you do include those qualifiers Red Star have only lost three of their last 19 continental outings, including seven wins and nine draws.
Liverpool must also be wary of regarding Red Star as whipping boys as this is a team who are very used to winning.
Indeed, the loss at the hands of PSG - as heavy as it was - ended a 34-match unbeaten streak across all competitions and is their only defeat in their last 38 outings, winning 29 of those.
This season alone Red Star have won 16 of their 23 matches in all competitions, keeping 12 clean sheets in that time.
Red Star have a particularly impressive record in the Super Liga, where they are currently on a 38-match unbeaten streak which has seen them pick up a whopping 106 points from the last 114 on offer - winning 34 and drawing four.
The defending champions won their first seven league games this season to make it 17 on the bounce in the league, before their run was finally ended by city rivals Partizan on September 23.
PREDICTION! Right, we're 10 minutes away from kickoff at Anfield, which means that it is time for a prediction!
The hosts are heavy favourites coming into this match, and given how PSG dismantled Red Star last time out the visitors may be wary of another big score tonight. Liverpool may not have been firing on all cylinders this season, but this should still be a comfortable win for them.
SPORTS MOLE SAYS: Liverpool 3-0 Red Star
These two sides have only ever met on two previous occasions, both of which came in the last 16 of the 1973-74 European Cup - three years before Liverpool lifted the trophy for the first time.
Indeed, the first ever clash between the two came exactly 45 years ago today, with Red Star winning 2-1 on that occasion, and then by the same scoreline at Anfield. Chris Lawler got Liverpool's goal in both the home and away legs.
Red Star's win at Anfield in November 1973 saw them become the first visiting team to beat Liverpool at home in European competition, which is a significant feat considering the second home defeat took another 18 years to arrive too.
Tonight provides a chance for revenge 45 years later, with Liverpool looking for both their first win over Red Star, and their first win over any Serbian opposition.
Red Star's last visit to England came just last season when they held Arsenal to a 0-0 draw in the Europa League group stage at the Emirates, having lost the home tie 1-0.
Red Star have only ever won one of their previous nine visits to England - that triumph at Anfield in 1973 - but their record is improving. After losing on each of their first three visits to these shores, Red Star have now lost just one of their last six - the 1991 UEFA Super Cup final.
The players are on their way out and we are almost ready for kickoff here as the anthem rings around Anfield. A quick reminder of the team news before we do get started...
LIVERPOOL STARTING XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Shaqiri; Mane, Salah, Firmino
RED STAR STARTING XI: Borjan; Stojkovic, Babic, Degenek, Gobeljic; Krsticic, Jovicic; Srnic, Ebecilio, Ben Nabouhane; Boakye
KICKOFF: Here we go! Red Star get us underway at Anfield!
Red Star almost make an early break in behind as Stojkovic lifts a pass over the defence for Boakye, but the striker has just strayed offside.
This has been a decent start from Red Star - certainly not one which suggests that they are wary following their thrashing at PSG in their last Champions League game. They are on the front foot and have enjoyed a good amount of the ball inside the Liverpool half.
It has been a slow start from Liverpool, by contrast. There is not much intensity or urgency from the hosts in the opening exchanges.
Red Star are keeping Liverpool pinned back into their own half at the moment, pressing high up and winning the ball back quickly. Liverpool have been sloppy so far and have not kept the ball well enough at all.
CHANCE! The first chance of the night falls the way of Salah, who races on to Shaqiri's lofted high ball forward. The keeper chooses to stay inside his box and Salah brings it down really well, but Borjan does well to thwart the Liverpool man.
Borjan was caught by Salah when making that save and requires a bit of treatment here, resulting in a stoppage in play. He will be fine to continue, though.
Fabinho is fortunate to avoid an early booking here for a mistimed challenge in midfield. He seemed to slip a little, but still caught his man.
Van Dijk tries to float a pass over the defence for Salah, but it is well defended and Borjan collects it. Still not much in terms of creativity for the Reds so far.
CHANCE! The first real opening for Red Star as the Liverpool defence are statuesque from a corner, allowing Babic to ghost in unmarked. He almost looks surprised that the ball makes it as far as him, and his subsequent volley goes high over the bar. That was a big chance!
Liverpool have an opportunity to break as Fabinho gets into space down the right channel before giving it inside for Salah, who tries to spin Stojkovic. The Red Star skipper does well, though, and denies what was looking like a very dangerous moment for the hosts.
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 1-0 RED STAR BELGRADE (ROBERTO FIRMINO)
GOAL! There is the opener for Liverpool, who have been far from their best again but now have the lead!
Shaqiri slides a lovely pass down the left channel for Robertson, who plays a low ball back into the middle for Firmino. The Brazilian takes his time and fires his effort past the keeper, although it did take a telling deflection on the way through.
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Almost a quickfire second for the Reds as Fabinho is sent scuttling down the right flank before pulling the ball back to the edge of the box, where Firmino is again waiting. This time he turns down a shot and instead tries an audacious flick towards Mane which is cut out.
Red Star may feel themselves harshly done by to be behind at this stage, having held their own for the most part in this match. What is key now is how they respond to that setback.
CHANCE! Devastating break for Liverpool as Alisson releases Robertson, who in turn plays the ball down the wing for Mane. His cross into the box finds Salah, but the Egyptian cannot connect with his effort how he would like.
This is much better from Liverpool now. Salah gives the ball to Mane, who in turn plays it out to Robertson, but his cross into the box is too heavy for Salah to meet.
Liverpool were too slow and predictable before that goal, but the opener suddenly appears to have jolted them into life. They are now moving the ball much more quickly and are looking dangerous almost every time they come forward now.
UPDATE: There has been a goal in the group's other game, and it is a very interesting one as Lorenzo Insigne has given Napoli the lead away to PSG. Elsewhere, Porto have broken the deadlock against Lokomotiv Moscow.
It looks like a huge chance for Salah as Wijnaldum feeds the ball into the path of Mane, who produces a lovely flick into the path of Salah. The winger only has the keeper to beat but is thwarted with a poor finish, and only then are his blushes spared by a very late offside flag.
UPDATE: A Lionel Messi-less Barcelona have taken the lead against Inter Milan courtesy of a goal from Rafinha.
A couple of stats about that Firmino opener...
...and here is the goal itself...
SAVE! Shaqiri collects the ball on the right channel and cuts inside with only one thought in his mind. His eventual shot is on target, but it is straight at the keeper and easy for him to collect.
Shaqiri pops up on the left flank this time and swings a cross into the box, but Borjan comes flying out to collect it ahead of Salah.
Liverpool win a free kick in a good crossing position which Shaqiri drops into a dangerous area, but there are no red shirts to meet it and the keeper collects.
CHANCE! The hosts create another chance as they go in search of this second goal. Salah plays the ball to Mane, who pushes it out wide into the path of the overlapping Robertson. The full-back has space, but takes the shot on first time and fires it well wide.
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 2-0 RED STAR BELGRADE
GOAL! This second goal has been coming, and Liverpool do get it right on the stroke of half time!
Shaqiri is again heavily involved as he steers Wijnaldum's pass into the path of Salah with a lovely touch. The Egyptian is one his weaker right foot, but blasts his finish past the keeper for his fifth goal of the season.
There will be two minutes of added time at the end of this first half.
HALF TIME: LIVERPOOL 2-0 RED STAR BELGRADE
The first half comes to an end at Anfield and it is Liverpool who are in complete control of this match courtesy of their 2-0 lead at the interval.
It took the home side a while to get going, but since breaking the deadlock they have been a lot better and are worthy of their two-goal lead. It doesn't look as though they will let it slip from here either.
The opening goal arrived after 20 minutes when Roberto Firmino fired a deflected effort past the keeper after being found by Robertson in the middle.
It was Shaqiri who was key to the move, though, as he won the ball in midfield before playing a lovely pass down the wing for Robertson. The full-back played a low pass into the box for Firmino, who took his time before finishing.
From that point on it was Liverpool who were in control of the match, beginning to play some of the football we became accustomed to seeing from them last season.
The second goal came from such a move, with Shaqiri nudging Wijnaldum's pass into the path of Salah, who fired his finish past the keeper. It was Shaqiri who was pivotal once again, and he has been Liverpool's man of the match so far.
Salah has squandered a couple of other chances too, while Robertson failed to hit the target when he should have done better as Liverpool kept pushing after their opener.
As for Red Star, they have only really had one chance so far, with Babic firing over from a corner after being allowed to steal in unmarked by a statuesque Liverpool defence.
KICKOFF: Liverpool get us back underway at Anfield!
SHOT! Liverpool waste no time in looking for a third goal as Mane collects a cross inside the box, but with his back to goal. He tees up Fabinho instead of trying anything himself, but Fabinho slices his effort well off target.
Liverpool have quickly got onto the front foot again at the start of this second half. Here is that goal which has given them the cushion at the interval...
PENALTY! PENALTY TO LIVERPOOL! Mane goes down dramatically under the challenge of Stojkovic and it takes the referee an age to give the spot kick, but he eventually does blow!
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 3-0 RED STAR BELGRADE (MOHAMED SALAH)
GOAL! Salah steps up to the spot kick and fires his penalty straight down the middle. That is 50 goals up for Liverpool for Salah!
YELLOW CARD! Stojkovic also went into the book amidst that penalty decision - presumably for his complaints rather than the challenge itself.
CHANCE! Liverpool are in the mood for more here! this time Fabinho is the creator with a lovely pass over the defence for Alexander-Arnold, but his left-footed volley doesn't have enough on it to lift it over the keeper.
YELLOW CARD! Krsticic also goes into the book for a trip on Shaqiri.
Salah has got his 50 Liverpool goals in just 65 appearances - a stunning record which is unmatched in Liverpool's illustrious history. The previous fastest to reach that mark was Fernando Torres in 72 games.
Liverpool try to break again as Fabinho finds Firmino, who immediately tries to thread a ball through for Salah. The winger almost breaks free, but this time the defence do enough.
UPDATE: A big goal in the other Group C game to tell you about, where PSG have levelled things up against Napoli through a Mario Rui own goal.
CHANCE! Almost a chance for Salah to get his hat-trick as the ball squirms into the path of the two-goal winger in the box. He tries to spin and hit it on the volley first time, but it is a swing and a miss.
SAVE! Fabinho wins the ball back again in a good position before giving the ball to Firmino, who drills an effort too close to the keeper. Red Star quickly go up the other end and have a rare shot of their own, but it is a long, long way over from Boakye.
RED STAR SUB: The visitors make their first change of the night as Ebecilio is replaced by Duan Jovancic.
Liverpool are just in complete control of this match at the moment, and it only looks like they will score more goals in the final 25 minutes or so. They have outclassed Red Star since that opening goal.
LIVERPOOL SUB: Anfield rises to afford a standing ovation to Shaqiri, who is replaced by Adam Lallana.
Very nearly a chance for the visitors as Ben Nabouhane throws himself at what looks like a mis-hit shot from Srnic, but is just short of making contact with it at the back post.
Just under 20 minutes remaining in this match now and Liverpool have just taken their foot off the pedal - although they remain in complete control here. It was been a very assured display since that opening goal.
LIVERPOOL SUB: There will be no hat-trick for Salah as he is taken off to be replaced by Daniel Sturridge.
YELLOW CARD! Jovicic goes into the book for a sliding challenge on Robertson.
RED STAR SUB: That is Jovicic's final action as he is taken off to be replaced by Goran Causic.
PENALTY! Liverpool have a second penalty of the night!
PENALTY! SADIO MANE MISSES!
PENALTY! Liverpool squander a golden chance to add a fourth as Borjan produces a brilliant save to tip Mane's penalty against the crossbar! Mane meets the rebound, but cannot poke it in. Ben Nabouhane was the man penalised for a handball, with his header hitting his own arm when trying to clear the ball, but this time Liverpool cannot punish them.
UPDATE: Another big update from Paris as Napoli now lead PSG once again, with Dries Mertens putting them back ahead! Elsewhere Dortmund are 2-0 up against Atletico and Porto lead Lokomotiv Moscow 3-1.
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 4-0 RED STAR BELGRADE (SADIO MANE)
GOAL! Mane does have his goal 10 minutes from time as he pokes the ball beyond the keeper to end his seven-game drought.
It is easy as you like for Liverpool as Wijnaldum feeds the ball into the path of Sturridge, who in turn rolls it to the unmarked Mane. The winger takes a touch and then pokes his finish into the bottom corner.
RED STAR SUB: A third and final change for the visitors as Veljko Simic replaces Ben Nabouhane.
CHANCE! Huge chance for Liverpool to add a quickfire fifth as Red Star give the ball away carelessly to Sturridge, who immediately plays Lallana clean through on goal. He only has the keeper to beat as he bears down on goal, but Borjan stays up well and makes a good save to keep the score down.
LIVERPOOL SUB: Change for the hosts as Robertson departs to a huge ovation and Alberto Moreno comes on.
UPDATE: Jadon Sancho has just put Dortmund 3-0 up against Atletico Madrid, while Barcelona have doubled their lead against Inter through Alba.
YELLOW CARD! Jovancic is the latest name on the book for a lunging challenge.
YELLOW CARD! Gobeljic also has his name taken for a push on Wijnaldum.
SAVE! Sturridge tries to get in on the act as he curls one towards goal from range, but Borjan tips it wide of the post. It looked to be heading off target anyway.
There will be three minutes of added time at the end of this match.
CHANCE! Big chance for Mane to add his second of the night as Firmino slides the pass through for the winger, who takes a touch but then puts his effort into the side-netting.
FULL TIME: LIVERPOOL 4-0 RED STAR BELGRADE
Easy as you like for Liverpool in the end, then, as they took their time to get going against Red Star but then completely outclassed their visitors to cruise to victory.
Mohamed Salah will dominate the headlines having brought up 50 for the club in just 65 appearances courtesy of a brace, but Firmino and Mane were also on the scoresheet to cap off a win which takes them top of Group C after PSG equalised late on against Napoli.
Right, that is all we have time for this evening!
Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's match as Liverpool thrash Red Star Belgrade to move top of Group C, helping by a record-breaking Mohamed Salah. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction too.
From me, though, it is goodbye for now!
