Hello, and welcome to tonight’s liveblog.
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Kick off for the game is at 8pm.
Confirmation of the Liverpool team for tonight…
Tonight's @ChampionsLeague team news...#LIVRED #UCL https://t.co/bAGvzMy9sU
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 24, 2018
So who do you think will win tonight?
Poll Results:
We’re under way…
It’s been a fairly quiet opening.
Robertson has just conceded a free kick, but Alexander-Arnold heads clear the ensuing set piece with minimal fuss.
It’s been a scrappy opening, with Liverpool looking a little sloppy early on.
Red Star are certainly not too daunted by playing at Anfield, and have shown a willingness to get bodies forward in attack.
Liverpool get their first real sight at goal.
Firmino shoots from just inside the box, but it deflects off Alexander-Arnold and goes out of play.
Moments later, Salah controls a long ball from Shaqiri beautifully, but Borjan is alert and smothers the ball before the Egyptian attacker can get his shot away.
An unmarked Babić gets on the end of a corner, but skies his effort well over.
More slack play from Liverpool amid an unconvincing start for the hosts.
LIVERPOOL 1-0 RED STAR (FIRMINO 20)
Great goal. Shaqiri plays a lovely pass down the left for the onrushing Robertson.
The full-back then squares it to Firmino, who shows good composure, taking two touches before blasting his effort into the net with the aid of a slight deflection.
Liverpool are looking more like their usual selves now.
They break at pace, with Mane crossing to Salah, who can’t quite properly get a hold of his first-time shot and ends up scuffing the ball harmlessly.
More good play from Liverpool.
Mane plays it to Robertson, whose cross narrowly eludes Salah.
Red Star are really under the cosh now and will do well to stay in this game for the remainder of the first half.
Elsewhere in the group, Napoli are leading PSG 1-0 thanks to an Insigne goal.
That leaves the Italians top of the group as it stands.
Mane plays through Salah, who hits it straight at the goalkeeper.
It’s offside, but the Egyptian doesn’t know that, and the tame finish is another sign of his lack of confidence right now.
Firmino plays Robertson into a promising position down the left, but the Scottish international makes a mess of the cross.
The former Hull player has done well for the most part though, and has been a constant threat in this opening half.
It’s been more or less all Liverpool since the goal, with Red Star failing to build on their encouraging start.
Liverpool have had six attempts and three on target, while Red Star have just had the one effort off target.
That stat sums up how increasingly one-sided the game has become as the half has developed.
Mane sets up Robertson, who can’t find the target with his disappointing first-time shot on the edge of the area.
Liverpool continue to dominate, and it feels like a matter of time before they get their second goal.
LIVERPOOL 2-0 RED STAR (SALAH 44)
Shaqiri again provides a lovely assist.
Salah subsequently charges through on goal before making no mistake with the finish.
HALF-TIME: LIVERPOOL 2-0 RED STAR
Half-time and it’s all too easy for Liverpool.
Red Star have barely laid a glove on their opponents, with the hosts becoming increasingly dominant as the half wore on.
Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino both provided clinical finishes to put a fair reflection on the scoreline, but Xherdan Shaqiri has been especially impressive.
The Swiss international has had a hand in both goals, and generally imbued the Liverpool midfield with the quality it is sometimes accused of lacking — creativity.
The second half has begun…
PENALTY TO LIVERPOOL!
LIVERPOOL 3-0 RED STAR (SALAH 51)
Salah blasts home the penalty emphatically. It’s his 50th goal in 65 Liverpool appearances according to BT Sport.
The penalty arose after Stojković knocked over Mane with a raised arm. Some might call it a soft penalty, but it’s the type of decision that’s always given if it takes place outside the box.
Liverpool are coasting now. It’s really just a matter of how much they will win by.
For Red Star, it’s just a case of damage limitation.
6️⃣5️⃣ Games
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 24, 2018
5️⃣0️⃣ Goals
Mo Salah. The Egyptian King. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Odkpa9MV9H
Liverpool make a change. Shaqiri, who has been really impressive in midfield tonight, is given a warm reception as he comes off.
Adam Lallana is on in the Swiss international’s place.
Red Star break, but Joe Gomez shows great pace to avert the danger by intercepting a through pass.
Liverpool, meanwhile, make another change, with Daniel Sturridge replacing Mo Salah, who can be very happy with his evening’s work having reached that 50-goal milestone.
PENALTY TO LIVERPOOL!
Mane misses his penalty thanks to a brilliant save by Borjan, who tips it onto the bar.
The Senegal international also could have done better on the rebound, producing a tame finish.
It looked a harsh decision to award the spot kick, as Boakye appeared to unwittingly head the ball onto his hand.
LIVERPOOL 4-0 RED STAR (MANE 79)
Mane makes no mistake moments after missing a penalty.
Sturridge squares the ball to him in the box and the attacker slots it home.
Shortly thereafter, Borjan does well to stop a one-on-one after Lallana bursts through on goal.
Another change for the Reds.
The lively Robertson gets a loud cheer as he goes off to be replaced by Alberto Moreno.
Liverpool are just playing the game out now.
It’s been probably as one-sided a match as they’ve played all season.
Sturridge shoots powerfully from distance, with Borjan needing to parry the ball away for a corner.
Despite conceding four, the Red Star goalkeeper has actually had a decent game tonight.
It’s almost five.
Firmino plays a lovely through ball to Mane, who can only find the side netting with his finish.
FULL-TIME: LIVERPOOL 4-0 RED STAR
So that’s that.
Liverpool coast to a comfortable win against a tame Red Star outfit.
The result means Liverpool top the group, after Napoli and PSG drew.
Other positives from the night include further evidence that Mo Salah is getting back to his best and the eye-catching display of Xherdan Shaqiri in midfield.
Right, that’s all from me for now, but we’ll have more reaction to follow.
Thanks for reading and commenting, and you can read our match report here.
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