Hello, and welcome to today’s liveblog.
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Kick of is at 7.45pm.
Here are tonight’s teams…
📋 The #LFC team to face @achtzehn99. pic.twitter.com/iaCDoRWd22
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 15, 2017
⚽ STARTING LINE UP
— TSG Hoffenheim EN (@achtzehn99_en) August 15, 2017
Just in: These eleven will start TSG's first-ever #UCL game against @LFC. COME ON BOYS! 😎🤗#TSGLFC pic.twitter.com/aT30VBvIdR
We’re under way…
It’s been an uneventful opening.
Hoffenheim are currently engaged in some patient build-up play.
Matip stretches to make a vital interception, thereby preventing a dangerous cross reaching Demirbay.
It’s been a decent start to this game by the hosts.
Lovren fails to deal with a set piece, but fortunately for the defender, his nervy attempt at a clearance deflects into the path of Mignolet.
Moments later, Mane dashes past his marker, but his cross is cut out by Baumann.
PENALTY TO HOFFENHEIM!
PENALTY MISSED!
Wow! It’s a rash challenge by Lovren on Gnabry that leads to the penalty.
Kramarić’s subsequent attempt is woeful — it’s straight at Mignolet, who makes a comfortable save.
Salah goes through on goal, but his finish is disappointing, with Baumann pushing it wide.
That should give Liverpool some encouragement at least.
After that brief flurry of chaos, the game has calmed down again.
Hoffenheim are dominating possession and controlling the play for the most part.
I think the penalty was ok to give. The penalty itself as far from ok as possible - Kramaric very poor. Mignolet the hero so far
— Jan Aage Fjortoft (@JanAageFjortoft) August 15, 2017
A cross finds Kadeřábek at the far post, but he fails to connect with the ball properly, and the shot goes well off target.
Hoffenheim have been the better side so far.
Mane shows an impressive turn of pace to burst menacingly towards goal.
Bičakčić cynically drags him back and receives a booking as a result.
HOFFENHEIM 0-1 LIVERPOOL (ARNOLD 35)
Liverpool take the lead through 18-year-old Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The youngster steps up confidently to curl an unstoppable free kick from just outside the box into the corner of the net.
Big chance for Hoffenheim!
Mignolet denies Gnabry from point-blank range before Wagner fires the rebound narrowly wide.
Hoffenheim continue to press Liverpool.
They know they badly need a positive result to take with them to Anfield.
HALF-TIME: HOFFENHEIM 0-1 LIVERPOOL
Lovren heads narrowly wide from a corner on the brink of half-time.
Overall though, Hoffenheim will feel a tad unfortunate to be trailing at the break.
The Germans more than matched Liverpool for much of that first half, missing a penalty in the process.
The Reds have their teenage full-back largely to thank for their lead, as his beautifully struck free kick broke the deadlock.
Hoffenheim continued to press the vistors thereafter, and are by no means out of this tie just yet.
“He’s going to be a top, top player,” says Steven Gerrard of Trent Alexander-Arnold on BT Sport.
The Liverpool legend, of course, knows the youngster well from working with him at the club’s academy.
The second half has begun…
1 - No @LFC player made more passes (24), interceptions (4) or had more touches (41) than Trent Alexander-Arnold in the 1st half. Involved. pic.twitter.com/NYvBRfNV6b
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 15, 2017
Mane beats his man and crosses for Firmino, whose finish is blocked by Baumann.
Good start to the second half by Liverpool. Mane, in particular, has caused the hosts problems tonight.
No prizes for guessing who the young lad in this pick with Jamie Carragher is…
⚽️👌🏻 pic.twitter.com/DlQAutfe6R
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) August 15, 2017
It’s been quite a scrappy start to this second half.
Clear-cut chances have been few and far between, which suits Liverpool nicely.
Alexander-Arnold gets himself into a decent position.
The youngster’s cross is overhit and Baumann collects the ball comfortably.
James Milner replaces Jordan Henderson for Liverpool.
The England international hands his replacement the captain’s armband as he goes off.
Here’s a look at Alexander-Arnold’s brilliant free kick that currently separates the sides.
Kramarić’s cross finds Gnabry, but the ex-Arsenal man fails to find the target with his finish.
Hoffenheim have been disappointing in the final third this evening.
Hoffenheim concede the ball in their final third enabling Salah to be played through.
Again, however, Liverpool’s summer signing’s finish isn’t clinical enough, as Baumann gets down low to make the save.
HOFFENHEIM 0-2 LIVERPOOL (MILNER 74)
James Milner is played through down the left and finds himself in acres of space.
The experienced midfielder’s cross is subsequently deflected into the net.
Moreno’s dangerous cross is intercepted, as Liverpool go in for the kill.
A third goal would surely end this tie as a contest.
Firmino wriggles away from the defender, but his cross is too close to Baumann.
Hoffenheim look completely bereft of morale right now, with Liverpool continually exposing them on the counter-attack.
Mignolet makes a decent save to deny Nadiem Amiri on the half volley.
Moments later, Mane slices his finish as Liverpool counter-attack at speed again.
Meanwhile, Solanke has just replaced Firmino.
LIVERPOOL 2-1 HOFFENHEIM (UTH 87)
Out of nothing, Hoffenheim are back in this tie.
A long ball finds Uth, who breaks the Liverpool defence’s offside trap before finishing consummately.
Liverpool respond by bringing on Grujic for Mane.
So close!
A free kick delivered in finds an unmarked Hübner, who heads just over the bar.
FULL-TIME: HOFFENHEIM 1-2 LIVERPOOL
Right, that’s all from me for tonight.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
You can read our match report of the game here.
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