Hello everybody, you’re very welcome along to our coverage of tonight’s Champions League clash between Liverpool and Yummy Super Delicious Sugar Drink Incorporated™ Salzburg.
Hmm. What’s that? Oh. Uefa says we can only refer to them as Salzburg. Their competition, their rules I suppose.
Jurgen Klopp’s men will be hoping to bounce back from their disappointing defeat to Napoli last time around in the Champions League.
Losing is not something the European champions have been used to this calendar year. Despite a better display than last season’s defeat in Naples, Liverpool still couldn’t find a way past a brilliant defence led by Kalidou Koulibaly.
The Merseysiders will hope tonight’s opponents present an easier test. Mind you, Salzburg got off to the perfect start in Group E by beating Genk 6-2 a fortnight ago.
They are flying high on the domestic front, too, sitting top of the Austrian Bundesliga with eight wins from their opening nine games.
Stick with us, kick-off at Anfield is coming up in an hour’s time at 8pm.
Let’s get started with tonight’s team news…
Here is tonight’s team news! #UCL #LFCFCS pic.twitter.com/wXSrrEdQHI
— FC Red Bull Salzburg EN (@FCRBS_en) October 2, 2019
TEAM NEWS: Jurgen Klopp names a very strong starting XI, with Joe Gomez the only switch as he replaces the injured Joel Matip in the middle of defence. It’s as you were elsewhere from Saturday’s 1-0 win at Sheffield United.
Liverpool: Adrian; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane.
Substitutes: Kelleher, Lovren, Milner, Keita, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lallana, Origi.
Salzburg: Stankovic; Kristensen, Onguene, Wober, Ulmer; Mwepu, Junuzovic; Minamino, Szoboszlai; Daka, Hwang.
Substitutes: Coronel, Ashimeru, Koita, Ramalho, Farkas, Haaland, Okugawa.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 2, 2019
How do you see tonight’s game unfolding? Let us know below!
Poll Results:
Not long to go until we get underway at Anfield.
Well worth keeping an eye on Erling Haaland this evening. Son of Alf-Inge, the 19-year-old Norwegian sensation scored a hat-trick on his Champions League debut against Genk two weeks ago. He is named amongst the substitutes and could well make an impact off the bench.
Back at Anfield for the first time since winning the Champions League against Tottenham, there is a cracking atmosphere around the place tonight to welcome home the European champions. You’ll Never Walk Alone booms aloud and we’re just a few minutes away now. Is yet another special European night on Merseyside to come?
KICK-OFF: We’re underway at Anfield for the first half!
Liverpool 0-0 RB Salzburg
2 mins: A chance right from the get-go for Liverpool. They rush straight into the Salzburg box, Sadio Mane offloading to meet the overlapping run of Andy Robertson. The Scot is a little bit too quick, though, and he can’t control the ball before it’s booted clear.
Liverpool 0-0 RB Salzburg
4 mins: Close! Almost a perfect response from the visitors after Joe Gomez conceded possession out by the touchline. Takumi Minamino is fed the ball, he twists rapidly and drifts inside onto his right foot before letting fly, but his shot just misses the bottom corner.
Liverpool 0-0 RB Salzburg
6 mins: Salzburg living very dangerously at the back. Dominik Szoboszlai is easily dispossessed by Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah who apply immediate pressure. The attacking duo can’t get the ball under control to carve out a chance. A big let-off.
Liverpool 0-0 RB Salzburg
7 mins: Liverpool looking very energised and sharp. Jordan Henderson and Fabinho doing really well to win back possession and stitch passes together in midfield. Salzburg being pressed back inside their own half.
Liverpool 0-0 RB Salzburg
8 mins: Trent Alexander-Arnold lifts his head up and threads a clever through ball right through the heart of the Salzburg defence. Mane and Firmino scramble towards the box trying to get a touch, but centre back Jerome Onguene gets a vital touch.
Liverpool 1-0 RB Salzburg
9 mins: GOAL! Liverpool take the lead with just nine minutes on the clock at Anfield. Former Salzburg man Sadio Mane exchanges a brilliant one-two with Roberto Firmino after drifting by Rasmus Kristensen like he wasn’t even there. Mane looks up, picks his spot and fires the ball into the bottom corner. Beautiful goal.
Liverpool 1-0 RB Salzburg
12 mins: It’s Liverpool’s first European goal this campaign and Mane’s seventh strike in all competitions this season. Brilliant finish and Jesse Marsch’s side now face an uphill battle already.
Liverpool 1-0 RB Salzburg
15 mins: You’d have to say the goal was coming. Right from kick-off it had been pretty much all one-way traffic in Liverpool’s favour, bar that long-distance strike from Minamino which flew narrowly wide. The Reds are in total control with 15 minutes gone.
Liverpool 1-0 RB Salzburg
18 mins: The atmosphere inside Anfield has slightly receded these last few minutes. There was a collective build-up of energy which seems to have been released with that early Mane goal. It’s all rather straightforward for the defending champions at the moment.
Liverpool 1-0 RB Salzburg
20 mins: Lovely play from Fabinho as he spins away from Zlatko Junuzovic and Enock Mwepu in midfield. The ball is worked up towards Firmino and Salah, who exchange passes like it’s nobody’s business, before winning a corner.
Liverpool 1-0 RB Salzburg
23 mins: The corner is easily cleared, but Liverpool regather possession with ease. Jurgen Klopp’s men have enjoyed 68% of the ball so far tonight. Salzburg struggling to keep up with their opponent’s pace and tempo at Anfield.
Liverpool 2-0 RB Salzburg
25 mins: GOAL! Liverpool double their lead and it’s a sublime team goal. Andy Robertson starts the move by cutting inside on the left flank. He picks out Jordan Henderson, who feeds the ball out wide to Trent Alexander-Arnold. He fizzes in a low cross and who’s there to finish it? Robertson, of course. He continued his run all the way into the box and stabbed the ball home.
Liverpool 2-0 RB Salzburg
27 mins: Robertson ran straight over to celebrate with Alexander-Arnold, thanking his fellow full-back for the pinpoint cross into his path. A brilliantly well-worked team goal from the European champions. Champagne football out there at the moment.
Liverpool 2-0 RB Salzburg
30 mins: Close! Liverpool nearly add a third. Fabinho picks out the run of Mo Salah behind enemy lines. The ball is bouncing awkwardly and Salah tries to fire it into the top corner past goalkeeper Cican Stankovic. But he misses the target on his left peg.
Liverpool 2-0 RB Salzburg
33 mins: Salzburg offer a response down the other end. Takumi Minamino peels away from Gomez and Alexander-Arnold — managing to fire on target. Adrian watches the strike all the way, though, and makes an appropriate save at his near post. Decent chance to half the deficit.
Liverpool 2-0 RB Salzburg
35 mins: There’s some shouts for a handball from the Liverpool supporters. A piercing ball from Jordan Henderson picks out the run of Bobby Firmino. Selflessly he tried to cross towards Mo Salah, but the ball was blocked away. The referee waves play on. No spot-kick.
Liverpool 3-0 RB Salzburg
36 mins: GOAL! Liverpool are running away with this now. Mohamed Salah gets in on the scoring act with his first European strike of the campaign. Initially Cican Stankovic made a decent save from a Roberto Firmino header. But the goalkeeper could only palm the ball into the path of Salah right in front of goal. He didn’t need a second invitation, and the Egyptian swept the ball into the back of the net.
Liverpool 3-0 RB Salzburg
38 mins: Patson Daka nearly grabs a goal back down the other end. He takes possession inside the box and is given the time and space to get a shot away. He fires narrowly over the crossbar.
Liverpool 3-1 RB Salzburg
39 mins: GOAL! Another goal at Anfield — two in the space of three minutes! RB Salzburg finally get off the mark and it’s a cracking finish from striker Hee-Chan Hwang. He dribbles into the box and beats Virgil van Dijk with a glorious dummy. With the Dutch defender out of the way, Hwang fires a powerful shot flying past Adrian.
Liverpool 3-1 RB Salzburg
42 mins: There’s still a long, long way to go for the Austrians tonight, but Hwang’s goal does give them a slight glimmer of hope as we head towards half-time. Just when it looked like this might turn into a rout, RB Salzburg may have found a way back into this. Will Liverpool grab a fourth and put this to bed?
HALF-TIME: LIVERPOOL 3-1 RB SALZBURG
Referee Andreas Ekberg blows his whistle and we’re halfway there at Anfield. A thoroughly entertaining opening 45 minutes with four goals to boast.
Liverpool have been excellent throughout; Sadio Mane, Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah helping the Reds into a three-goal lead upon their European welcome home to Anfield as Champions League holders.
A brilliant strike from Hee-Chan Hwang may have given RB Salzburg a life-line towards the end of the half, but Liverpool have been completely dominant thus far. More action to come shortly!
Second-half: We’re back underway at the Anfield!
Liverpool 3-1 RB Salzburg
47 mins: A slow, steady, patient start to the second half. Klopp’s men still in control, calmly passing the ball back and forth across the backline through van Dijk and Joe Gomez.
Liverpool 3-1 RB Salzburg
50 mins: An important interception there from Rasmus Kristensen. Mohamed Salah had floated in a dangerous cross looking for Roberto Firmino at the back post. But Kristensen saw the danger early and did really well to head clear.
Liverpool 3-1 RB Salzburg
53 mins: Minamino causing a few problems for Liverpool down the right wing. He sprints clear down the flank and picks out Szoboszlai, who then tees up goalscorer Hwang just inside the box. He has a free go at goal, but drags his shot wide.
Liverpool 3-1 RB Salzburg
55 mins: Almost! Some excellent work by Sadio Mane sets up Gini Wijnaldum just inside the penalty area. The Dutch midfielder makes a poor connection though, firing his shot well wide.
Liverpool 3-2 RB Salzburg
56 mins: GOAL! The visitors have grabbed another to stun Anfield. Hee-Chan Hwang finds space down the left wing and picks out Takumi Minamino on his own inside the box. He whacks a pinpoint volley on his right boot which sails past Adrian to make it 3-2. Incredible stuff.
Liverpool 3-2 RB Salzburg
59 mins: Nearly! RB Salzburg, all of a sudden, are completely on top and nearly snatch an equaliser. Hwang dances past a host of challenges before finding Szoboszlai with a sublime backheel. Szoboszlai has only the goalkeeper to beat but delays on the ball before misfiring into the side-netting.
Liverpool 3-3 RB Salzburg
61 mins: GOAL! We’re all square at Anfield! Can you believe it? Incredible scenes as substitute Erling Braut Haaland snatches an equaliser at the back post with the simplest of tap-ins. It’s more excellent work by Minamino, who sends in a low cross, and Haaland is on hand to pass the ball into an empty net. Three unanswered goals means it’s 3-3.
Liverpool 3-3 RB Salzburg
63 mins: This game has been completely turned on it’s head. Jurgen Klopp’s side were absolutely running away with this in the first half, 3-0 up and cruising to victory. Hee-Chan Hwang’s excellent strike shortly before half-time gave the visitors hope, and now goals from Takumi Minamino and Erling Braut Haaland has completed a remarkable comeback.
Liverpool 3-3 RB Salzburg
66 mins: Jurgen Klopp makes two changes. Jordan Henderson is replaced by James Milner and Georginio Wijnaldum comes off for Divock Origi. The Reds have been entirely subdued this second half. A massive final 25 minutes to come.
Liverpool 3-3 RB Salzburg
68 mins: Liverpool try and regain some level of control. Andy Robertson works hard down the left wing and wins a corner. James Milner delivers a cross, but Kristensen is there waiting at the front post to head clear and away from danger.
Liverpool 4-3 RB Salzburg
69 mins: GOAL! Liverpool regain the lead and it’s that man Mo Salah again. A scrappy bit of play sees Roberto Firmino head the ball into dangerous territory inside the box. Salah peels away from his two markers and toe-pokes the ball past goalkeeper Stankovic. A composed finish which calms the nerves around Anfield.
Liverpool 4-3 RB Salzburg
72 mins: Nearly a fifth goal for Liverpool straight away. Trent Alexander-Arnold zips a corner right across goal. Sadio Mane tries to get his head to it, but can’t make a connection in front of goal. A really clever corner from Alexander-Arnold there. Very reminiscent of his quick thinking against Barcelona last season.
Liverpool 4-3 RB Salzburg
76 mins: Substitute Masaya Okugawa comes close to equaling again. Liverpool are completely back-peddling in defence, van Dijk and Gomez pulled asunder. Okugawa has options to pass left and right, but opts for a shot instead. It seems like the wrong decision as his effort rolls into the arms of Adrian. A missed opportunity there.
Liverpool 4-3 RB Salzburg
77 mins: James Milner has a strike at goal. He let’s fly on his right boot from outside the box, but Zlatko Junuzovic lifts his boot and deflects the ball away for a corner kick. Time is running out for the visitors here. Liverpool starting to regain control once more.
Liverpool 4-3 RB Salzburg
80 mins: Ten minutes left to go at Anfield and it’s all very stop-start out there. Jesse Marsch’s side look a little tired, a little out of their feet. It took a monumental effort to claw back three goals. Do they have one more in them?
Liverpool 4-3 RB Salzburg
83 mins: Klopp’s side are managing the game really well right now. Taking their time re-starting play, maintaining possession, not taking any unnecessary risks. After losing to Napoli last time around, three points tonight is imperative if the Reds want to think about topping Group E.
Liverpool 4-3 RB Salzburg
86 mins: Adrian, van Dijk and Gomez seeing plenty of the ball at the back, passing it around easily trying to wear the clock down and see the win out. Mane and Salah are still a live threat going forward, though. One more goal would put this game to bed for the hosts. Less than five minutes to go.
Liverpool 4-3 RB Salzburg
90 mins: Mohamed Salah is brought off to a massive chorus of applause from all around Anfield. He is replaced by former Salzburg midfielder Naby Keita, who will try and help Liverpool see out this win in stoppage time.
FULL-TIME: LIVERPOOL 4-3 RB SALZBURG
The referee blows his whistle and Anfield breaths a sigh of relief.
It was yet another memorable European night on Merseyside, as Liverpool raced into a 3-0 lead before a remarkable comeback from RB Salzburg unfolded thanks to goals from Hwang, Minamino and Haaland.
Delivering his second goal of the game, Mohamed Salah stood up to be counted late on. He added a fourth for Jurgen Klopp’s men, clinching all three points in a dramatic affair.
Thanks a million for joining us tonight — you can read our full match report here. Cya soon!
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