Hoffenheim vs Liverpool - as it happened: Reds beat German opponents 2-1 to close in on group stages
Re-live all the action from the Rhein-Neckar Arena
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Your support makes all the difference.Liverpool take on Hoffenheim in tonight's Champions League first-leg qualifier as Jurgen Klopp's men bid to book their spot in the group stages of Europe's elite competition.
- It would be 'awful' if Philippe Coutinho left Liverpool for Barcelona, says teammate Roberto Firmino
- Jordan Henderson looking to use the pain of Liverpool's last European experience to his advantage
- Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admits Emre Can situation 'not perfect' with midfielder stuck in contract impasse
- Liverpool don't concede the most goals from corners, but there is still a big problem that Virgil van Dijk won't fix
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Preview
It’s a big game for…
Dejan Lovren. Liverpool’s defence has been heavily criticised this week after shipping three goals away to Watford on Saturday and Lovren, as the most experienced player in that backline, needs to show some leadership and organisational skills if the Reds are to avoid a similar fate here.
Liverpool’s summer-long pursuit of Virgil van Dijk has been public, messy and looks like it could still prove fruitless. A big performance from Lovren on Tuesday night would help assuage Liverpool fans’ fears that they can’t possibly cope this season without a new addition at the back.
Best stat…
Hoffenheim were unbeaten in all 17 home matches in the Bundesliga last season.
Remember when…
The last time Liverpool played a German team in European competition. A Europa League quarter-final tie against Jurgen Klopp’s former side Borussia Dortmund saw the Reds secure a 1-1 draw in the first-leg before winning a memorable encounter back at Anfield. Late goals from Philippe Coutinho, Mamadou Sakho and Dejan Lovren saw Liverpool come back from two goals down to win 4-3 – and saw Klopp dumbfounded on the touchline…
Player to watch…
Serge Gnabry. The former Arsenal youngster was snapped up by Bayern Munich this summer after hitting 11 goals in 27 matches for Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga last term. A technically-gifted winger with a sharp turn of pace and an eye for goal, Gnabry has been sent on loan to Hoffenheim for the season in order to get more first-team experience.
While the 22-year-old never quite showed his potential in England he will have an opportunity on Tuesday to show the Premier League what it’s missing. And, as he told Kicker magazine this week, he is up for the challenge: "If you come up against a former club or, in my case, return to England, there's definitely a bit more excitement in the pot.”
Predicted teams...
Hoffenheim (3-1-4-2): Baumann, Nordtveit, Vogt, Bicakcic, Polanski, Zuber, Demirbay, Amiri, Gnabry, Kramaric, Wagner
Liverpool (4-3-3): Mignolet, Milner, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Matip, Can, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Mane, Salah, Firmino
Form guide…
Hoffenheim: WDWLWD
Liverpool: DWWDWL
Vital information…
Kick-off time: 19:45 BST on Tuesday
TV: Live on BT Sport 2
Odds…
Hoffenheim: 12/5
Liverpool: 5/4
Draw: 11/4
27' Hoffenheim 0-0 Liverpool
Salah concedes a foul to Vogt in his own half. Liverpool form a high line and defend the cross.
30' Hoffenheim 0-0 Liverpool
Liverpool are defending very deep at the moment. Hoffenheim lose possession to Mane who is the furthest player forward for the Reds but he is well inside his own half.
33' Hoffenheim 0-0 Liverpool
Mane wriggles away from several challenges but is hurled down by Bicakcic who picks up a yellow card.
Goal!Alexander-Arnold
34' Hoffenheim 0-1 Liverpool
Alexander-Arnold takes the free-kick from about 25 yards out, gets it up and over the wall into the bottom corner.
40' Hoffenheim 0-1 Liverpool
Liverpool have the wind behind them after weather the early Hoffenheim storm. Moreno and Alexander-Arnold are getting forward a lot now.
42' Hoffenheim 0-1 Liverpool
It should be 1-1. The ball falls to Gnabry in the box and his shot is blocked by Mignolet then Wagner narrowly shoots wide.
45' Hoffenheim 0-1 Liverpool
Liverpool take a corner and Lovren heads just wide.
Half time Hoffenheim 0-1 Liverpool
An eventful first half sees Liverpool head into the break with the lead thanks to Alexander-Arnold's superb free kick. Hoffenheim will be frustrated to not be on the score sheet after Kramaric had a tame penalty saved by Mignolet.
Steven Gerrard on BT Sport on Alexander-Arnold: "He's going to be a top top player. Nathaniel Clyne has to be very careful because he's already breathing down his neck."
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