Liverpool's hopes lose after defeat by Red Star Belgrade | Soccer

Red Star Belgrade players took a tour of honor on the outside when Jürgen Klopp entered the media room with Baby, I Love Your Way of Big Mountain, in full expansion of the AP. It was still an indignity for the director of Liverpool one night among others. The performance of his team was the most serious. They struggled in front of a dynamic and resolute red star to place their hopes of qualification in unnecessary risks.

It was the 200th Liverpool match in the European Cup / Champions League and one may wonder if they played in such a wildly humble atmosphere. Two goals from striker Milan Pavkov, the second truly remarkable effort, delivered a famous victory and the first victory of the Red Star in the competition – out of qualifiers – since they were defending champions in 1992. [19659003] "Another beast at home" Andy Robertson had described them as. Liverpool could not contain the beast. The concern of Klopp and his company is that it has become a different proposal from Anfield in the Champions League this season. Paris Saint-Germain then waits in France. Liverpool left little room for error.

Marakana's reputation for pbadion, hostility and incessant noise is not exaggerated, although Klopp rightly insists that it is not an excuse for Liverpool's performance. It was a spectacular backdrop and Red Star responded in the same way. Heavily-armed soldiers doubled the entrances, and the volume levels increased with the control of the match by the locals. The members of the Red Star team were also warmly applauded. They beat Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield 45 years to the day, when they paraded in the field before the kickoff. The display of the red star corresponds to the support received. Liverpool supports the thesis of the intimidation of Marakana.

The selection of Klopp, who had failed to choose Xherdan Shaqiri to avoid political distraction, seemed from the start dubious and complacent. The rare absence of Roberto Firmino in the starting lineup was understandable, the Brazilian was tired recently, but the introduction of Daniel Sturridge, Adam Lallana and Joel Matip added to their disjointed approach.

Sturridge should have opened the scoring after Robertson turned Sadio Mané crossed his path but without pressure, he skied unnecessarily. It would be an expensive defeat, which would give even more energy to the local crowd and a tactical switch of short duration.

Mané and Mo Salah had the opportunity to attack the flanks and Virgil van Dijk made an impressive new start, but Liverpool's overall performance deteriorated during the first half. Red Star led the way, as at Anfield, but this time they had the talent and support to benefit from it. The former Chelsea midfielder, Marko Marin, missed the 4-0 defeat due to injury, but he was at the heart of a creative and confident poster from the champions of Serbia. Pavkov, on the Anfield bench, took advantage of the opportunity offered to replace Richmond Boakye.

Marin had his first chance of the match when El Fardou Ben Nabouhane found him in too much space behind Trent Alexander-Arnold. He cut the inside and shot Alisson, then warned Liverpool of what was going to happen with a dangerous corner that caused a shot from Vujadin Savic. The captain was another of those who had missed the Anfield meeting and he had made a marked improvement to the Red Star.

The Marakana erupted after Marin's next turn on the right. He was deeply sunk into the penalty area where Pavkov stood above the defenders and planted an impbadable head beyond Alisson.

The local fans are boiling, Liverpool deflated and, seven minutes later, visitors are moved. The center forward doubled his total in amazing ways. Gathering the possession of the ball 40 meters from goal, Pavkov easily pushed Georginio Wijnaldum before getting closer. Virgil Van Dijk and Matip withdrew and the striker accepted their invitation to shoot a spectacular shot that slipped inside the right post of Alisson. a second defeat outside the group and a mountainous task. No visiting team had won here since Arsenal in the Europa League in October 2017. Red Star had conceded once in five European home games this season – a campaign having started in the qualifying rounds, four days before the final of the World Cup – and the visitors had not forced Milan Borjan to make a backup in the first period. Klopp responded by introducing Firmino and Joe Gomez at half-time for Sturridge and Alexander-Arnold, respectively. He got the reaction required by the situation, but not the desired score change.

Firmino created a good opportunity for Mané that two defenders cleared. The tone for a dominant display in the second half of Liverpool was given. Filip Stojkovic deflected Robertson's center on the crossbar. Salah hit the outside of the post following a James Milner corner – Salah also swept one of his own out of the game – and Borjan twice saved from the Egyptian near. Van Dijk was also heading to the center of Firmino while Liverpool was under constant pressure, but locals willingly returned to the peloton for a famous victory, magnificently supported by their tremendous support.