Liverpool 4-0 Red Star: Mohamed Salah breaks record in comfortable Champions League win | Football | Sport

Roberto Firmino set Liverpool, beaten at Napoli in their previous game, on their way in the 20th minute with an emphatic finish after a smart pull back from Andy Robertson found the Brazilian in space in the box.

Swiss international Xherdan Shaqiri, busy and creative throughout, fed Salah for Liverpool’s second on the stroke of halftime, the Egyptian firing home from inside the box.

Red Star had threatened little and Liverpool put the game beyond them six minutes after the interval when Filip Stojkovic stuck out an arm to block Sadio Mane and Salah blasted home the penalty for his record 50th goal in 65 games for the club.

Mane then missed another penalty before making amends with a close-range finish in the 80th minute.

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Shaqiri, Mane, Salah, Firmino.

Red Star XI: Borjan, Degenek, Babic, Stojkovic, Gobeljic, Jovicic, Krsticic, Ebecilio, Srnic, Nabouhane, Boakye

LIVERPOOL 4-0 RED STAR | FIRMINO (20), SALAH (43, 52), MANE (79)

• Jurgen Klopp makes five changes – Fabinho starts
• Roberto Firmino opens the scoring
• Mohamed Salah converts with powerful finish
• Salah nets penalty after Sadio Mane fouled
• Sadio Mane misses penalty
• Mane pokes home Daniel Sturridge cross
• Mohamed Salah became the fastest man ever to score 50 goals for Liverpool

‘I enjoyed it a lot’

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp: “The plan was to start direct, we didn’t know how they would defend. We wanted to be lively, but perhaps it [the indifferent start] went on too long. When the game calmed down we played football and created chances – it was a really good game and I enjoyed it a lot.

“It was good [the front three scoring], but it was good to see Adam coming on, the counter-attacking, the passes and Daniel playing. It was a good football game and a deserved win.

“Fabinho was good from the start – Shaqiri was involved in everything. He is a really nice footballer and that helped. I thought he did really well.”

“[Group rivals] Napoli and PSG played a 2-2 draw, but I can imagine it was pretty lively. It will stay exciting. This group is a tough one for all of us. We have to be ready every day and hopefully we will be ready in two weeks.”

‘Chaos’

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk: “They are in the Champions League for a reason. They had a bit of quality from set-pieces. At the beginning of the game there was a lot of chaos. After 20 minutes we controlled the game.

“We need to look at ourselves and win every game that we play especially at home. It’ll be a difficult game over there. We have to look forward to those challenges.”

“Fabinho won a lot of balls and made some great passes – very happy for him. All the players worked hard tonight. I’m very happy we kept a clean sheet and scored some goals.”

‘Proud’

In-form Mohamed Salah said he was proud to reach 50 goals for Liverpool after netting twice in the emphatic victory.

He told BT Sport: “That’s great. I’m happy to score my 50th goal for Liverpool. I’m very proud about that.

“It was an important game. We knew before the game that it was going to be tough. The most important thing for us is the three points – we are doing well now.”

LIVERPOOL 4-0 RED STAR

FT: Sadio Mane misses a glorious chance to put the icing on the cake when clean through on goal but he’s curled it into the side-netting. Anyway, it doesn’t really matter because Liverpool have put Red Star Belgrade to the sword with a comfortable 4-0 victory at Anfield.

And Mohamed Salah becomes the fastest man ever to score 50 goals for Liverpool. Good night all round.

90: Trent takes a couple of corner on the bounce but he’s failed to beat the first man on two occasions. Alberto Moreno eventually collects the ball deep and pings an awful strike into the stands. Three minutes added time.

88: Oh, Napoli have retaken the lead against PSG through Dries Mertens. That could be very interesting indeed for Liverpool.

85: Andrew Robertson replaced by Alberto Moreno. Whoever went BTTS will be happy about this change…

83: There goes Adam Lallana… Liverpool’s playmaker races onto a throughball… surely he’s going to score… nope! He runs out of gas and tamely prods it straight at the goalkeeper.

LIVERPOOL 4-0 RED STAR | MANE

80: Well he made amends pretty darn quickly! Red Star are all over the place and Daniel Sturridge has all the time in the world to release the unmarked Sadio Mane, who pokes home the finish. Relief.

LIVERPOOL 3-0 RED STAR | MISSED PENALTY

78: Oh dear, Sadio. I don’t think Sadio Mane can blame his injury for that. Borjan makes an excellent save and the Liverpool winger can’t finish the rebound.

PENALTY TO LIVERPOOL

76: How Salah must wish he was still on the field! Liverpool have another penalty after Ben Nabouhane is penalised for handball. It came off his head and onto his arm. Bit harsh.

75: Branko Jovicic, Red Star’s CDM, is clearly wound up by the penalty decision and jumps in late on Andrew Robertson. He’s booked for being substituted.

72: Wijnaldum allows Boakye to stroll right past him but there’s Trent to mop up the danger. There will be no hat-trick for Mohamed Salah tonight folks – he’s been replaced by Daniel Sturridge for the closing stages.

69: Close! Ben Nabouhane is inches from a consolation goal but Srnic’s dragged effort just alludes the Comoros international… Yes, I said Comoros.

66: Hugs, smiles and a standing-ovation from the Liverpool faithful as Xherdan Shaqiri is withdrawn. Adam Lallana replaces the Swiss, who I fancy to start against Cardiff on Saturday.

63: Ah, PSG have equalised. Thomas Tuchel switched to a 3-4-3 at half-time and PSG have looked much more dangerous with Marco Rui putting past his own goalkeeper. It’s 1-1.

60: I hate this cliche, but this really is exhibition stuff from Liverpool with flicks, tricks and skills all over the place. Salah nearly spins his marker but the pumped-up Stojkovic clears.

58: Oh, I have some admin work to take care of. Red Star duo Krsticic and Krsticic were booked for their penalty protests.

55: Nice pass from Fabinho, who is really starting to shift through the gears. He floats a ball over to Trent Alexander-Arnold, who cuts inside before seeing a snapshot blocked.

55: Well I think we can consider this match done and dusted. Can we watch The Apprentice now? Incidentally, Mohamed Salah has 50 goals for Liverpool in 65 games. That’s ridiculous.

LIVERPOOL 3-0 RED STAR | SALAH (PEN)

52: Emphatic finish from Mohamed Salah. Banged it into the top right-hand corner. No ifs, buts or maybes.

PENALTY TO LIVERPOOL

50: This. Is. Soft. Sadio Mane theatrically falls to the floor after a minor nudge from the arm of Stojkovic. It’s not a penalty in my view, but the defender is booked and Jurgen Klopp’s side have a penalty.

LIVERPOOL 2-0 RED STAR

48: Fabinho, who has made five tackles in the game, decides to try his luck from distance but that’s flown high and wide of the goal. He still gets a generous round of applause – not sure why!

LIVERPOOL 2-0 RED STAR

45: And we’re back underway folks. No changes for either side as Jurgen Klopp’s side look to bag a few more goals – It might not matter if Napoli continue beating PSG.

Twitter round-up

Dave: For anyone wondering… Salah’s corners, he’s going for goal. He tried it about 4 times vs PSG and got one for Egypt last week. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get odds for it today!!

Ed: An out-of-form Mohamed Salah is still miles better than most other in-form strikers.

TJ: Xherdan Shaqiri for £13.5m is filthy.

LIVERPOOL 2-0 RED STAR

HT: Liverpool in total control at the break.

LIVERPOOL 2-0 RED STAR | SALAH

43: Mohamed Salah crisis? Yeah right!

The Egyptian international proves the doubters wrong with a clinical finish. Again Xherdan Shaqiri is involved with a terrific pass threads the needle and sends Salah free. He makes no mistake at the near post.

43: Wooosh! Andrew Robertson, fresh from assisting his 109364848th goal of the season, decides to shoot himself but he’s sent that high into the stands. Stick to assisting, Andrew…

40: Ha! This Red Star goalkeeper Milan Borjan certainly is eccentric. He’s just flown off his line like Superman to meet Xherdan Shaqiri’s free-kick, but he’s arrived far too soon and is fortunate no Liverpool player could get a touch.

38: Xherdan Shaqiri is getting bored with all this passing and movement. The Swiss decides to stick his foot through it from distance but Borjan saves.

35: Red Star look as if they’ve lost confidence. They were happy to have a go in the early stages but Roberto Firmino’s opener has seen them drop deeper and deeper.

33: That would have been sensational. Sadio Mane plays an improvised back-heel into the path of Mohamed Salah, who strayed fractionally offside. He missed anyway.

30: Only Steven Gerrard (30) has more Champions League goals than Roberto Firmino (14) for Liverpool.

And while we’re on statistics. Since the start of last season, Roberto Firmino has been directly involved in 19 Champions League goals (12 goals, 7 assists), more than any other player.

He’s also got very white teeth…

28: Ey up! Napoli have taken a shock lead against PSG at the Parc des Princes. Lorenzo Insigne with the goal. That would be a touch for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

25: They’ve not crumpled in a heap. Red Star… star Lorenzo Ebecilio whips a lovely cross into the six yard box but Robertson is there to clear. Great positioning by the Scot.

23: Liverpool threaten to bag another but Firmino’s clever back-heel to Sadio Mane doesn’t come off. Degenek, who doesn’t rate the Anfield atmosphere, clears it into orbit.

LIVERPOOL 1-0 RED STAR | FIRMINO

20: Did I say that Liverpool weren’t clicking? Yeah, you might want to forget I ever said that.

It’s a rapid attack with Xherdan Shaqiri playing a sublime defence-splitting ball to Andrew Robertson down the right touchline. He lays it back to Roberto Firmino, who shifts slightly before converting.

Now, do the floodgates open?

17: Red Star with a dangerous corner that flies through a static Liverpool defence and arrives for Babic to divert over Alisson’s crossbar. Jurgen Klopp’s side struggling to really click here at Anfield.

14: Ouch! Bit of a nasty one from Fabinho, who dives in late and treads on Nabouhane’s toes. Quite lucky to avoid a booking. I guess we can blame that on a bit of rustiness.

11: Roberto Firmino will be having words with Trent Alexander-Arnold later as the full-back nearly lays off the ball to Firmino and then promptly blocks the shot! Both can afford a smile.

Close! Mohamed Salah plucks the ball out of the sky with a delightful first touch but goalkeeper Borjan races off his line and makes the save. Think Salah might have caught him as the medical staff run on the field.

8: Red Star’s last game against an English side ended in a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Europa League last year. Ah, reminds me of the Arsene Wenger days.

Liverpool still haven’t clicked with Stojkovic causing more than a few problems down the right. We’re seeing real courage from the visitors, who aren’t afraid to throw bodies forward.

LIVERPOOL 0-0 RED STAR

5: First chance of the evening… goes to the visitors! Robertson concedes a free-kick down the right touchline but Joe Gomez rises highest to clear the in-swinging delivery. Red Star showing signs that they are capable of an upset tonight.

3: Sadio Mane is straight back into the thick of it when tangling with two Red Star midfielders on the halfway line. He’s wearing a rather large cast to protect his thumb – and I’m reliably informed by the BT Sport commentators that he’s not feeling any pain.

How they know that is unclear.

LIVERPOOL 0-0 RED STAR

1: And we’re underway at Anfield! I don’t usually deliver (accurate) predictions – but I’ve got a sneaky feeling that Liverpool are winning 5-0 tonight. Y’know… one better than PSG did.

Can’t see it changing…

19:58: Excluding qualifiers, Liverpool are unbeaten in each of their last 16 home games in major European competitions (W11 D5), scoring 39 goals in that time.

Twitter round-up

Ken: Big-margin win needed tonight start to build up some free flowing attacking confidence. PSG hammered them!

Rio: C’mon reds theres no better place than Anfield for a European game under the lights, let’s do this! #AllezAllezAllez

Tony: Looks like a strong selection for the starting 11 tonight. Reasonable options from the bench too. Really need the points tonight.

European experience…

19:45: Red Star are in the group stage of this competition for the first time, having successfully made it through the qualifying rounds at what was their seventh attempt. They won the European Cup shortly before the Champions League rebrand, triumphing in the 1990-91 final as they beat Marseille on penalties following a 0-0 draw.

Their only previous meetings with Liverpool came in the second round in 1973 when they defeated the Reds 2-1 in both home and away legs.

They were UEFA Cup runners-up in 1978-79, and registered their best Europa League run last season as they reached the last 32. The run included two group stage matches against Arsenal, which ended in a 0-0 draw at the Emirates Stadium and a 1-0 loss in Belgrade.

History lesson – check!

One to watch

19:40: Forward El Fardou Ben Nabouhane scored six goals in the qualifying matches, and has also netted three times in the SuperLiga this season.

Red Star also have former Chelsea midfielder Marko Marin, who got the goal in the heavy loss to PSG, in their squad but he will not be involved in this match due to injury.

No away day…

19:35: There’s going to be a peculiar feel to the tie tonight, and that’s because the crowd will be made up of only home support.

UEFA imposed sanctions on the Serbian club at the start of the Champions League campaign which means they are not allowed to bring supporters to Anfield.

Red Star were punished after their fans invaded the pitch and set off fireworks after they drew 2-2 with Red Bull Salzburg in the play-offs.

The Serbians were also not allowed to bring away support to Paris in their 6-1 defeat to PSG.

Twitter round-up

Brian: Looking forward to seeing this line up. There’s a nice balance in midfield and four forwards on the pitch! If there’s a week we can give our season a bit of a kick it’s tonight and Cardiff at the weekend!

Mag: Strongest possible line-up and I can’t wait for us to smash them 8-0 now.

Owen: Absolute scenes when Shaqiri bicycle kicks it into the top corner and shushes the Red Star supporters.

Fab-ulous

19:25: See what I did there…

Jurgen Klopp says he’s got no concerns about Fabinho, despite having started just one match since his arrival from Monaco.

“You come to a new club and it depends a bit on your personality. He’s not the loudest person on the planet,” Klopp explained. “It’s not that he’s come in and said; ‘Sit down all of you and I’ll explain how we do it because Monaco were in the Champions League semi-final the year before and became French champions.’

“I didn’t make the starting lineup yet but he has been here a few months now, got used to a few things, and so we will use him.”

Not again…

19:10: Liverpool are playing, so I’m contractually obliged to talk about Mohamed Salah’s supposed struggles this season…

It was perhaps unfair to expect Mohamed Salah to emulate his record-breaking heroics from last season and it may be that a shoulder injury and his World Cup exertions are still taking their toll – even if neither he nor Klopp will admit it.

It is also still too early to write off the Egyptian and his fourth goal of the season at the John Smith’s Stadium may just be what he needed to rediscover top form. Red Star would be wise not to underestimate his threat, however.

Anfield atmosphere? It’s nothing special

19:05: Those are the thoughts of Red Star Belgrade defender Milos Degenek, who believes the atmosphere at the Serbian club’s home ground is superior to that at Anfield.

Red Star’s Rajko Mitic Stadium has a capacity of 53,000, which is 1,000 less than Anfield – but Degenek clearly doesn’t think that’s a disadvantage.

“I think the atmosphere here is good. I think the atmosphere in Belgrade is a bit better,” Degenek said. “I think we’re all used to big atmospheres because of playing in our league, in Belgrade, in our stadium, the atmosphere is phenomenal. So I think that might give us a little bit of a push.”

Twitter round-up

Nathan: Xherdan Shaqiri playing as a number 10 is something that Liverpool fans have been crying out for. They will be to see it tonight.

Sands: The best team we have right now in my opinion. Not counting Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain because of his injury.

Tom: Would love to know, when was the last time we lined up without both Milner AND Henderson AND if it’s recent, how many times have we done it whilst both have been at the club AND what our record is like without them both. That aside, time for Fabinho to arrive.

Sorry Tom, I just push the buttons. I’ve no useful knowledge whatsoever. Good luck in your endeavours!

Not all bad news for Red Star… apparently

18:55: The Serbian champions and 1991 European Cup winners will not be able to count on a vocal minority support at Anfield as UEFA banned the club from selling tickets to their fans as a punishment for trouble at August’s qualifier at Salzburg.

However, Red Star do not have to look too far for inspiration as they have won both of their previous meetings against red>Liverpool. Paired together in the last 16 of the 1973/74 European Cup, Red Star prevailed 2-1 in both legs before being eliminated by Atletico Madrid in the next round.

Guns loaded

18:50: Blimey, no messing around for Jurgen Klopp. The Liverpool manager has gone full beans to try and destroy Red Star at Anfield tonight.

Like I said, five change from the 1-0 victory over Huddersfield.

Trent Alexander-Arnold replaces Dejan Lovren with Joe Gomez reverting to centre-back alongside Virgil van Dijk.

Fabinho comes in for captain Jordan Henderson while Georginio Wijnaldum takes James Milner’s place.

Sadio Mane shakes off (not literally) his thumb injury to return to the starting XI ahead of Adam Lallana and striker Roberto Firmino replaces Daniel Sturridge.

Starting XI…

18:45: And right on time, here is the Liverpool line-up for tonight’s bout. Plenty of changes from the victory over Huddersfield – five to be precise.

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Shaqiri, Mane, Salah, Firmino.

Subs: Mignolet, Lovren, Moreno, Milner, Lallana, Sturridge, Origi.

Red Star XI: Borjan, Degenek, Babic, Stojkovic, Gobeljic, Jovicic, Krsticic, Ebecilio, Srnic, Nabouhane, Boakye.

Subs: Popovic, Savic, Causic, Simic, Jovancic, Pavkov, Stojijlkovic.

Fortress Anfield

18:43: Liverpool’s run to the Champions League final last term was due in no small part to their record at home, with five wins and two draws.

Only once did they fail to find the back of the net and that was when Klopp rested several first-teamers against Porto as his side held a 5-0 aggregate lead.

Against Manchester City, Roma and PSG – their opponents on their last three European nights at Anfield – they have scored 11 times. Red Star, who were hammered 6-1 in Paris earlier this month, could be forgiven for feeling a sense of foreboding.

Power cut!

18:40: We’ve been plunged into darkness at Anfield! Something like this always happens when we approach Halloween. And yes, I’m still a 27-year-old who worries about ghosts.

Too much information… Liverpool have power issues tonight but they don’t expect it to affect KO.

“We’re currently experiencing some issues with the power supply to the Main Stand at Anfield,” the club wrote on Twitter. “All other stands are open and operating as normal. Some facilities in the Main Stand will be affected. Supporters can enter the stadium as normal.”

Winning ugly

18:35: Jurgen Klopp admitted that eking out a 1-0 win at Huddersfield over the weekend was “maybe the first period in my life that we are winning average matches”.

The result proved the Merseysiders can grind out a win even when they are not hitting top form, a trait that has eluded the club for a number of years and arguably cost them silverware. It is something they may need to do throughout the campaign if they are to have success on domestic and European fronts.

Evening…

18:30: Oh, look what the cat dragged in…

That’s my rather risqué way of welcoming you to our LIVE Champions League coverage as Liverpool welcome Red Star Belgrade to Anfield.

I’ll be calling the visitors Red Star, but for those desperate to sound like football hipsters – their full title is: Fudbalski Klub Crvena Zvezda.

Yeah, let’s stick with Red Star…

Anyway, the Reds followed up a memorable win over PSG in their Group C opener with a defeat to Napoli last time out and want to return to winning ways.

I think that’s enough of an introduction. Let’s have the team news and line-ups.

LIVERPOOL vs RED STAR

Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita will sit out Liverpool’s Champions League clash with Red Star Belgrade on Wednesday but Sadio Mane could make his return to action.

Henderson sustained a hamstring problem in Saturday’s 1-0 Premier League win at Huddersfield and came off at half-time, while fellow midfielder Keita sat the game out due to a hamstring issue of his own, picked up while on international duty with Guinea.

Forward Mane (broken thumb) was also not involved at the John Smith’s Stadium but is in contention for this contest having returned to full training.

Liverpool provisional squad: Alisson, Mignolet, Clyne, Van Dijk, Lovren, Gomez, Moreno, Robertson, Matip, Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Milner, Lallana, Shaqiri, Firmino, Mane, Salah, Sturridge, Origi, Solanke.