Red Star Belgrade vs Liverpool
UEFA Champions League
Date: Tuesday, 6 November 2018
Kick-Off at 17:55 UK / 18:55 CET
Venue: Stadion Rajko Mitic (Belgrade).
Red Star's elation at attaining the institution stages of the Champions League for the primary time would had been tempered by way of the unique draw, and the past matches have accentuated the tough reality of their standing in Group C.
The Belgrade outfit may be the most a hit team in Serbia, however they by no means seemed like status a danger in opposition to the likes of Liverpool, PSG and Napoli.
So it has proved on matchdays two and 3, with Red Star transport 10 desires in the ones games alone to discover themselves with the worst protecting file - as well as the joint-worst attacking record - in the opposition.
Tuesday night time gives the chance to get a degree of revenge on Liverpool for the 4-zero drubbing they received at Anfield a fortnight before, and it's miles at home where they may assume to give their more illustrious combatants a bigger take a look at.
It has honestly been that way thus far, with Napoli - Liverpool's conquerors on matchday - handiest managing a goalless draw on their visit to Belgrade as Red Star got their marketing campaign off to a effective start.
Liverpool are the first crew to visit in Europe when you consider that then, and Red Star have most effective lost one in all their closing 14 European suits in front in their own fans - despite the fact that that did come at the palms of English competition in the shape of Arsenal last season.
Indeed, that Europa League defeat to Arsenal - which came greater than a year ago in October 2017 - stays their maximum recent domestic defeat in any competition, prevailing 23 and drawing 5 in their 28 domestic outings due to the fact that.
Despite their consequences within the Champions League to this point, Red Star also are a team with a triumphing addiction have taken 43 points from a possible 45 regionally this season to take a seat 9 factors clear at the top of the desk after simply 15 video games.
European opposition is a specific count number entirely, even though, and regardless of making it thru qualifying for the first time, Red Star are absolutely winless inside ninety mins of their closing seven Champions League video games this season - a run which stretches back to the beginning of August once they beat Lithuania's Suduva within the 2d qualifying spherical.
Home advantage looks to be their satisfactory wager of their tries to give up that run, however it would take a massive improvement from their Anfield show two weeks in the past for them to get anything out of Tuesday's in shape.
Liverpool
Wherever Liverpool turn in the intervening time, they reputedly locate themselves in a 3-way tussle for pinnacle spot.
It is the case regionally, in which Manchester City and Chelsea joined them in making it 11 games unbeaten at the begin of the Premier League season, and also of their exceedingly competitive Champions League group.
Things fell very kindly for the Reds on matchday two, with their convincing four-zero win over Red Star being coupled with a overdue PSG equaliser against Napoli which noticed Jurgen Klopp's facet move top of the institution.
Still, only two factors separate the top 3 and Liverpool will recognize that most points from their matches towards Red Star are vital ahead in their upcoming games towards PSG and Napoli.
Mohamed Salah shone as Liverpool finished the first leg of the attempted Red Star double, and due to the fact then Liverpool have additionally cruised past Cardiff City before being held to a 1-1 draw by Arsenal on the Emirates Stadium.
Saturday's bring about North London noticed Liverpool slip all the way down to 1/3 in the Premier League table, but it was still a nice factor away to one among their huge-six rivals as the Reds made it five games unbeaten due to the fact that their past due loss to Napoli on matchday .
The defeat in Naples turned into Liverpool's 2d away European loss at the soar, and that they have now gained just five in their ultimate 20 such suits, with eight attracts and seven defeats in that time too.
In all competitions it's far most effective one win in their ultimate 4 away video games for Liverpool, although the loss to Napoli is their best defeat on the street to this point this season.
With at the least one among Napoli or PSG assured to drop points on Tuesday, Liverpool will recognise that victory could positioned them as many as 3 points clear of their opponents going into that elaborate last double-header, leaving qualification for the closing sixteen firmly in their very own arms.
Match Preview
Liverpool are in an amazing position to progress to the knockout stages, but they may need all three factors against Red Star with games towards PSG and Napoli to come.
Red Star had been hammered 6-1 at PSG, however they did control to preserve Napoli to a goalless draw of their establishing recreation of the institution.
Liverpool are not pretty at their fluent nice currently. The Reds have suffered handiest defeats all season in all competitions, but have won simply three of their remaining 8 meetings.
However, their front 3 will fancy any other conflict towards Red Star. Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah have been all on course inside the four-0 win at Anfield, with the Egyptian scoring two times.
Salah has five dreams and assists in his ultimate 5 appearances, and although he did now not rating in Saturday's draw at Arsenal, he was nevertheless a hazard:
Liverpool can anticipate a antagonistic reception in Serbia. Tensions may be expanded by means of Partizan Belgrade, Red Star's fiercest competitors, having allowed the Reds to use their training centers ahead of the sport, per Glenn Price at ESPN FC.
Opta stats
This might be Liverpool's first away recreation in opposition to Red Star in European competition given that October 1973, when they misplaced 2-1 in the first leg of a Last sixteen tie within the European Cup/Champions League.
Red Star are winless in their last 5 video games in European opposition (D3 L2), dropping the closing in a row even as conceding a blended 10 goals (1-6 v Paris Saint-Germain and 0-four v Liverpool).
Liverpool have handiest misplaced one of their remaining eleven organization degree video games in the Champions League (W5 D5), scoring 33 dreams in overall at some stage in this run (an average of 3 according to sport).
Red Star have suffered just one defeat of their closing 14 domestic games in European competition (W7 D6), with their preceding home recreation in the cutting-edge Champions League marketing campaign completing 0-zero (v Napoli).
Liverpool have scored forty eight dreams inside the Champions League because the begin of last season (16 video games), the most of any team in the competition.
Red Star have conceded just five dreams in their last 14 home games in European competition, retaining nine smooth sheets in this run.
Sadio Mane has scored eleven dreams in his ultimate 12 appearances for Liverpool inside the Champions League, with the maximum latest of those coming towards Red Star in a four-0 win.
Red Star Belgrade vs Liverpool: Head-to-head
The Reds clinched their maiden victory in the third head to head come across towards Red Star Belgrade.
We’ll remind that the Serbian aspect shocked Liverpool 45 years ago while the 2 groups met every other in the 2d spherical of the European Cup.
Red Star Belgrade vs Liverpool: Bet Tips
Liverpool -1.5 handicap in the first half of @ three.10 (21/10)
HT/FT Liverpool/Liverpool @ 1.57 (4/7).
