The Champions League match day 4 on Tuesday sees Liverpool head to the Stadion Rajko Mitic in Belgrade to duel with Crvena Zvezda (Red Star Belgrade) as we enter the second half of group stage matches. These two met a fortnight ago with Liverpool running out 4-0 winners. Goals from Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and a brace from Salah ensured that the Reds ended match day 3 as group C leaders.
Liverpool are on 6 points after 3 games in what is probably the most difficult Champions League group this year. Considering the presence of Napoli and PSG in the same group, one big team is certain to drop down to the less attractive Europa League.
Red Star Belgrade are the whipping boys in group C with only one point and one goal so far. They have also conceded ten times in that period. Four of those against Liverpool and six against PSG. Red Star won their 4th Serbian Super Liga title last season and currently lead the Super Liga table with 43 points from 15 games having won 14 matches and drawn 1. They are the highest scoring team in the league with 40 goals and have the second best defence with 8 goals conceded. They have however failed to win any of their last five European games.
Vladan Milojević’s men last lost at home in October 2017. Arsenal’s Oliver Giroud scored an improvised 85th overhead kick to escape with a 1-0 victory after Milan Rodic was sent off on 80 minutes. Belgrade is tough venue for oppositions as Napoli found out earlier this season in the Champions League. Napoli were held to a 0-0 draw at the Stadion Rajko Mitic stadium on match day 1, so Liverpool are well warned. The Reds should not expect to just turn up and win if they won’t graft and toil for the three points.
Liverpool are a high scoring side having scored 48 goals since the beginning of the last season’s Champions League, the highest of any team currently in the competition. 3 points against rock bottom Red Star will stand them in good stead for the final 2 games of the group against PSG and Napoli.
Team News
Xherdan Shaqiri will be missing in action for Liverpool in Serbia. The Kosovo-born Swiss international has been omitted from the squad owing to the tensions between Serbia and Kosovo. Henderson has missed a few games and will not be available for this game while Dejan Lovren and Naby Keita made the travelling squad. Fabinho, Wijnaldum and James Milner are set to continue as a midfield trio. Oxlade Chamberlain remains a long-term absentee.
Red Star coach Vladan Milojević has no major injury issues leading up to this game and will have the full strength of this squad to pick from.
Verdict
We are entering the business phase of the season and Liverpool cannot afford to drop to the Europa League considering their summer spending and last season’s heights. This match goes a long way to ensuring that does not happen. With matches against European powerhouse PSG and Napoli hovering, this is last 3 points Liverpool are expected to snatch for sure. Klopp will make sure that his boys do not take Red Star for granted. This should end in a fairly comfortable Liverpool win.