After three weeks without elite European football, the Champions League returns with some mouthwatering clashes set to take place across the continent, including Liverpool against Red Star Belgrade.
The Merseyside club are out to replicate their achievements from last season as they reached the Champions League final, though they have endured a mixed start to their journey, beating Paris Saint-Germain before faltering against Napoli.
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Red Star Belgrade meanwhile have previously won the European Cup but are making their first appearance in the reformatted Champions League competition, and they have so far drawn to Napoli and lost to PSG.
Read on for Liverpool vs Red Star Belgrade live stream options, team news, predicted XIs, stats and TV channel info.
When is Liverpool vs Red Star Belgrade?
Competition: Champions League
Venue: Anfield
Date: Wednesday, 24 October
Kick-off: 8:00 PM BST
Match preview
Liverpool will be hoping to bounce back from Champions League defeat in Naples last time out, having suffered a 1-0 loss against Carlo Ancelotti’s side without registering a single shot on target.
The Reds had begun their European journey in fine fashion with their famous 3-2 victory against Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain in the opening match, but an uncharacteristically weak performance at the Stadio San Paolo has since blown Group C wide open.
Napoli sit atop on four points, while Jurgen Klopp’s men sit level with the Parisians on three points apiece, and Red Star Belgrade linger at the foot of the table.
The Serbian outfit made an encouraging start to life in Champions League football, having played out a stalemate against Napoli, but a 6-1 capitulation in the French capital proved to be a massive reality check for Vladan Milojevic’s men.
Having clinched the European Cup in 1991, the great aristocrats of continental football will be looking to make a positive impact in the elite competition this campaign, but they face a nightmarish group.
This clash promises to be a riveting affair, though Red Star fans are still banned from attending away matches due to punishment for a pitch invasion during the club’s Champions League qualifying game against RB Salzburg in August.
Napoli and PSG lock horns at the Parc des Princes in the other Group C match, so Klopp knows only three points will keep his side in with a fighting chance of qualification.
Where can I watch live?
Liverpool vs Red Star Belgrade can be viewed by UK residents on BT Sport 2, channel 414 on Sky and channel 532 for Virgin Media users.
The game is also available to watch on fuboTV.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about fuboTV
Can Red Star Belgrade cause an upset?
Vladan Milojevic’s men are currently unbeaten in the Serbian SuperLiga and have proven that they can go toe-to-toe with some of the continent’s heavyweights, having clinched a commendable 0-0 draw with Napoli earlier in the campaign.
Liverpool struggled immensely against the Partenopei, which makes Red Star’s result look all the more encouraging, and they will head to Anfield in full spirit knowing their opposition are currently struggling with something of a mini injury crisis.
If the Serbian club are to have any chance of progressing through the group stages, then they will need to start picking up points, and fast.
A chance for fringe Liverpool players to prove a point?
Jurgen Klopp has been recently lamenting the fatigue of his players due to the intensity of international Nations League football, with his side producing a very tame and lax performance against Huddersfield over the weekend.
The German fielded an almost unrecognisable starting XI, with Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Georginio Wijnaldum and Trent Alexander-Arnold all absent from the first-team, and in truth, it was evident on the paucity of the performance.
However, Klopp may now choose to field a rotated XI against Red Star, which will present a fantastic opportunity for some of the club’s fringe players to make an impact, with the likes of Daniel Sturridge, Xherdan Shaqiri, Fabinho and Adam Lallana all vying for a starting berth.
Can Liverpool rediscover their scoring form?
Liverpool are currently suffering from a spate of goalscoring inconsistency, having fired a blank in two of their last three matches, and having scored just three goals in their last six matches.
Granted the competition has been fierce with the club locking horns with Chelsea, Man City and Napoli in that time, but last season this was not a problem for Klopp’s men, as his side often breezed past their fiercest rivals.
The match against Huddersfield brought about a massive sense of realisation that Liverpool are currently not reaching the goalscoring heights of last season, and so, Wednesday night’s match will offer a glorious chance for the Reds to rediscover their shooting form.
Head-to-head
Liverpool and Red Star Belgrade have met just twice in official competition, with the Serbian club triumphing on both occasions during the 1973/74 season.
Miljan Miljanic’s side beat Bill Shankly’s Liverpool 2-1 in both legs of the European Cup Second Round, though Red Star would eventually go on to lose in the quarter-finals to Atletico Madrid.
Liverpool wins: 0 Draws: 0 Red Star Belgrade wins: 2
Team news
Sadio Mane and Naby Keita both picked up injuries during the international break, with the latter sustaining a hamstring strain and the former requiring surgery on a hand injury. Both will be assessed ahead of the match, though neither is expected to take part.
Klopp is likely to rotate after expressing his concern with fatigue for a number of his players; Lallana has returned to full fitness and could start, while Sturridge and Shaqiri could keep their starting places from Saturday’s match.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain remains out of action for Liverpool.
Red Star Belgrade should have a fully fit squad to take on Liverpool at Anfield.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Matip, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Lallana; Salah, Firmino, Shaqiri.
Predicted Red Star Belgrade XI: Borjan; Stojkovic, Savic, Degenek, Rodic; Marin, Krsticic, Causic, Jovicic, Fardou Ben Nabouhane; Boakye.
Predictions & Betting Tips
Register with William Hill HERE & bet £10, get £30 in free bets. Terms & Conditions apply. 18+ only. BeGambleAware.
1. Mohamed Salah to score in both halves @ 16/5
The current Premier League Golden Boot holder is yet to rediscover the form that saw him break a host of records en route to his incredible 44-goal season, and he is yet to score more than a single goal in a match this term.
Well, at some point the Egyptian will break that brace drought, and it could be against Red Star on Wednesday as the club conceded six against PSG in their previous Champions League match.
Key stat: Salah scored two or more goals on eight occasions last season.
Tip: Mohamed Salah to score both halves @ 16/5 with William Hill – bet here.
Odds correct at time of publishing (22/10/2018, 17:30)
18+ only. Ts&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org
2. Liverpool to win and 4 or more goals in the match @ 8/15
Jurgen Klopp will be keen to see his side reinstate themselves as one of England’s heavy-hitters, and with a number of players keen to make a mark in a fiercely competitive Liverpool squad, Wednesday’s match could see a number of goals.
Red Star themselves have already netted 33 goals in their league and will be hoping to expose Liverpool’s defence as they did against PSG, but ultimately, the Reds might prove too powerful for the Serbian club.
Key stat: Liverpool were the second highest scorers in the Champions League group stages last season with 23 goals.
Tip: Liverpool to win and 4 or More Goals in the Match @ 8/15 with William Hill – bet here.
Odds correct at time of publishing (21/10/2018, 17:30)
18+ only. Ts&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org
3. Xherdan Shaqiri to score anytime @ 19/20
The former Stoke City man is yet to open his Liverpool account, but he has been tentatively knocking on the door for a first-team place in recent weeks, and given the recent injury concern for the club, he should have significant involvement on Wednesday night.
The Switzerland international failed to leave a lasting impression on Saturday against the Terriers, but he was Stoke’s most prolific goalscorer last season and he will be keen to get off the mark sooner rather than later for his new club.
Key stat: Shaqiri scored eight goals last season despite suffering relegation with Stoke City.
Tip: Xherdan Shaqiri to score anytime @ 19/20 with William Hill – bet here.
Odds correct at time of publishing (21/10/2018, 17:30)
18+ only. Ts&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org
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