Champions League: Liverpool Fighting on Two Fronts

Liverpool vs Red Bull Salzburg

It’s all going swimmingly in the Premier League for Liverpool; top by five points, but now they must turn their attention to Champions League matters when Red Bull Salzburg heads to Anfield on Wednesday.

This is shaping up to be another monumental season, SBOBET football fans!

While the Reds have pulled ahead of Manchester City at the start of the domestic season, they have already had a jolt in Europe, and now meet Red Bull Salzburg, who made a flying start to their Champions League campaign and sit proudly at the top of Group E.

US-born coach Jesse Marsch has Die Mozartstadter playing without fear, having won their domestic title over the past six seasons, and the Austrians will embrace their opportunity under the floodlights at Anfield.

Talking Points

Premier League or Champions League?

As six times winners of the Champions League and reigning champions, Liverpool’s European record is of legendary status. Only Real Madrid and Milan have won more, while no-one in England comes close.

But Liverpool have never lifted the Premier League trophy, last winning the top flight in 1990 before the new league took shape. And that is a burning irritation that will get worse on Merseyside for every year they have to wait.

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UEFA – Champions League

This is the best Liverpool side in three decades, but the problem is that it is up against Manchester City season after season, and the Sky Blues have more depth in their squad.

The Reds had a tough examination in the Premier League against Sheffield United on Saturday and needed a slice of luck to win after the Blades keeper Dean Henderson let a shot slip through his legs.

Sadio Mane was uncharacteristically wasteful in front of goal at Bramall Lane but the Reds nevertheless got over the line against the newcomers to make it seven wins from seven and a club record of 16 consecutive victories.

The reigning champions made a losing start in this European campaign though, going down by two goals away to Napoli, and that raised questions around where Liverpool’s priorities lie this term.

But the Champions League 2019 betting odds have the Merseysiders as a semi-final prospect at least, and there’s no way Klopp wants to surrender his side’s European crown without a fight. He needs to juggle his squad carefully and avoid injuries to his key men.

Red Bull’s Erling has Wings!

Liverpool have a wonderful front line of Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mo Salah, but the Austrians sure know how to find the net!

A 6-2 win over Genk was beyond Red Bull’s wildest dreams in their opener. It was one of the Champions League 2019 results of the round as 19-year-old striker Erling Haaland announced himself onto the European stage.

The young Norwegian hit a stunning first-half hat-trick in the mauling of Genk and is joint top scorer in the competition. The Austrian champions also had Hwang Hee-chan, Dominik Szoboszlai and Andreas Ulmer on target, but it was Haaland who rightly stole the headlines.

Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick in the Champions League — Erling Haaland earns himself a match ball after scoring a hat-trick against Genk in the Champions League

The son of former Manchester City star Alf-Inge Haaland has already scored 14 domestic goals and is sure to be a real handful on Wednesday night.

History

This is the first meeting between the European champions and the Austrian champions so we’re going to have to rely on recent form.

Of course, Klopp’s Reds have made a perfect start to their Premier League campaign, winning seven from seven, but Salzburg are unbeaten in 10 matches, and 10 away from home.

Red Bull are 13 times winners of the Austrian Bundesliga, winning the last six in a row. They also have a decent record in the Champions League, winning 24, drawing 15 and losing 17 matches in the competition.

But this is sure to be their biggest test so far.

Betting Tip

	Liverpool vs Red Bull Salzburg	Half Time Full Time – Home Home @ 1.74
	October 03, 03:00 (GMT+8)

Liverpool are at 1.30 to win this tie, with the draw at 5.60 and Red Bull at 8.50 to spring a major surprise. But while the visitors arrive on the crest of a wave and clearly have a sharp cutting edge, getting past Virgil Van Dijk is a different prospect to the Genk rearguard.

And in a very competitive Liverpool front line, Mane will want to make amends for his misses on Saturday, while Klopp will ensure his team is set up to avoid another slip-up in the Champions League.

I expect the Reds to come out all guns blazing and to take hold of this tie by half-time.

3-1 is the most likely scoreline at 8.50 and that looks about right to me.