Champions League: Red Bull And Reds Face Off

Red Bull Salzburg vs Liverpool

The 2019 Champions League winners still have some work to do, with one game left to play in a three way race in qualifying Group E.

Liverpool need a result in Salzburg.

The Red Bull Arena will be packed to the rafters for the visit of Jurgen Klopp’s Reds for a 5.55pm kick-off (UK time) with the hosts still in with a hope of qualification. Red Bull Salzburg is in third place, three points behind Liverpool and a home win would mean the better head to head record decides the outcome.

American coach Jesse Marsch has a not-so-secret weapon in Erling Braut Haaland, the giant Norwegian forward that has struck fear into the hearts of Austrian league defences, and he is Red Bull’s best hope of springing a major surprise and qualifying for the Round of 16.

With Napoli heavily fancied to beat Genk and book their own qualifying place, it all comes down to this shoot-out in Salzburg. The latest Champions League 2019 betting odds pitch the Premier League leaders as third favourites behind Manchester City and Barcelona to lift the 2020 title; so it would be something of a shock if they bowed out now.

Talking Points

Klopp trusts his squad

Even without Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino in the starting line-up, Liverpool managed to hit Everton for five in the Mersey Derby. And Jurgen Klopp gave starts to Champions League players Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita as the Reds beat Bournemouth yesterday to move a mammoth 11 points clear at the top of the Premier League.

The boss has said he needs to be sensible and sensitive with his squad selection as the fixtures pile up in December. The trip to Bournemouth began a run of seven games in 22 days, including an energy sapping trip to Qatar for the Club World Cup.

Champions League: Alex Oxlade Chamberlain managed to open the scoring in Liverpool's match against Bournemouth — Alex Oxlade Chamberlain celebrates with Liverpool teammates after scoring vs Bournemouth

Winning a first Premier League title in 30 years would mean the world to the Anfield faithful and Klopp has given them every reason to believe this is their time. But it would be a serious blow to their pride to surrender their defence of the Champions League at the group stage.

Defensive midfielder Fabinho is out until the New Year after picking up an injury in the Reds’ draw with Napoli, and Klopp will hope that’s his last major casualty of 2019, so he needs to handle his players with care. The return to fitness of Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain has been a bonus. He already has three goals in the competition and scored again in the game against the Cherries which the Reds won at a canter.

Sadio Mane and Trent-Alexander Arnold were rested for that game and could return for the crunch match in Salzburg.

Haaland is a handful

Liverpool’s key player, and particularly on Tuesday night, could well be centre back Virgil Van Dijk, as he will be up against one of the hottest striking properties in Europe, currently dominating the Champions League 2019 news.

Erling Braut Halland has eight goals in the competition, coming to the world’s attention when he smashed four goals in Red Bull’s opening fixture 6-2 destruction of Genk, and he was one of five different scorers as Red Bull hammered WSG Swarovski Wattens 5-1 at the weekend, while recently scoring a hat-trick in a league victory over RZ Pellets WAC.

At 6 foot 4 inches he’s a real handful, a combination of strength and skill which will surely earn him a move to one of Europe’s big clubs before much longer.

His goals have fired Red Bull to the top of their domestic league; they are in a two horse race with LASK at the top of the Austrian Bundesliga.

History

Klopp certainly won’t be taking this game for granted. Red Bull gave Liverpool one heck of a scare in the return fixture at Anfield, coming back from a three goal deficit to level, before Salah notched his second goal of the game to win all three points for the Reds.

Both teams are powerful forces in their own leagues; Liverpool haven’t lost in the Premier League, winning 15 and drawing one, while Salzburg is unbeaten in 17 games in the Austrian Bundesliga.

Liverpool is unbeaten in eight away games; extend that run to nine and they are home and dry.