Hoffenheim vs Liverpool - as it happened: Reds beat German opponents 2-1 to close in on group stages

Re-live all the action from the Rhein-Neckar Arena

Mignolet saves a penalty from Hoffenheim's Kramaric (Getty)

Liverpool take on Hoffenheim in tonight's Champions League first-leg qualifier as Jurgen Klopp's men bid to book their spot in the group stages of Europe's elite competition.

• It would be 'awful' if Philippe Coutinho left Liverpool for Barcelona, says teammate Roberto Firmino
• Jordan Henderson looking to use the pain of Liverpool's last European experience to his advantage
• Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admits Emre Can situation 'not perfect' with midfielder stuck in contract impasse
• Liverpool don't concede the most goals from corners, but there is still a big problem that Virgil van Dijk won't fix

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Preview

It’s a big game for…

Dejan Lovren. Liverpool’s defence has been heavily criticised this week after shipping three goals away to Watford on Saturday and Lovren, as the most experienced player in that backline, needs to show some leadership and organisational skills if the Reds are to avoid a similar fate here.

Liverpool’s summer-long pursuit of Virgil van Dijk has been public, messy and looks like it could still prove fruitless. A big performance from Lovren on Tuesday night would help assuage Liverpool fans’ fears that they can’t possibly cope this season without a new addition at the back.

Best stat…

Hoffenheim were unbeaten in all 17 home matches in the Bundesliga last season.

Remember when…

The last time Liverpool played a German team in European competition. A Europa League quarter-final tie against Jurgen Klopp’s former side Borussia Dortmund saw the Reds secure a 1-1 draw in the first-leg before winning a memorable encounter back at Anfield. Late goals from Philippe Coutinho, Mamadou Sakho and Dejan Lovren saw Liverpool come back from two goals down to win 4-3 – and saw Klopp dumbfounded on the touchline…

Player to watch…

Serge Gnabry. The former Arsenal youngster was snapped up by Bayern Munich this summer after hitting 11 goals in 27 matches for Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga last term. A technically-gifted winger with a sharp turn of pace and an eye for goal, Gnabry has been sent on loan to Hoffenheim for the season in order to get more first-team experience.

While the 22-year-old never quite showed his potential in England he will have an opportunity on Tuesday to show the Premier League what it’s missing. And, as he told Kicker magazine this week, he is up for the challenge: "If you come up against a former club or, in my case, return to England, there's definitely a bit more excitement in the pot.”

Predicted teams...

Hoffenheim (3-1-4-2): Baumann, Nordtveit, Vogt, Bicakcic, Polanski, Zuber, Demirbay, Amiri, Gnabry, Kramaric, Wagner

Liverpool (4-3-3): Mignolet, Milner, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Matip, Can, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Mane, Salah, Firmino

Form guide…

Hoffenheim: WDWLWD

Liverpool: DWWDWL

Vital information…

Kick-off time: 19:45 BST on Tuesday

TV: Live on BT Sport 2

Odds…

Hoffenheim: 12/5

Liverpool: 5/4

Draw: 11/4

[15 August 2017 19:47 · Jack Watson]

1' Hoffenheim 0-0 Liverpool

And we're off. Liverpool get the game underway.

[15 August 2017 19:49 · Jack Watson]

2' Hoffenheim 0-0 Liverpool

Salah has the ball in the back of the net but the Egyptian was a offside. Bright start from Liverpool, I guess. 

[15 August 2017 19:53 · Jack Watson]

5' Hoffenheim 0-0 Liverpool

Hoffenheim deliver a series of crosses into the box, the best being Wanger's ball to Gnabry which is intercepted by Matip.

[15 August 2017 19:54 · Jack Watson]

7' Hoffenheim 0-0 Liverpool

Liverpool make a hash of clearing a set piece, tick that one off your Liverpool defending bingo card. A cross from deep is met by Lovren who slid to clear the ball but it only bounced around and required Mignolet to eventually tidy up.

[15 August 2017 19:56 · Jack Watson]

Penalty to Hoffenheim  

[15 August 2017 19:57 · Jack Watson]

10' Lovern catches Gnabry who looked to go past the Liverpool defender. It looks like the referee behind the goal gave that.

[15 August 2017 19:58 · Jack Watson]

Saved!Mignolet saves a poor penalty to his left from Kramaric.

[15 August 2017 20:01 · Jack Watson]

14' Hoffenheim 0-0 Liverpool

Vogt gives away the ball to Salah on the halfway line and the Liverpool winger shoots wide after getting behind the defence. Great chance missed.

[15 August 2017 20:07 · Jack Watson]

20' Hoffenheim 0-0 Liverpool

A more settled few minutes in this tie after a relatively fast start. The German side are keeping hold of possession but do look prone to a few mistakes at the back, watch out for that.

[15 August 2017 20:12 · Jack Watson]

25' Hoffenheim 0-0 Liverpool

A deep cross finds its way to Kaderabek who volleys high and wide. A half chance for the Germans.