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 22:09 · Jack Watson]

Jurgen Klopp to BT Sport:

"Hoffenheim had a specific plan to play. We gambled a little too much on the wing, it was a little dangerous in the first half, but as always when we play football, we found spaces in-between and created wonderful chances."

[15 August 2017 22:11 · Jack Watson]

That's all folks. Liverpool have the advantage heading into the second leg which is next Wednesday, stay tuned for coverage of that. In the meantime, he're five things we learned from tonight's victory: