Red Star vs Liverpool, Champions League: Jurgen Klopp's men stunned in 2-0 defeat

Re-live all the action from the Rajko Mitić Stadium

Who have the English clubs drawn in the Champions League?

A damaging 2-0 defeat to Red Star Belgrade in Serbia sealed Liverpool's worst away run in Europe's elite club competition in 39 years and made qualifying from Group C that bit harder.

Two first-half strikes from Milan Pavkov, a 24-year-old scoring his first European goals in only his 11th appearance, were enough to beat the off-colour Reds.

A third successive Champions League away defeat, taking into account May's semi-final reverse in Rome, equalled the run of 1979 which was 'achieved' over three seasons, not three successive matches.

It posed plenty of questions for manager Jurgen Klopp, whose decision to leave Xherdan Shaqiri, of Kosovar-Albanian parentage, at home in order to lessen local hostilities, had no bearing on this performance.

Re-live all the action below:

[6 November 2018 16:44 · Jack Watson]

Welcome!

Hello and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of Red Star vs Liverpool in the Champions League. We'll provide you with live updates and all the build-up to this evening's clash, starting with team news in around 10 minutes. Spoiler alert...this man doesn't feature.

[6 November 2018 16:54 · Michael Jones]

Team news:

Red Star Belgrade

Borjan, Stojkovic, Savic, Degenek, Rodic, Krsticic, Jovancic, Srnic, Marin, Ben Nabouhane, Pavkov

Liverpool

Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, van Dijk, Robertson, Milner, Wijnaldum, Lallana, Salah, Sturridge, Mané

[6 November 2018 17:08 · Michael Jones]

As it stands: 

Liverpool are currently top of Group C and are now favourites to progress as group champions.

They humbled Red Star Belgrade 4-0 two weeks ago at Anfield and defeat for the home side tonight, if Napoli also beat Paris St-Germain, would eliminate them from the competition.

But Red Star coach Vladan Milojevic hopes home advantage will be an asset to his side, he said:

"We know that we did not have the support of our fans for the previous two matches, [when they were banned by Uefa after pitch invasions and fireworks] 

"Everyone knows what it means to play at the Marakana (as the stadium is locally known), no-one feels comfortable with it, and it puts wind in our sails, because the atmosphere is much different than at other stadiums."

[6 November 2018 17:15 · Michael Jones]

Tonight's game will be played in Serbia at the Rajko Mitic Stadium. Here's a look at the Marakana as the locals call it... 

[6 November 2018 17:24 · Michael Jones]

Fabinho starts on the bench for Liverpool tonight but is there more to his shaky beginnings at Anfield?

[6 November 2018 17:30 · Michael Jones]

Less than half an hour until kick off, Liverpool are out on the pitch and the warm ups have started 

[6 November 2018 17:37 · Michael Jones]

It won't be the easiest of games for Liverpool tonight, even though they are favourites to win.

Red Star are unbeaten at home this season having played 13, won 10 and drawn 3. In that time they've scored 30 goals and only conceded 5. 

In European competition they've only lost once in 14 games at home, to Arsenal in Oct, 2017. 

[6 November 2018 17:54 · Michael Jones]

There's a fantastic atmosphere in the Rajko Mitic Stadium as the teams walk out onto the pitch. The fans all waving flags of red and white spelling out their support in the stands. It's quite simply spectacular.

[6 November 2018 17:58 · Michael Jones]

Red Star 0 - 0 Liverpool

Liverpool start the match, kick the ball forward and lose it. The resulting goal kick sees them win it back and they storm forward again. It goes out for a throw and the referee gives it to Red Star

[6 November 2018 18:00 · Michael Jones]

3 mins: Red Star 0 - 0 Liverpool

Corner for Red Star. Marin takes it and van Dijk wins the header the ball goes back into the box and goes out for a goal kick.