Liverpool 4-0 Red Star Belgrade: goals galore at Anfield as Mo Salah scores his 50th

Relive all the action from Anfield where Liverpool took on Red Star

Liverpool v Red Star Belgrade: Champions League preview

Liverpool inflicted an almighty 4-0 thumping on a drab Red Star Belgrade, who failed to rekindle glory at one of their old English haunts.

It's 35 years since Red Star came to Liverpool and clinched a 2-1 victory but what they experienced tonight was a cruel one-way battering which rarely left them with a moment's pause.

The first came after 17 minutes when Xherdan Shaqiri - the game's man of the match - held up play in midfield to allow Andy Robertson to dart beyond Belgrade's right back and cut-back to Roberto Firmino who gratefully accepted the end to his goal-drought.

Then it was the turn of Mo Salah, who after an unsteady start was the recipient of a deft flick by Shaqiri and side-footed home Liverpool's second. The little Egyptian added another to his total just a few minutes later from the penalty spot after Mane was felled in the box by a flying elbow.

Mane should have then had one from the spot himself but was denied by a brilliant save but made amends just minutes later with an old-fashioned toe-poke tap-in to complete the healthy haul.

The victory puts Liverpool in pole position in Group C, which has quickly become a group of death in this year's Champions League. The Reds are one point clear of Napoli, who were pegged back by PSG in the last minute thanks to a stunning strike from Angel Di Maria, when it looked as though the visors secure the most unlikely away victory.

[24 October 2018 15:46 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Liverpool host Red Star Belgrade looking to reassert themselves in Group C of the Champions League on a night when leaders Napoli play PSG in Paris. Harry will be here with all the build-up and team news from around 6.30pm BST. In the meantime, here's the latest from the Liverpool camp:

[24 October 2018 18:47 · Lawrence Ostlere]

  ↵Liverpool team news has landed and the fab three are reunited in attack, with Fabinho starting in midfield:

[24 October 2018 19:57 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

The players make their way on to the pitch.

Surely a comfortable home win for Liverpool at Anfield?

[24 October 2018 20:01 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Kick off at Anfield.

[24 October 2018 20:03 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

1 minute

A firm early challenge from a Red Star midfielder.

It looks more like an initial 4-1-4-1 than the listed 4-2-3-1 from the visitors. 4-3-3 as expected from Liverpool with Xherdan Shaqiri again in midfield.

[24 October 2018 20:05 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

4 minutes

Andrew Robertson concedes a foul after an errant Joe Gomez pass. 

Red Star free kick on the right about 35 yards out.

[24 October 2018 20:08 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

6 minutes

Mohamed Salah thinks he may have broken free from the Red Star defence but he is just offside and flagged as such.

[24 October 2018 20:11 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

9 minutes

Red Star have rattled the Liverpool side in these early stages, but the home side are just starting to find their footing. 

[24 October 2018 20:12 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

10 minutes

First chance for Liverpool.

Joe Gomez breaks from defence strongly and feeds Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian in turn looks for Roberto Firmino, but Trent Alexander-Arnold's forward run takes him into the Brazilian's path and he inadvertently blocks Firming's shot. 

[24 October 2018 20:13 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

11 minutes

Mohamed Salah takes down a ball over the top brilliantly and briefly appears to have caught out Milan Borjan rushing out from the Red Star goal. The Canadian international recovers well to prevent Salah from getting a proper shot away, however.