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As it happenedended

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

Harry Latham-Coyle
Wednesday 24 October 2018 22:29 BST
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Liverpool v Red Star Belgrade: Champions League preview

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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.

40 minutes

A foul on Fabinho 40 yards from goal. 

Xherdan Shaqiri swings it in but he can't work an angle and it is too close to Borjan, who this time claims at the first attempt.

Harry Latham-Coyle24 October 2018 20:42

41 minutes

Liverpool beginning to ramp things up.

Mohamed Salah wins a corner, and takes it...

Awful. Straight into the side netting with the box loaded.

Harry Latham-Coyle24 October 2018 20:43

Roberto Firmino has given Liverpool a 1-0 lead.

Harry Latham-Coyle24 October 2018 20:43

43 minutes

Andrew Robertson is wasteful again!

More intricate play on the edge of the box between Xherdan Shaqiri, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane sees the latter play Robertson in behind, but the left-back slices wide.

Harry Latham-Coyle24 October 2018 20:44

GOAL! Liverpool 2-0 Red Star Belgrade (Mohamed Salah, 44 minutes)

2-0.

Another well-worked goal. Georginio Wijnaldum lifts the ball forward powerfully, Xherdan Shaqiri deftly diverts the ball beyond the Red Star defence and Mohamed Salah calms himself before rifling home.

Harry Latham-Coyle24 October 2018 20:45

45 minutes

Two minutes added on at the end of the half.

Harry Latham-Coyle24 October 2018 20:48

Half time at Anfield. Goals from Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah give Liverpool a comfortable 2-0 lead against Red Star Belgrade.

Harry Latham-Coyle24 October 2018 20:49

Liverpool played some lovely, lovely football in that half. Xherdan Shaqiri particularly has been knitting things together nicely.

Harry Latham-Coyle24 October 2018 20:56

Mohamed Salah knocks the ball back to Joe Gomez and the game resumes after half time.

Harry Latham-Coyle24 October 2018 21:04

47 minutes

It appears Liverpool are playing a fluid 4-2-3-1, with Fabinho and Georginio Wijnaldum sitting, Xherdan Shaqiri on the right, Sadio Mane on the left and Roberto Firmino in behind Mohamed Salah.

Intriguing. There were no half time changes, by the way.

Harry Latham-Coyle24 October 2018 21:06

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