RB Leipzig vs Liverpool LIVE: Champions League team news and lineups as Szoboszlai and Nunez start
Arne Slot’s men are unbeaten so far in European but face a tricky task against the German side
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Liverpool have made the trip to Germany for tonight’s clash with RB Leipzig in what promises to be a superb night of Champions League action.
The Reds have won both of their European matches so far earning a 3-1 win away at AC Milan before besting Bologna 2-0 at Anfield just before the international break.
A 2-1 Premier League victory over Chelsea last Sunday further proved Arne Slot’s credentials as a worthy replacement for Jurgen Klopp and the Liverpool boss will hope to move a step closer to the Champions League knockout rounds tonight.
Leipzig will be tough opponents though. They are still unbeaten in the Bundesliga and go into the match second in the table to Bayern Munich on goal difference. Yet, in Europe they have lost both their matches, to Atletico Madrid and Juventus, so they will be keen to get themselves up and running in the league phase.
Follow all the Champions League action with our live blog below:
Dominik Szoboszlai knows the importance of his ‘dirty job’ with Liverpool
Dominik Szoboszlai is working hard to improve his goalscoring return but insisted it was more important that he is doing a “dirty job” for Arne Slot’s Liverpool side.
Last season, Szoboszlai chipped in with eight goals in 55 appearances for the Reds but so far this season his only strike came in the 3-1 Champions League win over AC Milan in September, and that has led to complaints from sections of the Liverpool support and, sometimes, his own manager.
The 23-year-old said he is putting in the hours on the training ground to improve but he is more interested in the team’s results than his own numbers.
Dominik Szoboszlai knows the importance of his ‘dirty job’ with Liverpool
The Reds have made a strong start to the season under Arne Slot but face a testing run of fixtures.
Salah closing in on Gerrard and Carragher
Mohamed Salah should make his 69th European Cup appearance for Liverpool, to move him into third place on the club’s all-time appearance list in the competition, behind Jamie Carragher (91) and Steven Gerrard (87).
A strong start for Slot
If Arne Slot’s side win this game they will become the first team in the club’s history to win each of their opening six away fixtures of a season.
The Reds could record an eighth consecutive victory in all competitions for the first time since March 2022 (a run of 12).
‘Everybody wants to play these games’
“I think everybody as a player wants to play those games,” said Cody Gakpo when asked about the tough fixtures Liverpool have coming up with Leipzig tonight and Arsenal at the weekend.
He told Liverpoolfc.com: “When you are at a big club, as Liverpool [is], you have the opportunity to get these games in the Champions League and in the league. We are all looking forward to it.
“I enjoy it. I think it’s the best feeling to just play games – maybe not so much training but more games.
“I think every player likes to get as much minutes as possible and to play at the highest level, to show yourself again and again. That’s what we all try to do every game.”
Liverpool on the road
Liverpool very much enjoy playing away in the European top-flight and have a strong record when on the road. The Reds have won 14 of their last 19 away Champions League matches, including nine of the last 11.
RB Leipzig vs Liverpool
These two teams were drawn together for the only previous time in the 2020-21 Champions League campaign.
They met in the first knockout round and the Reds won 2-0 in both legs, which were held in Budapest due to Covid-19 restrictions. Will Liverpool emulate that result tonight?
Reds well drilled
Liverpool have been put through their paces ahead of this match. They overcame Chelsea at the weekend and another victory tonight would be a big bonus for Arne Slot’s side.
Liverpool versus German opposition
Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 12 meetings with German opposition in all European competition (winning nine and drawing three).
Liverpool team changes
Arne Slot makes three changes to the Liverpool team that defeated Chelsea at the weekend. Kostas Tsimikas comes into the defence in place of Andy Robertson.
In midfield Alexis Mac Allister comes in for Curtis Jones while Darwin Nunez starts and Diogo Jota drops out due to injury.
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