Red Bull Salzburg vs Liverpool preview, predictions & confirmed team news as Mane, Salah and Firmino all start
Liverpool face Red Bull Salzburg tonight knowing a point will see them through to the knockout stages of the Champions League.
It will be a tough test but one Jurgen Klopp is fully aware off, having made seven changes on Saturday with one eye on this game.
Salzburg have scored more goals in Group E than any other side, five more than Liverpool and with a better goal difference, so a defeat could eliminate Klopp’s side.
The German boss will still be confident in his side but will be taking nothing for granted after seeing a three-goal lead pegged back when these two met in October. Liverpool would win that one 4-3 but it did highlight what a threat Salzburg can be.
When is Salzburg vs Liverpool and where can I watch live?
Competition: Champions League
Venue: Red Bull Arena
Date: Tuesday, 10 December 2019
Kick-off: 5:55 PM (UK time)
TV coverage (UK): BT Sport 3
Last five games:
Salzburg
07 December 2019: Salzburg 5-1 WSG Swarovski Tirol (Austrian Bundesliga)
01 December 2019: Flyeralarm Admira 1-1 Salzburg (Austrian Bundesliga)
27 November 2019: Genk 1-4 Salzburg (Champions League)
23 November 2019: Salzburg 2-2 St Polten (Austrian Bundesliga)
10 November 2019: Wolfsberg 0-3 Salzburg (Austrian Bundesliga)
Liverpool
07 December 2019: Bournemouth 0-3 Liverpool (Premier League)
04 December 2019: Liverpool 5-2 Everton (Premier League)
30 November 2019: Liverpool 2-1 Brighton (Premier League)
27 November 2019: Liverpool 1-1 Napoli (Champions League)
23 November 2019: Crystal Palace 1-2 Liverpool (Premier League)
Ones to watch
Salzburg: Erling Braut Håland
Salzburg will not be able to hold onto Håland for long. The 19-year-old is in sensational form having scored 28 goals in just 21 appearances this season. He has netted five hat-tricks and is already attracting the attention of some of the biggest clubs in Europe, including Manchester United.
The son of former Leeds United, Nottingham Forest and Manchester City midfielder Alfe-Inge Håland, was born in Leeds but has represented Norway at every youth level and already has two senior caps for the national team.
Key stat: Erling Braut Håland has scored in every Champions League game this season for Salzburg.
Liverpool: Jordan Henderson
Jordan Henderson was immense for Liverpool on Saturday. He provided both energy and experience in the centre of the park and the Reds will need all his experience if they are to navigate past a tricky, final group match in Austria.
The England midfielder’s work sometimes goes unnoticed but his impact is conspicuous when he doesn’t play.
Key stat: Jordan Henderson has completed 85.29% of his passes in the Champions League this season.
Team news
Salzburg
Salzburg have made four changes from the side that comfortably beat WSG Swarovski Tirol at the weekend, fielding their strongest possible XI.
Hwang Hee-chan returns to partner the wonderful Haaland in attack with Dominik Szoboszlai and Takumi Minamino playing just behind. There are also starts for Enock Mwepu and Zlatko Junuzovic in midfield.
Confirmed XI: Stankovic; Kristensen, Onguene, Wober, Ulmer; Mwepu, Junuzovic, Szoboszlai, Minamino; Hwang, Haaland.
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Liverpool
Klopp recently played down Dejan Lovren’s injury problems as cramp and he is fit enough to start tonight’s game, partnering Virgil van Dijk in defence. It is an otherwise expected XI with Trent Alexander-Arnold also returning, having been rested against Bournemouth.
Sadio Mane joins Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino in attack, with Naby Keita starting in midfield.
Confirmed XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Wijnadlum, Keita; Salah, Firmino, Mane.
Squawka prediction
Underestimate Salzburg at your peril. The game between these two sides was thoroughly entertaining back in October and Liverpool will be given a stern test at the back once again on Tuesday.
Håland is such an exciting talent and may well be moving to the Premier League next summer. The Reds will have to watch him carefully and will be all too aware of his threat after he netted in the superb performance at Anfield earlier this season.
Plenty of goals expected but Liverpool really ought to see this one out and progress to the next round.
Scoreline prediction: Salzburg 2-3 Liverpool
