Welcome to Liverpool v Hoffenheim minute by minute report from Anfield. The Futbolgrad Network‘s Chris Williams is live on location in what promises to be a highly entertaining match between last season’s fourth placed team in the English Premier League and the German Bundesliga.
Man of the Match – Sadio Mané
A constant thorn in the Hoffenheim side the Liverpool attacker was imperious.! Our man to watch in the preview turned out to be one of the main differences tonight. However, in total Liverpool were simply too good for their German visitors.
Sadio Mane takes on the Bayern defence during the Audi Cup match between Bayern München and Liverpool FC at Allianz Arena on August 1, 2017 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Martin Rose/Bongarts/Getty Images)
Full Time: Liverpool 4:2 Hoffenheim (6:3 Aggregate)
Liverpool progress into the Champions League Group Stage whilst TSG Hoffenheim drop into the Europa League. The hosts too hot to handle.
90+2 Min:
Hoffenheim with a corner, one final chance? It’s cleared by Liverpool easily.
90 Min:
Yellow card for Hübner – he must have said something the referee wasn’t keen on.
87 Min:
Liverpool’s final substitution – Klavan replaces Sadio Mané, the forward had an unbelievable night, easily man of the match.
85 Min:
Five minutes left – Liverpool attack down the right again, Firmino crosses the ball on the floor but Baumann collects. The ball is launched forwards and Mignolet collects. It’s end to end I’ll give you that.
83 Min:
Even at 6:3 on aggregate neither side look to be slowing down. Liverpool are still searching for a fifth and TSG a third. What a crazy game!
78 Min: GOOOAAAAALLLLLLL Hoffenheim – Sandro Wagner 4:2 (6:3 Agg)
78' TOOOOR! Sandro Wagner meets a cross and Hoffenheim make it 4-2! #LFCTSG #LIVHOFF #ChampionsLeague
— Futbolgrad (@FutbolgradLive) August 23, 2017
74 Min:
It’s been a breathtaking fixture, Liverpool have been excellent and have so far not let Hoffenheim get a foothold in the match for any length of time. Nagelsmann looked very confident in yesterday’s press conference. Too confident maybe?
Nagelsmann – We can cope with Liverpool’s fast attack, we have shown this ability in the Bundesliga last season #UCL #LFCTSG
— Chris Williams (@Chris78Williams) August 22, 2017
72 Min:
Hoffenheim win possession, but their Liverpool hosts are giving a textbook performance in Gegenpressing – they win the ball back immediately. Klopp is very happy and punches the air!
70 Min:
Two goal Emre Can comes off as Liverpool bring on their second substitute – James Milner. The German midfielder had an excellent night, he’ll be happy as will the watching national team coach Joachim Löw
69 Min:
Hoffenheim with a sniff at goal — however, Lovren thwarts the danger at the last moment.
68 Min:
Emre Can sprints down the wing and bends in a dangerous cross, but Baumann is equal to it. Liverpool with no sign of taking their foot off the gas.
64 Min:
Liverpool make their first substitution of the night. Gomez comes on for the exceptionally impressive Alexander-Arnold.
63 Min: GOOOAALLLLLLL Liverpool – Roberto Firmino 4:1 (6:2 Agg)
Henderson gegenpresses the visitors and slides the ball to Firmino who slots home Liverpool’s fourth of the night.. Game over? Maybe just maybe.
FIRMINOOOO!!! pic.twitter.com/AxQcO31LoK
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 23, 2017
61 Min:
Mignolet has a shakey moment, he drops the ball from a cross and drops the rebound from his drop. The Liverpool goalkeeper just about escapes — Did any of the sellout Anfield crowd see it? Oh, yes, the all did.!
60 Min:
Hoffenheim made a substitution during all the action! The wasteful Gnabry leaves the field, replaced by Adam Szalai
https://twitter.com/achtzehn99/status/900447651954659328
58 Min:
Mané finds himself clear of the TSG defence again but Baumann saves well, the referee does award a corner this time
56 Min:
Matip with a sloppy clearance and TSG are in behind the LFC backline, the chance is wasted.
55 Min:
Winjaldum goes clean through, his shot is well saved by Baumann but the referee gives a goal kick..! Insert open wide mouthed emoji here > <
54 Min:
Panic at the Hoffenheim back line. Vogt and Hübner get in a mess and just about clear their lines.
52 Min:
Liverpool corner — Moreno whips the ball in, Can heads the chance over the bar. Again it is the home side who have settled quickest.
51 Min:
Vogt bodychecks Firmino — A clear yellow card, the captain doesn’t even argue the decision.
49 Min:
Hoffenheim loft the ball into the Liverpool box, but who is back there defending? Sadio Mané – That typifies his display this evening.
48 Min:
Liverpool carry on the attack. Alexander-Arnold curls the ball into the box, it flashes across the six-yard box but evades the Liverpool attackers.
46 Min:
What awaits us? Surely we can’t have a second 45 minutes as intense as the first! Will LFC extend their lead or will TSG provide the comeback to end all comebacks?
Kick Off – Second Half (Liverpool)
Liverpool get the second half underway.
The teams are back out for the 2nd Half… 3:1 (5:2) #lfctsg pic.twitter.com/25UWucrs8U
— Futbolgrad (@FutbolgradLive) August 23, 2017
Half Time: Liverpool 3:1 Hoffenheim (5:2 Agg)
Liverpool simply too hot to handle. With some sumptuous play they blew Hoffenheim away early on. TSG will still believe they can mount a comeback, especially with Uth and Gnabry creating good chances.
45+1 Min:
Henderson receives a yellow card for a stamp on Demirbay
44 Min:
Uth goes close again, he’s been the main danger since he came on. Mignolet saves well.
44 Min:
Wagner and Hübner are openly arguing – Nagelsmann needs to calm his players down during the break.
42 Min:
Emre Can goes close, very close. The German almost scored his third, the curling shot just bends out of play – just past the right side post.
41 Min:
Gnabry again with a good opportunity, but he pulls the shot wide. On another night the winger could have had a hat-trick.
38 Min;
Mané is cynically brought down by Kaderabek who receives a yellow. Hoffenheim beginning to show some hot heads.
36 Min:
Some wonderful interplay by Liverpool ends with Firmino stabbing the ball towards the goal, Baumann saves an almost certain fourth for Liverpool
35 Min:
After a frantic start the game has started to settle (a little)
31 Min:
Referee Orsato brandishes his first caution of the night, it goes to TSG’s Geiger
https://twitter.com/achtzehn99/status/900436761884712961
31 Min:
Uth seems to have brought an almost instant balance to the Hoffenheim play, they look as lot more competent with him on. TSG now starting to win more of the midfield battles.
27 Min: GOOOOOOAAALLLLLLLLLL Hoffenheim – Mark Uth (3:1 – 5:2 Agg)
Nagelsmann’s substitution pays dividends almost instantly. Uth drives the ball past Mignolet…… Surely not… They can’t can they..?
25 Min:
Hoffenheim finally break into the Liverpool box. Gnabry slides the ball past a stranded Mignolet, but the ball drifts wide. It was a massive chance, gone begging.
24 Min:
An early tactical substitution from Nagelsmann.. Uth comes on for Nordtveit
https://twitter.com/achtzehn99/status/900435038361309184
24 Min;
Hoffenheim have been simply blown away by the occasion and the sublime play by Liverpool. The harshest of European lessons now looks likely. This could be a cricket score.
20 Min: GOOOOOOAAALLLLLLLLLL Liverpool – Emre Can (3:0 – 5:1 Agg)
Liverpool with some unbelievable play, they cut Hoffenheim wide open. Firmino dinks the balls across the box and Can side passes the ball into the net. Incredible, absolutely incredible.
19 Min:
Gnabry goes through, he’s brought down in the Liverpool box, but it’s fairly in the eyes of the referee, he waves away the protest for a penalty.
18 Min: GOOOOOAAAALLLLLL – Liverpool – Mo Salah (2:0 – 4:1 Agg)
Salah with the easiest goal he’ll score this season, taps the ball into an empty net from a rebound off the Hoffenheim post.
17 Min:
Kramaric tries to take the attack on himself, he dances past 2 Liverpool defenders but there is no support for the attacker.
16 Min:
Liverpool with another dangerous free kick opportunity – left hand side of the box. Moreno whips it in but Winjaldum can only head into the hands of Baumann.
14 Min:
The Anfield crowd can smell blood – The noise is incredible Liverpool are spraying the ball around like a training match.
13 Min:
Hoffenheim look rocked, Demibay loses possession easily – This looks ominous for TSG, they need to find their feet quick.
11 Min: GOOOOOOAAALLLLLLLLLL Liverpool – Emre Can (1:0 – 3:1 Agg)
Mané back heels the ball to Can who steers the ball into the net, an emphatic start by Liverpool
11 Min:
Wow what a start, it’s breathtaking from Liverpool, TSG look a little frozen. Will the big occasion get to them?
9 Min:
Alexander- Arnold is hacked down mid-flight on the right hand side of the pitch, the free kick is whipped in and TSG scramble it clear.
7 Min:
TSG now have found some of the ball, Gnabry finds himself unmarked but he’s offside, first real show of intent from Hoffenheim.
5 Min:
Liverpool corner, Moreno crosses but it’s just about cleared. It’s all Liverpool so far.
4 Min:
Mané breaks free he’s one on one but Baumann saves well, the rebound falls to Can but he can’t get a shot off.
3 Min:
Alexander-Arnold takes the free kick, it cannons off the wall and falls to Salah, the forward can only head over.
2 Min:
Alberto Moreno finds space and wins a free kick, 20 yards from goal
Liverpool v Hoffenheim – Kick Off (Hoffenheim)
Liverpool v Hoffenheim – Buildup
15 just became 4…. Anfield is rocking..!
30 just became 15 — 15 minutes until kick off, Liverpool welcome back Alberto Moreno whilst TSG welcome back last season’s club top scorer Sandro Wagner
The teams are on the pitch to warm up. 30 minutes to go! #LFCTSG #LFC #UCL pic.twitter.com/QYnrBPunTK
— Futbolgrad (@FutbolgradLive) August 23, 2017
Just over 45 minutes until kick off. The TSG fans are already in and making themselves heard.
.@achtzehn99 fans are in early and in good voice. Just over 45 mins until kick off.! @ChampionsLeague #LFCTSG pic.twitter.com/bxOLcqECsb
— Futbolgrad (@FutbolgradLive) August 23, 2017
We’ve made it! Live from Anfield for one of the biggest games so far this season. Hoffenheim are chasing a 1:2 scoreline from the first leg. Can they become the first German side to win at Anfield and complete a remarkable turnaround? Or will five times Champions League winners, Liverpool, march on to the group stages?
Good evening from Anfield, home of @LFC. Tonight the Reds host @achtzehn99 in the @ChampionsLeague playoff 2nd leg.. #UCL #LFC #TSG #LFCTSG pic.twitter.com/NNQ4hOo6ak
— Futbolgrad (@FutbolgradLive) August 23, 2017
For more on the match check out Chris Williams preview right HERE 👇
https://twitter.com/FutbolgradLive/status/900105170599542784
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