Liverpool 4-3 Red Bull Salzburg
Liverpool are up and running in the Champions League after winning the match of the night in a Group E blockbuster against Red Bull Salzburg.
In a breathtaking encounter, the Reds stormed into a three goal lead before Red Bull roared back to level, leaving Mo Salah to save the day for Liverpool with his second goal of the match.
Red Bull Saltzburg made a flying start to their Champions League campaign, making the Champions League 2019 news with a 6-2 win over Genk, and Napoli’s goalless draw with the Belgians earlier this evening shows what a good result that was.
US born coach Jesse Marsch has Die Mozartstadter playing without fear since his arrival this summer, and they have been scoring for fun by winning the first seven games under his guidance – scoring a colossal 34 goals in the process.
Highlights of the game
But any thoughts of an Austrian ambush at Anfield started to disappear when Liverpool went ahead on just nine minutes. And it was former Salzburg star Sadio Mane who opened the scoring, playing a lovely one-two with Roberto Firmino before sliding the ball past Cican Stancovic and into the net.
The European Champions went 2-0 up on 25 minutes with a fantastic team goal. Andy Robertson started the move with a sprint down the left flank before feeding Mo Salah. He passed to Jordan Henderson and the skipper switched the ball out to Trent Alexander-Arnold, who then pinged in a cross which Robertson finished off with a beautiful finish at the near post.
Two became three on 36 minutes when Liverpool’s front three combined to lethal effect. Mane crossed for Firmino and when Stancovic parried his effort Salah was on hand to tap home.
The Reds were oozing confidence but were caught out playing out from the back when Hwang Hee-chan won the ball before beating Virgil Van Dijk and smashing his second goal of the campaign past Adrian to make it 3-1.
As the third youngest player ever to score a Champions League hat-trick, Erling Haaland has come to the world’s attention and this was an opportunity to show the Premier League what he can do.
Marsch, for reasons best known to him started with him on the bench. But Haaland was warming up with some intent at the break and made his appearance early in the second half.
Hwang had a chance to add his second early in the second half, he dragged his shot wide and then. On 56 minutes, he blew the game wide open as a provider, racing down the wing before crossing for Takumi Minamino who hammered an unstoppable volley past Adrian. 3-2.
Dominik Szoboszlai had a glorious chance to score but Alexander-Arnold blocked.
Then — on 61 minutes Red Bull was level — it was Haaland who was first to a Minamino cross to poke home and send the visiting fans wild, not to mention coach Marsch who was booked for his celebrations!
Marsch had only just sat down when Liverpool fought back, and parity had lasted for just seven minutes when Fabinho intercepted a clearance and pushed the ball forward to Firmino, who found Salah with a trademark flick before the Egyptian lifted the ball over Stancovic to win the game.
Key statistics
Salzburg is yet to win a match against English opposition in four attempts so far but the Austrians put up one heck of a fight tonight.
Liverpool is unbeaten at Anfield in European competition since 2014 — winning 17 and drawing six — so it’s no surprise that the pre-match Liverpool vs Red Bull betting odds had the Reds as small as 1.30 to win this game. It was anything but easy though.
Mane is one of three players to score 15 Champions League goals for Liverpool alongside Salah on 17. Only Steven Gerrard has more, having hit 21.
Haaland’s goal was his 18th in 11 games. He’s a very hot property.
What’s next?
Defeat to Napoli was a disappointing start for the Reds but they just about rectified matters tonight.
And what a game we have next in the Premier League on when Leicester City visits Anfield. It’s a first against third placed clash as the Foxes have surged up the league with four wins from the last five games.
Back in Austria Red Bull hosts SCR Altach who have lost four in five. Salzburg has a positive goal difference of +31 after nine games, so Asian Handicap SBOBET is definitely the way to play with that one!
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
