The second leg of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 fixture between Liverpool and RB Leipzig takes place tonight with Liverpool being two goals up with them both being away goals.
Despite trailing in the tie, RB Leipzig will be quietly confident with Liverpool going through a torrid spell that has seen them lose six games in a row at Anfield for the first time in their history, and winning just two of their last eight in all competitions.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the game will be hosted at the Puskas Arena, this being the same venue as the reverse fixture.
Ellis Stevens will be taking you through the action as it happens.
STARTING LINEUPS
Here’s how the teams lineup.
Liverpool are still missing centre-backs Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip which has seen Jurgen Klopp to resort to Nathaniel Phillips and Ozan Kabak to make up his defence. Fabinho is able to be moved forward into the midfield, with Klopp likely looking for him to help shield his defence and so cover the inexperience of the centre-back duo.
As usual, Julian Nagelsmann’s side could lineup in a multitude of different shapes but they are likely to start with three at the back and five in midfield, which may be an attempt to outnumber Liverpool’s midfield and help them to control the game and get on the front foot from minute one.
Out come the players here as they get ready to kick off the second leg of this Champions League knockout tie.
RB Leipzig are needing at least two goals to progress and possibly even more, so plenty of action is sure to follow.
KICK OFF – RB Leipzig get us kicked off and we’re underway.
Something to give the Liverpool fans hope, but can RB Leipzig make history tonight?
2′
Leipzig almost the creator of their own downfall once again in this tie as a back pass is under-hit and Peter Gulacsi has to scramble to get to it ahead of Diogo Jota.
3′
Thiago now with a huge opportunity as he drives towards the Leipzig goal, but instead of trying to shoot he attempts to square it across to Mohamed Salah allowing for Leipzig to intercept.
A positive start for Liverpool so far.
6′
Another chance for Liverpool as Wijnaldum chips the ball over the Leipzig defence where Sadio Mane can bring it down, but his shot flies over the bar.
9′
Liverpool’s high press is causing Leipzig problems so far with them winning the ball deep into the Leipzig half on almost every attempt.
10′
Fantastic save from Alisson to deny Leipzig and Dani Olmo from drawing first blood.
Yussuf Poulsen shielded the ball excellently before popping it back to Olmo, but his snap shot was saved with Alisson expressing his fantastic reflexes to keep Liverpool’s two goal advantage.
A truly lively first 10 minutes to this game.
15′
Brave goalkeeping from Gulacsi as he comes charging out of his goal to bat the ball away from a Liverpool free-kick.
19′
Excellent save from Gulacsi as Jota wins the header from a corner and powers it at Leipzig’s goal, but the Hungarian keeper is able to tip the ball over the bar.
25′
How have Liverpool not scored?!?
Thiago plays a wonderful pass into Salah who finds himself 1-on-1 with Gulacsi, but the forward doesn’t get enough accuracy on the shot and it’s parried out.
Mane then comes steaming onto the rebound and looks destined to score but his header goes straight into the floor and eventually out for a goal-kick.
29′
Yet again Liverpool waste a glorious chance as Trent Alexander-Arnold comes running onto the ball with the whole goal to shoot at, but he tries to pull it back and Leipzig are easily able to hit it behind for a corner.
Will these missed chances come back to haunt them?
32′
Leipzig with a couple of chances in quick succession this time, with the eventual shot from Emil Forsberg just creeping past the post and outside for a goal kick.
That should come as a warning sign to Liverpool as they’ve not really had any defending to do up until that point.
39′
Leipzig with their first spell of sustained possession in Liverpool’s half in these last couple of minutes, but no real chances have come of it yet. Liverpool’s defensive shape has been excellent in this first half.
41′
Jota this time for Liverpool, as he bursts through the middle of the Leipzig defence and strikes the ball but it goes straight down the middle and is easily saved by the keeper.
45′
One minute of added time.
45+1′
How has Jota missed that?!?
The ball falls to him from a rebound after a tackle from Dayot Upamecano and he seems to have half the goal open to him, but he smashes it against the side netting and the score remains level.
HALF-TIME: LIVERPOOL 0-0 RB LEIPZIG
Liverpool somehow haven’t scored the opening goal in this game and so have been unable to extend their lead, but they’ll be happy with their defensive side of the game as Leipzig have hardly had a sniff at goal in that first half.
With just another 45 minutes to play in this game Leipzig will surely come flying out of the blocks in this second half, and the question remains: Will Liverpool regret their missed chances?
Substitute for RB Leipzig
A sign of intent from RB Leipzig as they bring on another striker.
45′
Liverpool get us restarted.
47′
Nagelsmann looks as though he’s made a change in system for Leipzig as they have gone to a four at the back with Lukas Klostermann on the left and Tyler Adams on the right of the four.
51′
Leipzig have to try and be more positive if they want to get anything out of this game.
So far the wide players for the German side have looked to turn and come backwards more than they have tried to attack the Liverpool defence.
55′
Jota and Salah yet again miss sitters for Liverpool as they still fail to score that elusive first goal. Jota hits his effort straight at the goalkeeper but the rebound drops straight to Salah who has an open net to aim for, but he hits it over the bar.
It looks as though Jota may have been offside in the first place, but this finishing really isn’t what Liverpool need if they are to secure their place in the next round.
A fantastic performance in the first hour of this game from Liverpool, done everything perfectly apart from finishing their chances.
61′ SUBSTITUTION FOR RB LEIPZIG
A double change from Leipzig which adds some pace into the attack, they’ll be hoping that can cause Liverpool some problems in the remaining 30 minutes.
63′
The changes have certainly affected Leipzig in the attacking third, looking much slicker with their passing and the added movement is causing problems for the Liverpool defence and creating spaces for the attackers to get into.
65′
OFF THE BAR FOR LEIPZIG.
Hwang Hee-chan digs the cross out and it makes its way over the Liverpool defence to Alexander Sørloth who directs the header into the far corner, but he just gets too much on it and it crashes off the crossbar.
Much better from Leipzig now, worrying signs for Liverpool.
70′ LIVERPOOL 1-0 RB LEIPZIG – SALAH
Liverpool finally score and surely that’s the tie over now.
Jota does brilliantly to slip in Salah who cuts on to his left foot far too easily and then slides it back where he came from and into the back of the net. Fantastic finish and it’s nothing but deserved for Liverpool.
Leipzig need to score three now to progress.
Embed from Getty Images71′ SUBSTITUTION FOR LIVERPOOL
72′ SUBSTITUTION FOR RB LEIPZIG
74′ LIVERPOOL 2-0 RB LEIPZIG – MANE
It’s two goals in quick succession and all hope is now gone for Leipzig who need to score four in the next 15 minutes.
Divock Origi does brilliantly well to spin the defender and whip a cross into the back post where Mane has an open net to tap into. Substitutions have made a difference for Liverpool already.
Not something many people would have expected with how Liverpool have been playing at Anfield in the last couple of years.
82′ SUBSTITUTION FOR LIVERPOOL
Klopp may be taking his chance to rest some players for upcoming games now.
84′
What a performance Phillips has had for Liverpool tonight, winning almost every aerial duel he’s had and hasn’t put a foot wrong in his general play either.
Embed from Getty Images88′
The two goals seem to have knocked all the wind out of the Leipzig players sails, Liverpool are cutting through them with real ease now.
89′ SUBSTITUTION FOR LIVERPOOL
90′
Two added minutes.
FULL-TIME: LIVERPOOL 2-0 RB LEIPZIG (4-0 AGGREGATE)
Liverpool stride past RB Leipzig with ease as they score two in the second half to put the game beyond doubt and finish the tie.
There would’ve been a flicker of doubt at half time after the amount of missed chances from Liverpool but they never truly looked as if they were in danger of conceding, let alone losing the tie.
Liverpool now will be hoping they can continue their run in the Champions League as it looks to be their best chance at making into next seasons competition.
RB Leipzig will be extremely disappointed with their performances over the two legs as they never looked in control or as if they ever believed they could go through.
