Red Star Belgrade 2 – 0 Liverpool. Liverpool will be knocked off top spot in Group C later on Tuesday, whatever the result between Napoli and Paris St-Germain, who kick off at 20:00 GMT. Liverpool suffered a shock in Serbia as two goals from Milan Pavkov gave Red Star Belgrade victory in their Champions League group-stage encounter.
Forward Pavkov headed his side into the lead after 21 minutes and fired a powerful effort into the bottom corner to make it 2-0 shortly afterwards. The hosts dominated the first half and came close through Vujadin Savic and El Fardou Ben Nabouhane before Pavkov’s opening goal.
Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge squandered a great chance from six yards out in the 17th minute. The Reds had more than 80% of the possession and hit the woodwork twice in the second half but could not score as Red Star recorded their 10th clean sheet in their last 15 home games in Europe.
Damage inflicted early
Red Star Belgrade manager Vladan Milojevic spoke about how important this game was for his side before kick-off and hoped home advantage would play a big role.
Liverpool walked out to a sea of red and white and the fans’ pre-arranged display was an intimidating sight.
The hosts seemed fired up by it – winger Marko Marin was shown a yellow card for protesting in the fifth minute. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp described Red Star’s line-up as “the most offensive” he had seen from them in Europe this season and attack is exactly what they did.
Marin had the first shot on target – a tame one from close range after 10 minutes – and Red Star enjoyed 56% of the possession before Pavkov gave them the lead.
They could have scored earlier in the half when skipper Savic turned and fired over the bar from a corner before Ben Nabouhane’s powerful shot was palmed away by Liverpool keeper Alisson.
Red Star had scored only one goal in four and a half hours of Champions League football before they netted twice in half an hour against Liverpool.
Their perfect evening was only ruined by Filip Stojkovic’s second-half injury and he was visibly frustrated as he was carted off the field.
Source: BBC News
