Liverpool 4 Hoffenheim 2; 6-3 on aggregate: Champions League nights return to Anfield as Reds put on thrilling attacking show

Roberto Firmino celebrates goal
Some of Liverpool's attacking play was brilliant in victory over Hoffenheim Credit: REUTERS

Liverpool 4 (Can 11', Salah 18', Can 21', Firmino 63') - 2  (Uth 28'), Wagner 79') Hoffenheim

“That’s football,” Jurgen Klopp turned and screamed as Liverpool scored third of their goals in knocking out Hoffenheim to reach the group stages of the Champions League. And that release was felt throughout the stadium. 

Even then, on the way to an entertaining 6-3 aggregate victory in this play-off, there were still a few nervous moments and, combined with the goals and Liverpool’s outstanding attacking play, Wednesday night summed up where they are at right now. But they are in the draw for the Champions League, which is made today. 

They are back where they believe they belong and it is set to be a white-knuckle ride of a European adventure. Goals will be scored; goals will also be conceded. 

Europe will fear Liverpool’s attacking prowess – their outrageously rapid front three of Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, and that is even without factoring in Philippe Coutinho, Adam Lallana or Daniel Sturridge – but they will relish coming up against a defence which looks maddeningly callow and vulnerable. 

For all the talk of Coutinho and his desire to leave for Barcelona, how Liverpool cry out for a commanding centre-half. They have to make another play for Virgil Van Dijk, or a player of his ilk, while another they bought from Southampton, Dejan Lovren, had what can be described as an iffy evening at best. 

Jurgen Klopp was delighted
Jurgen Klopp was delighted at the final whistle Credit: REUTERS

Klopp’s “football” comment was a clear reference to a jibe made by the Hoffenheim midfielder Kerem Demirbay who, on the eve of this second leg and with his team trailing 2-1 after last week’s home defeat, declared his side “definitely play the better football”. 

It was evidently a red-rag to the Red Men and, certainly, to their manager who had mentally stored it before it flooded out when Emre Can volleyed home the second of his two goals after a rampant, fluid counter-attack. 

That was, indeed, football and there were many such moments from Liverpool like that but also a few from Hoffenheim. Julian Nagelsmann, their young coach, spoke about the “awe” of coming to Anfield and he meant it as a motivation – not for his players to be overawed. In truth, they were too brave, too reckless in an opening 20 minutes in which they played such a high defensive line that they were pretty much all in Liverpool’s half. It was gegen-gegenpressing. 

Emre Can celebrates his goal
Emre Can scored twice Credit: PA

And Liverpool’s attacking triumvirate licked their lips. Winning home and away and scoring half a dozen goals meant that there could be no doubt Liverpool deserved to progress and maintain a proud record against German opposition: 15 matches now in Europe without defeat. The Premier League also has five teams in the group stages of this competition for the first time with Liverpool there for only the second time in eight years. 

Even before Liverpool went ahead Mane should have scored as he was superbly picked out by Firmino, with an angled pass, and then used his pace to take him clear for a clipped shot which was blocked by goalkeeper Oliver Baumann with an outstretched leg. The same Liverpool players then combined with, this time, Mane checking, from Firmino’s pass, and finding the overlapping Can with a smart back-heel. The midfielder shaped to arc his shot around Baumann but it deflected off Havard Nordtveit to wrong-foot the goalkeeper and nestle in the net. 

Nordtveit, the former West Ham United midfielder, was part of a Hoffenheim defence that, frankly, appeared hapless and it was quickly unpicked again as Firmino, down the left, simply pulled the ball back to Georginio Wijnaldum, who carefully side-footed a shot that cannoned back off a post. Salah was the quickest to react and he sent the rebound past Baumann.

Hoffenheim posed an attacking threat, through the pacy former Arsenal winger Serge Gnabry, but that meant little as they were shredded again. Once more it involved Mane and Firmino with the latter down the left again to stand up an inviting chipped cross that was met by Can, who gleefully volleyed home to spark Klopp’s reaction. 

Was it over? It seemed so but Nagelsmann had to do something and rejigged with the goalscorer from the first leg, Mark Uth, coming on. He scored. 

Sandro Wagner scores for Hoffenheim
Sandro Wagner scored for Hoffenheim Credit: AFP

Sandro Wagner broke forward and slipped the ball wide to Uth who slid an accurate low shot back across goalkeeper Simon Mignolet and into the net. 

Even before that Gnabry had got in behind Trent Alexander-Arnold but lifted his chip across goal and wide when he surely had to score. 

It meant it was strangely nervy and, despite Liverpool’s lead, the next goal felt crucial. They spurned chances – Can, for his hat-trick, and Firmino – and then into the second-half Wijnaldum was suddenly central to everything as he was twice denied by Baumann, who also thwarted Mane 

There would be more goals, though, and crucially Liverpool claimed the first when Jordan Henderson’s desire to win the ball, and Hoffenheim captain Kevin Vogt’s lack of determination, meant Henderson barrelled through before selflessly squaring for Firmino. 

Game over? Yes, but there was a final reminder of Liverpool’s vulnerability when Andrej Kramaric’s cross was met by Wagner, as Lovren floundered, and he headed past ­Mignolet. Liverpool had played football. Fine football. But they also need to defend better. 

                                                                                                    

FULL TIME

At times that was absolutely brilliant from Liverpool. Electric pace, thrilling fast football... but they are dreadful at defending. Over two legs 6-3 is a pretty accurate reflection of both these sides. Champions League nights are back at Anfield!

90 mins - Liverpool 4 - 2 Hoffenheim

Hubner is less than pleased about a refereeing decision and is booked for dissent. Anfield has cooled down now, everyone's just waiting for the full-time whistle.

87 mins - Liverpool 4 - 2 Hoffenheim

Firmino hits the side-netting as he looks for another goal. Sadio Mane gets a standing ovation as he is replaced by Ragnar Klavan.

84 mins - Liverpool 4 - 2 Hoffenheim

Liverpool's defence is really deep now, with the attacking three just hovering by the halfway line to prevent Hoffenheim committing too many men forward. Moreno hits an ambitious shot from distance miles over.

GOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLL!

Liverpool 4 - 2 (Wagner 79') Hoffenheim

THE COMEBACK IS ON! It's not but at least it might make the last 10 minutes a bit more exciting. Kramaric is wide right, cuts onto his right foot and delivers a brilliant curling ball into the middle of the area. Wagner rises highest and nods the ball past the beaten Mignolet.

78 mins - Liverpool 4 - 1 Hoffenheim

Hoffenheim are still trying to get back into this one but you can tell they don't really believe it's possible. Liverpool fans have quietened down a little too.

Mignolet does well to save a low shot as the German team swarm forward in numbers on a counter-attack.

75 mins - Liverpool 4 - 1 Hoffenheim

Liverpool fans are now singing "Que sera, sera" with Wembley substituted for "Champions League". I quite like that. 

72 mins -  Liverpool 4 - 1 Hoffenheim

Firmino's trying to get himself an individual celebration on FIFA. Or something. I don't know what this is.

 

71 mins -  Liverpool 4 - 1 Hoffenheim

Liverpool are defending deep now, with a really compact, narrow shape in their own defensive third. Firmino is furthest forward. James Milner getting ready to come on. 

Emre Can has been taken off, cruelly denied the chance of a hat-trick.

68 mins - Liverpool 4 - 1 Hoffenhem

Alexander-Arnold off, Joe Gomez on. Liverpool have Hoffenheim on the ropes and dizzy here. They know the game's over and just want to go home but Liverpool - especially Can and Mane - want more goals. 

Liverpool look very Klopp-era Borussia Dortmund tonight.

GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLL!

Liverpool 4 (Firmino 63') - 1 Hoffenheim

Urgh. Awful from Vogt. He doesn't go in with anything near the commitment required for a 50/50 and Henderson doesn't have to even try to win it. He's clean in behind the defence, has the goalie to beat and plays in Firmino who hits it first time into the bottom corner.

63 mins  - Liverpool 3 - 1 Hoffenheim

Credit: BONGARTS

 Mignolet drops a high ball twice but gets away it because a forward is offside. Ropey goalkeeping there.

60 mins - Liverpool 3 - 1 Hoffenheim

Gnabry off, Szalai on. Liverpool have control of the ball in Hoffenheim's half. Nagelsmann's team is now defending in numbers and deep. Alexander-Arnold joins in the fun and plays in Wijnaldum, who draws a save from the goalkeeper.

57 mins - Liverpool 3 - 1 Hoffenheim

Mane is still terrifying this defence. Whenever he gets the ball there's a buzz and the home crowd absolutely loves him. He takes on a defender for pace, wins and shoots at goal. Corner. 

54 mins - Liverpool 3 - 1 Hoffenheim

Aaaaand it should be 4-1. Wijnaldum links well with Salah, runs into space from deep and tries to shoot into the top corner but it hits the goalie and goes over. The referee doesn't see the deflection and it's a goal kick.

Hoffenheim are leaving so much space behind their defensive line and it's exactly what Liverpool want them to do. When they attack they link a one-two together and instantly have the defenders chasing tails.

51 mins - Liverpool 3 - 1 Hoffenheim

Liverpool have a five on three opportunity here... but Mane of all people slows things down and switches play with a high pass to Henderson. Hoffenheim get back in position.

All of a sudden Salah is behind the defence at the half way line.... but is offside. Hoffenheim's high line is suicidal. They're trying to compact the pitch so they can keep possession in Liverpool's half but are just being picked off by the pace of Klopp's team. 

48 mins - Liverpool 3 - 1 Hoffenheim

It's very nearly another a bright opening for Liverpool as they build play down one flank and then switch it quickly to another, arriving in space in the final third to try and punish the German defence. This time the goalkeeper manages to punt the ball away before Liverpool add a fourth.

Hoffenheim attack and win a corner.

KICK-OFF 2

What's going to happen now then? Do Liverpool sit back? Or do they keep trying to scare the living daylights out of their visitors? More of B please!

Hmmm

 

HALF TIME

That was nae bad. Nae bad at all. Henderson has been booked for a very strong follow through on a challenge but that's it for the half. 

45 mins - Liverpool 3 - 1 Hoffenheim

The ball breaks for Uth down the right again, he shoots across goal... actually at the near post and Mignolet dives, turns it behind for a corner. 

Moreno goes in hard on Gnabry and wins the ball before clearing it up the park.

43 mins - Liverpool 3 - 1 Hoffenheim

Gnabry is getting more involved in this one and he's causing problems. This time he cuts onto his right foot while left of the box and fizzes a shot towards the far post. Just wide.

JUST WIDE! Mane is in a dangerous deep position again, faces up to the defence, speeds away to his left and Can is on the overlap. The ball is loose and Can can shoot... does... and it's just wide of the far post.

40 mins - Liverpool 3 - 1 Hoffenheim

This was the surprising moment in the game when Mo Salah asked Emre Can to marry him. Can seemed a little confused by it.

Credit: GETTY IMAGES

Joking aside I'd really enjoy a proposal as a goal celebration on FIFA. 

39 mins - Liverpool 3 - 1 Hoffenheim

Kaderabek goes through the back of Mane, stands on his calf and gives him a punt for good measure. It's been difficult trying to deal with him so far and now Mane is milking the applause. He gives a cheeky smile as he gets up from the floor after that challenge and applauds the fans, who burst into song and a standing ovation. Kaderabek must be disappointed. He can't kick him anymore now unless he fancies an early bath, or whatever it is footballers do now again. A jacuzzi with lazers or something.

36 mins - Liverpool 3 - 1 Hoffenheim

Mane takes his time and walks to take a throw-in near the visiting fans, who jeer and whistle. Liverpool fans closer applaud. The defensive gaps that Liverpool were exploiting earlier have been filled but they still fly forward in numbers and Alexander wins a corner.

33 mins - Liverpool 3 - 1 Hoffenheim

It's settled down a little bit now and what I mean by that is that nobody has scored a goal for about five minutes. 

GOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLL!

Liverpool 3 - 1 (Uth 28') Hoffenheim

THE COMEBACK IS ON! Probably not. But just imagine...

Hoffenheim have identified the left of Liverpool's defence as the weak bit and get in at goal again. Moreno is nowhere to be seen as Uth takes the ball to feet, sets himself up with the touch and batters a low drive into the bottom corner. Great goal. What a game this is.

28 mins -  Liverpool 3 - 0 Hoffenheim

It should be 3-1 now. Serge Gnabry is played in behind the defence and from left of the goal just has to hit the target to pull one back. He gets his shot all wrong and it goes harmlessly wide. Signs of a fightback immediately from Nagelsmann's team.

Moreno overlaps Mane again - remember, he's the left-back, this is nuts - and pulls the ball low across the box. This time the goalie gets down to save.

25 mins - Liverpool 3 - 0 Hoffenheim

Liverpool are buzzing with confidence here. Even Mignolet is in on the act as he cushions a headed pass forwards to start an attacking move.

Hoffenheim are making a change already. Nordtveit comes off and Mark Uth is on. That's an attacking switch.

GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLL!

Liverpool 3 (Can 21') - 0 Hoffenheim

Wow what a performance this is. Hoffenheim don't have a clue what to do with this. Mane is too good, too quick, too clever for them and is tearing holes in the defence. He bursts forward again, the defence is out of position, he plays an incredible backheel to Firmino who chips a perfect little dinked cross across the area and Can is there at the back post to slam the volley home. 

GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLL!

Liverpool 2 (Salah 18')- 0 Hoffenheim

Firmino cuts in from the left, plays a great pass across the box to Wijnaldum who should score, he hits the post and from the rebound gives Salah a tap in. He makes no mistake. Hoffenheim's gameplan is in tatters.

18 mins - Liverpool 1 - 0 Hoffenheim

As soon as Liverpool lose the ball in the final third, their players swarm around it to win possession back as quickly as possible. Moreno is playing as a winger at the moment.

Mane has been absolutely everywhere so far. Hoffenheim seem to have to changed to a back four to deal with those runs from deep into the channels.

15 mins - Liverpool 1 - 0 Hoffenheim

Hoffenheim are finding it difficult to cope with the intensity and pace of Liverpool's attacking players. They're being pressed high up the pitch and can't keep the ball when they do have it, which in turn means they're being subjected to constant counter-attacking.

GOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLLL!

Liverpool 1 (Can 11') - 0 Hoffenheim

Credit: AP

Mane drives at goal, cuts back on to his right and then backheels a clever pass to Can right behind him. Can opens up his body and places the ball towards the bottom right, it takes a deflection and ends up in the back of the net!

 

11 mins

Alexander cuts inside, is tripped and wins a free-kick wide right of goal. The setpiece is put into the middle but Hoffenheim deal with it and Vogt clears. Mane wins a corner. 

Mane keeps finding space on the left by running from deep. Firmino finds him... Liverpool are in here!

8 mins - Liverpool 0 - 0 Hoffenheim

Moreno takes a poor corner and Demirbay controls it on his chest. Inevitably the home support want a penalty.

The ball is put back into the area and Mane tries to dig out a bicycle kick but the defence and goalkeeper deal with the problem. Emre Can has gone down off the ball and isn't happy.

Hoffenheim work the ball forward, Mane leaves too much space between himself and Moreno and one pass puts the forward in on goal! It's passed low into the area and this should be a goal! Wide. End-to-end stuff!

5 mins - Liverpool 0 - 0 Hoffenheim

Alexander hits the wall, the ball bounces loose and Salah attacks at the back post! His header is over the bar! That could so easily have gone in but the winger had to react instantly.

AND MANE IS IN AT GOAL! MANE IS IN BEHIND! Only the keeper to beat... his touch takes him a little closer than he'd like and then he shoots low and hits the goalkeeper. That should be 1-0. Hoffenheim's high line has been beaten twice already...

3 mins - Liverpool 0 - 0 Hoffenheim

Moreno gets his first chance to sprint up the pitch in the opening minute and upon reaching the box, turns back and passes the ball backwards. Moreno is back on the ball moments later though and is taken down by Kaderabek.

Alexander-Arnold steps up! Emre Can hands him the ball. He couldn't... could he?

KICK-OFF

And here we go! YNWA is done, the players are ready... and Hoffenheim kick us off.

Hoffenheim's social media game isn't as good as Liverpool's

A bad start to the evening for the German side who are losing the social media game at the moment.

 

Jurgen Klopp seems happy

"It's a two leg battle like this, you have to be the same in both legs. I thought the first game was OK but we need to be more organised, more concentrated, more brave.

"A lot of moments people speak about Champions League, when I speak to players we want to sign it's Champions League they want. 

"Robbo (Andrew Robertson) has not had a long pre-season, Alberto played defensively really well at Hoffenheim."

Liverpool formation

 

Where the game will be won and lost

Liverpool just need to see this one out but something Klopp never does is set his team out to defend. Sadio Mane and Mo Salah will be told to stay wide and forward so that Liverpool constantly have the option to ping the ball to the wings and counter-attack at speed. Hoffenheim's 3-4-2-1 is designed to control the pitch and put the German side on the front foot and because they have to score two tonight, they will inevitably leave gaps for Liverpool pacy wide players.

If Klopp goes for his usual gegenpress style, there is every chance that Hoffenheim pick them off with counter-attacks of their own. It's going to be a tricky tactical battle.

The players arrive at Anfield

 

Team news

The teams are in!

Liverpool

Mignolet, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Lovren, Moreno, Henderson, Can, Wijnaldum, Mane, Salah, Firmino

Hoffenheim

Baumann, Nordtveit, Vogt, Hübner, Kaderabek, Zuber, Geiger, Gnabry, Demirbay, Kramaric, Wagner

Jurgen Klopp's heavy metal football: explained

This video content is no longer available
To watch The Telegraph's latest video content please visit youtube.com/telegraph

 

Good evening

Hello everyone and welcome to our liveblog covering tonight's massively important Champions League qualifier! Liverpool just need to hold out for a draw, lose 1-0 or win this evening to reach the lucrative group stages of the competition - something rather a few of their star players will be especially keen to happen. For without Champions League football, would some of those top tier footballers rather spend their season in sunnier climates...? 

Hoffenheim looked tidy in the first leg and are very well organised. Liverpool tend to concede goals and like to attack - this has every chance of being an end-to-end classic. Stay with us to follow the action!

License this content