Hoffenheim vs Liverpool team news: Sadio Mane and Mo Salah start up top with Reds unchanged for Champions League trip
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LIVERPOOL are unchanged for their Champions League play-off at Hoffenheim.
Jurgen Klopp has named the same side that drew 3-3 at Watford on Saturday in their Prem opener.
Mo Salah once again plays alongside Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino up front.
Alberto Moreno continues at left-back with James Milner on the bench and Andrew Roberton left out.
Liverpool are without Adam Lallana, Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho, who did not travel to Germany.
Liverpool supporters will certainly be concerned when defending corners following the 3-3 draw with Watford which resulted in a last gasp equaliser to ruin Klopp's plans of a winning start.
The draw was disappointing, showing that Liverpool's problems when defending set-pieces have continued from last season.
Tuesday's tie sees Klopp and Roberto Firmino return to Germany, where the Brazilian attacker spent four years at Hoffenheim before his £29million move to the Reds in 2015.
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A return to the Champions league is imperative for the Reds, but they face a tough side in Hoffenheim whose defence could stifle Liverpool's rapid counter-attack style, with the likes of Sadio Mane leading the line.
However, it is speedy Egyptian Mohamed Salah who excites most, following a goal in his reintroduction to the Premier league after his move from Roma this summer.
Hoffenheim's home record from last season may be the crucial factor, with the German side turning the Rhein-Neckar-Arena into a tough venue for visiting sides.
When is Liverpool vs Hoffenheim?
The Reds will begin their Champions League campaign on Tuesday, August 15.
Hoffenheim will host the fixture in their 30,000-capacity stadium.
The game will kick off at 7:45 pm.
What TV channel is Liverpool vs Hoffenheim?
The game will be shown live on BT Sport 2, you can also keep updated with talkSPORT and SunSport live blog.
Coverage of the match will begin at 7pm.
Fact Me
- Liverpool have progressed to the Champions League group stage in each of six previous seasons that they have entered at the qualifying and play-off stage.
- Indeed, the Merseyside club won the Champions League in 2004/05 after entering the competition in the play-off round.
- Liverpool have won six of their eight Champions League qualifying matches away from home, drawing the other two.
- The Reds have lost just one of their last 14 European games against German opposition (W8 D5).
- Jurgen Klopp has won three of his last four games against Hoffenheim in all competitions (D1), all while at Borussia Dortmund.
- Current Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino played 153 games in all competitions for Hoffenheim, scoring 49 goals and providing 31 assists.
- This will be Hoffenheim’s first-ever game in European competition.
- Hoffenheim were unbeaten at home throughout the 2016/17 Bundesliga season – one of only three teams to achieve this feat, along with Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.