Champions League: Tricky showdown as Liverpool face RB Salzburg

Defending champions Liverpool face tricky away showdown with Austrian team RB Salzburg tonight in a bid to avoid embarrassing group stage exit

London: Liverpool travel to Salzburg on Tuesday needing to avoid defeat to the confident Austrian champions to guard against an embarrassing Champions League group stage exit for the holders. Jurgen Klopp's men are used to getting through to the knockout stages the hard way. In each of the past two seasons they have needed home wins to secure a place in the Last 16 before going on to make the final.

However, the spectre of a free-scoring Salzburg, led by the Champions League's top scorer in Erlin Braut Haaland spells trouble for an injury-hit Liverpool backline that has consistently leaked goals this season despite streaking clear at the top of the Premier League. The Reds' recorded a first clean sheet in 14 games in Saturday's 3-0 win at Bournemouth, but lost another centre-back as Dejan Lovren limped off in the first half.

"I forgot how it feels, to be honest," said Klopp on finally ending the long wait for a clean sheet at the weekend. "It's great, we should have them more often. It was the most-used word in the dressing room by the boys—'clean sheet, clean sheet, clean sheet'. Obviously everybody were desperate for that, now we have it so let's have it more often. The next game where a clean sheet would be useful is already around the corner, against Salzburg," he added.

Reds alert

• Liverpool will qualify if they win/draw against Salzburg
• The Reds will progress if they lose to Salzburg and Napoli lose to Genk

Live on TV

• Salzburg v Liverpool: Sony Ten 2 & Ten 2 HD, 23:25
• Napoli v Genk: Sony Ten 1 & Ten 1 HD, 23:25
• Chelsea v Lille: Sony Ten 1 & Ten 1 HD, 01:30 (Wednesday)
• Dortmund v Slavia: Sony ESPN & ESPN HD, 01:30 (Wednesday)
• Ajax v Valencia: Sony Ten 3 & Ten 3 HD, 01:30 (Wednesday)

Catch up on all the latest sports news and updates here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!