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Defending champions Liverpool will look to get their UEFA Champions League campaign back on track when they host Austrian champions RB Salzburg at Anfield on Wednesday night.
The Reds' first game as defending champions didn't quite go as per plan, as they lost 2-0 in Naples, thanks to two late Napoli goals from Dries Mertens and Fernando Llorente.
The Reds' start to this season has, in a way, mirrored the last one, with near-unbeatable form in the Premier League being coupled with away day jitters in the Champions League.
Facing them on Wednesday night will not be an easy opponent. Salzburg destroyed Belgian champions Genk 6-2 on the opening matchday, but they know that they are now dealing with a completely different kettle of fish, with a trip to Anfield.
Liverpool don't have big injury concerns but are sure to miss Joel Matip, who picked up a knock in the weekend victory over Sheffield United. Sadio Mane, who too missed training on Monday, is likely to feature against his former club.
Since the start of this season, Liverpool haven't been at full throttle in any of their games, but have found ways to win in the Premier League, and against a side that Jurgen Klopp regards as 'Baby Liverpool', they're going to have be at their intense best.
In that 6-2 win, though, Salzburg did concede ten shots to the Belgian side, having also had only 46% of the ball. Their counter-attacking prowess, coupled with Erling Braut Haland's deadly finishing ability was aided by some very charitable Genk defending, but Liverpool know that they can attack the Austrian side.
Kick-off Information
Date: 2nd October 2019
Time: 20:00 hrs (Local Time); 12:30 am IST on the 3rd of October, 2019
Venue: Anfield, Liverpool
Head to Head Record
The teams have never met each other before in a competitive outing.
Mane to haunt his former employers?
Sadio Mane was made the force he is today, largely thanks to his spell at Salzburg. During that spell, it became clear that the Senegalese winger was bound for bigger things, and could've even joined Klopp at Dortmund in 2014.
But here he is now, for Klopp, for Liverpool, at Anfield. He's become one of the deadliest left wingers in the world, and since the turn of 2019, his finishing has gone on leaps and bounds. Only Sergio Aguero (with 20) has scored more than Mane's 18 Premier League goals so far in 2019.
Mane, though, will look to erase the weekend from his system. He missed two sitters with the Sheffield United goal gaping in front of him and didn't really have an impact on that game.
What better way to set things right than to put his former employers to the sword, eh?
Betting Tips
Liverpool win: 3/10
RB Salzburg win: 15/2
Draw: 5/1
Bookmaker: Bet365
