Updated at 22.11
LIVERPOOL TOOK A significant step towards the Champions League group stages as James Milner helped seal their 2-1 win at Hoffenheim on Tuesday in their play-off, first-leg.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool are in pole position ahead of the return at Anfield on Wednesday, August 23.
After goalkeeper Simon Mignolet had saved a first-half penalty, 18-year-old defender Trent Alexander-Arnold curled in a free-kick to give Liverpool the lead.
Ex-England forward Milner made sure of victory in south-west Germany by curling in a cross-cum-shot, which dropped inside the far post on 75 minutes after deflecting off Havard Nordtveit for an own goal.
Hoffenheim pulled a goal back when replacement Mark Uth managed to beat the offside trap to score late on.
Liverpool’s want-away attacking midfielder Philippe Coutinho sat out the play-off with a back injury.
The Brazilian is desperate to leave Anfield for Barcelona after handing in a transfer request, but Liverpool insist he is not for sale.
Belgium goalkeeper Mignolet saved an early first-half penalty to deny hosts Hoffenheim an early lead in Sinsheim.
When Liverpool’s Dejan Lovren brought down Germany winger Serge Gnabry, Hoffenheim’s ex-Leicester City striker Andrej Kramaric stepped up for the spot kick.
The Hoffenheim forward squandered the golden chance, weakly firing his 11th minute spot-kick at Mignolet.
At the other end, Liverpool’s Egypt striker Mohamed Salah fired just wide of the post on 15 minutes after sprinting clear and beating Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann.
Alexander-Arnold gave Liverpool the lead when his floated free-kick beat Baumann on 35 minutes.
However, Hoffenheim could have gone into the break level when striker Sandro Wagner hit the post after Mignolet blocked a Gnabry shot.
Liverpool should have made it 2-0 straight after the break when Baumann saved Roberto Firmin’s shot from point-blank range after Sadio Mane’s clever cross.
Substitute Milner put the matter beyond doubt when he snapped up Firmino’s pass to the wing from a quickly taken free-kick.
He fired home off his left boot on 75 minutes as the shot clipped Nordtveit and went into the net.
Uth netted Hoffenheim’s consolation goal to give his team a lifeline when he managed to hold off Alexander-Arnold to score on 87 minutes.
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Liverpool were great in attack and a shambles in defence. Nothing new there. Alexander-arnold was very impressive tho and Moreno’s actually quite a talented player but unfortunately, he just has no interest in marking his man.
@Coner Willis: Does he have a man, or is he zonal. The lads on Sky can’t decide. Bring on the goals I say.
@Jamie McCormack: Not sure if he has a boyfriend or if he’s in the zone.
You mean champions league qualifier
@ivan whyte: No it is a playoff…
@Coner Willis: its both surely?
Should home and hosed. Could have been 3 or 4. But once hoffenheim scored the panic button was pressed for Liverpool and nearly conceded. Arnold played really well just the inexperience set in for the goal.
All in all they need to sort out that defence!
@Yorkie1892: should have *
@Yorkie1892: should be*
Liverpool were terrible, defence is awful. Still got a result though. He may have scored the free kick, but he was at fault for the goal, standing with his hand in the air. Play the whistle.
@….: They were poor defensively Rocko, but looked very dangerous going forward on 2nd half in particular – Mane looks like he’s gonna have a really strong season.
So yeah, defensively very worrying, but they weren’t terrible.
@seancreaven13: A few flashes of decent play but overall, awful. Mane is the only player that played well, the rest of the team were terrible. Nobody pulling the strings with Couthino in limbo, midfield anonymous, defence a shambles, how Moreno and Lovren reached this level of football is a mystery. Can even get basic defending right. He needs minimum of 3 signings to make them competitive in these competitions. A decent team would have put that tie to bed. Hoffenhiem were average at best, their defence was awful.
@….: can’t
Need A strong CB, a strong CM and an injury free 20+ goals a season CF, to go anywhere.
@….: not sure you were watching the same game pal. Fantastic attacking play overall. Excellent performance by Migs. Midfield were in fine form with some outstanding passing on display. Hendo pulling all the strings. Even Moreno looked decent at times (aside from his positional play)
@Kian: Who is Migs? Hendo was awful. Why do you think he was pulled off so early?. Moreno was sh*te, he cannot defend to save his life. They will not be competitive this season with that squad of players. Need to sign some more players fast, they were played of the park tonight, by an average side.
@….: have to agree. I was sat here watching it thanking our lucky stars it wasn’t a top team, penalty conceded, Migs running off line when TAA had it covered, Lovren a calamity numerous times, Moreno should switch to midfield but as a defender he’s awful. We go out and buy a left back and he’s nowhere to be seen. Hendo and Gini were anonymous, Firmino looked like he didn’t want to upset his former club. Scary season ahead with this squad and Klopps limitations
Great result… but also a step closer to potentially seeing Lovren defend against the best in Europe.
@Jude Flynn: he was alright last year in the Europa leage
The partnership with Sakho looked promising 2015/16. He’s back to his jittery self since
Great goal by a local lad.
Liverpool look short in the middle without Coutinho. No one to control the game and no real spark going forward with the exception of Mane.
As for the defence, how has Lovren made a career out of been a centre back. They need at least 2/3 signings before the window closes.
Poetry in motion tralalalala
#KingKlopp
@Bruce Lee: I wonder who you are…
Milner didn’t make sure of anything ! It was an OG ! So hardly a convincing win against a poor side now was it
Good win half way there, defence is a shambles and can’t get giddy about attack as they leave back exposed a lot. Need signings quickly or mountain to climb, but need to get defensively sound or no signings will be able to help
Silly goal to give away. Would’ve preferred if they’d scored their peno and we turned it around.
“Starlet” is a strange word. It usually applies to girls like Melissa Gilbert from Little House on the Prairie who graduated to True Movies 2. Great to hear Melissa has moved on to the Champions League which might help brighten up one of the world’s dreariest sports.
I always thought ‘starlet’ was feminine…
@Tomás O’Loughlin: What do we call a male starlet? I’m voting dicklet and then not listening to any other suggestions. [reposted from Lena Dunham Twitter]