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Champions League: Liverpool vs. Red Star Belgrade team news, starting XIs, TV
Brazilian midfielder Fabinho ready to start against the Serbians at Anfield
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is expected to give summer signing Fabinho a starting role in tonight’s Champions League group C clash against Red Star Belgrade at Anfield.
After beating Paris Saint-Germain in their opening group match, the Reds go into matchday three looking to bounce back from their last-gasp defeat against Napoli two weeks ago.
Klopp has injury issues in midfield, so former Monaco man Fabinho could step in to face Red Star. Having only started in the League Cup this season, the 25-year-old impressed after coming on as a sub in the 1-0 Premier League win at Huddersfield on Saturday.
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Backing the £39m Brazilian to shine, Liverpool’s German boss told the Daily Mirror: “We already made the decision he is the right player, yes - when we signed him. He has the qualities, all the qualities.
“Hard challenges. Good offensively, defensively. Quick. Good shooter. Fantastic set pieces. Good header... all these things. Good strategically, too, in the right moment. He’s just a fantastic addition and can improve us from a specific moment on.”
Home advantage
It will be an “unusual European evening” at Anfield, because no Red Star fans will be allowed into the stadium, the Liverpool Echo reports. As the BBC explains, the Serbian champions are banned from selling tickets to their supporters following incidents in the play-off match against RB Salzburg in August.
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In tonight’s other group C fixture, French champions PSG take on Italian side Napoli at the Parc des Princes in Paris. The match kicks off at 8pm and is live on BT Sport Extra 3.
Team news and starting XIs
Fabinho will get his chance in the Liverpool midfield, after Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita were ruled out as a result of hamstring injuries, The Guardian reports. Klopp confirmed that midfield duo James Milner and Georginio Wijnaldum are also in contention to play.
The BBC adds that striker Sadio Mane is ready to feature after undergoing surgery on an injured hand. Should Mane not start, Daniel Sturridge could line up in attack alongside Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino.
Red Star head coach Vladan Milojevic has named a 21-man squad for the match at Anfield. Attacking midfielder Marko Marin, formerly of Chelsea, is absent, and forward Jonathan Cafu and left-back Milan Rodic are also unavailable. Defender Vujadin Savic is an injury doubt.
Predicted starting XIs and formations
How the two teams could line up at Anfield, according to the Daily Mirror:
Liverpool possible starting XI (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Milner, Fabinho, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane
Red Star Belgrade possible starting XI (4-5-1): Borjan; Stojkovic, Degenek, Babic, Gobeljic; Krsticic, Causic; Ebecillo, Srnic, Ben; Boakye
