Champions League: Liverpool vs. Red Star Belgrade team news, starting XIs, TV

Liverpool vs. Red Star Belgrade

• What: Champions League group C
• When: Wednesday 24 October
• Where: Anfield, Liverpool
• Kick-off: 8pm (UK time)
• TV channel: live on BT Sport 2

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.

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

Champions League results, fixtures and TV guide

Matchday three results

• Group E: AEK Athens 0 Bayern Munich 2; Ajax 1 Benfica 0
• Group F: Shakhtar Donetsk 0 Manchester City 3; Hoffenheim 3 Lyon 3
• Group G: Real Madrid 2 Viktoria Plzen 1; Roma 3 CSKA Moscow 0
• Group H: Young Boys 1 Valencia 1; Manchester United 0 Juventus 1

Fixtures: Wednesday 24 October

• Group A: Club Brugge vs. Monaco (5.55pm, live on BT Sport 1); Borussia Dortmund vs. Atletico Madrid (8pm, live on BT Sport Extra 2)
• Group B: PSV Eindhoven vs. Tottenham (5.55pm, live on BT Sport 3); Barcelona vs. Inter Milan (8pm, live on BT Sport ESPN)
• Group C: Liverpool vs. Red Star Belgrade (8pm, live on BT Sport 2); Paris Saint-Germain vs. Napoli (8pm, live on BT Sport Extra 3)
• Group D: Galatasaray vs. Schalke (8pm, live on BT Sport Extra 4); Lokomotiv Moscow vs. Porto (8pm, live on BT Sport Extra)