Red Star Belgrade vs. Liverpool
- What: Champions League group C matchday four
- When: Tuesday 6 November
- Where: Rajko Mitic Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia
- Kick-off: 5.55pm (UK time)
- TV channel: live on BT Sport 3
Klopp’s side, who are top of Champions League group C, take on Red Star Belgrade in the Serbian capital tonight but will be without playmaker Shaqiri.
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Although a Swiss international, Shaqiri is an ethnic Albanian from Kosovo, the BBC reports. Kosovo was the scene of a Serbian crackdown on the Albanian population which ended with Nato military intervention in 1999.
After scoring for Switzerland against Serbia at this summer’s World Cup, Shaqiri was fined by Fifa for his goal celebration - a hand gesture of a double-headed eagle which symbolises the Albanian flag.
On Shaqiri’s absence for the clash in Belgrade, Klopp said: “We are Liverpool FC, a big club, a football team but we don’t have any message further than that. We have no political message, absolutely not. We want the focus to be on a great game of football, free from anything else.
“We are keen to be respectful and keen to avoid any distractions that would take focus away from a 90-minute-plus contest that is important for football and only football. So for that reason, Shaq is not involved and he accepts and understands this. Shaq is our player, we love him, and he will play for us a lot of times, but not on Tuesday.
“I have heard so many wonderful things about the city of Belgrade, and the country of Serbia as a whole, from friends and colleagues who’ve visited before, so now I’m really looking forward to taking Liverpool there for a great game of Champions League football.”
Team news and possible starting XIs
Liverpool team news
As well as Shaqiri Liverpool are also without captain Jordan Henderson and right-back Nathaniel Clyne for the fixture at the Rajko Mitic Stadium (5.55pm kick-off). However, defender Dejan Lovren and midfielder Naby Keita have travelled with the squad and are available.
Red Star team news
Red Star midfielder Marko Marin, formerly of Chelsea, returns to the squad after he was ruled out of the 4-0 loss against Liverpool at Anfield on 24 October.
Goalkeeper Milan Borjan could feature despite missing Red Star’s league match against Proleter Novi Sad on Sunday. If Borjan is ruled out Zoran Popovic will play in goal. Striker Richmond Boakye is an injury doubt.
Possible starting XIs
How the teams could line up tonight at the Rajko Mitic Stadium, according to 90min.
- Red Star Belgrade possible starting XI (4-2-3-1): Popovic; Stojkovic, Degenek, Savic, Rodic; Jovicic, Krsticic; Ben Nabouhane, Ebecilio, Marin; Pavkov
- Liverpool possible starting XI (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Lovren, Moreno; Lallana, Fabinho, Wijnaldum; Salah, Sturridge, Mane
TV channel and live stream details
Red Star vs. Liverpool will be shown live on BT Sport 3 with coverage starting at 5.15pm. BT Sport subscribers can also watch a live stream of the match via the broadcaster’s website and app.
Matchday four fixtures and TV guide
Tuesday 6 November (8pm UK time unless stated)
- Group A: Monaco vs. Club Brugge (5.55pm, live on BT Sport 1); Atletico Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund (live on BT Sport Extra 2)
- Group B: Inter Milan vs. Barcelona (live on BT Sport ESPN); Tottenham Hotspur vs. PSV Eindhoven (live on BT Sport 2)
- Group C: Red Star Belgrade vs. Liverpool (5.55pm, live on BT Sport 3); Napoli vs. Paris Saint-Germain (live on BT Sport Extra 3)
- Group D: Porto vs. Lokomotiv Moscow (live on BT Sport Extra 5); Schalke vs. Galatasaray (live on BT Sport Extra 4)
Wednesday 7 November (8pm UK time unless stated)
- Group E: Benfica vs. Ajax (live on BT Sport Extra 3); Bayern Munich vs. AEK Athens (live on BT Sport Extra 2)
- Group F: Lyon vs. Hoffenheim (live on BT Sport Extra 4); Manchester City vs. Shakhtar Donetsk (live on BT Sport 3)
- Group G: CSKA Moscow vs. Roma (5.55pm, live on BT Sport ESPN); Viktoria Plzen vs. Real Madrid (live on BT Sport ESPN)
- Group H: Valencia vs. Young Boys (5.55pm, live on BT Sport 1); Juventus vs. Manchester United (live on BT Sport 2)
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