Getty Sadio Mane scored one of three goals for Liverpool in their domestic opener.
Jurgen Klopp returns to Germany Tuesday, leading Liverpool into a Champions League play-off against Hoffenheim. Klopp will be without two stars, as both Daniel Sturridge and Phillipe Coutinho were left off the Champions League roster. Adam Lallana and Nathaniel Clyne were also left off the roster. All four were absent for the team’s first Premier League fixture against Watford.
Liverpool opened the season with a 3-3 draw against Watford, raising doubts about the team’s defensive ability. After the result, Watford defender Miguel Britos told reporters that the Hornets knew going into the match that set pieces could be the key:
“Last season they conceded goals from set-pieces and maybe it’s their weak point,” he said. We worked very well today at set-pieces and scored twice, so it’s good for us.” Watford scored two of their three goals on corner kicks.
Hoffenheim haven’t started the new Bundesliga season yet, but they’ve coming off one of the best years in recent memory. The club finished fourth in the German table, their best finish since the 2007-08 season. They’ve been at their best at home, too, going unbeaten in their last 17 matches at WIRSOL Rhein-Neckar-Arena.
Here are the basics:
DATE: Tuesday, August 15, 2017
CHANNEL: Fox Sports 1
KICKOFF TIME: 2:45 p.m. Eastern
LOCATION: WIRSOL Rhein-Neckar-Arena, Sinsheim, Germany
LIVE STREAM: Click here for all the live streaming information
LINEUP
Liverpool: Mignolet, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Matip, Moreno, Henderson, Can, Wijnaldum, Salah, Mane, Firmino
Hoffenheim: Nagelsmann, Baumann, Kaderabek, Bicakcic, Rupp, Demirbay, Wagner, Zuber, Hubner, Vogt, Kramaric, Gnabry