Key occasions
GOAL! Rangers 1-0 Liverpool (Arfield 17)
Rangers have their first purpose on this yr’s Champions League … and Liverpool concede first but once more! Colak cuts in from the proper. He lays off to Lundstram, who rolls a cross down the center that splits the Liverpool defence. Arfield strides into the area, takes a contact, and threads into the underside left. Ibrox erupts!
16 min: Barisic hoicks in from the left. Too robust. Jack picks up possession on the proper and hooks again into the centre. Alisson plucks from the sky. Rangers are exhibiting a lot extra attacking intent tonight. And why not? Nothing however a win will do.
15 min: Barisic launches lengthy down the left for Kent, who tries to show and make good for the field, however is stopped in his tracks by Alexander-Arnold stand-in Gomez.
13 min: Elliott dribbles ferociously down the center, then shovels a cross down the inside-right channel and into the field for Nunez, who ought to shoot, however tries to seek out Firmino within the center as a substitute. Goldson hacks clear, then the flag goes up for offside … although had both Nunez or Firmino scored, VAR might need had some work to do. It was an in depth one.
12 min: It’s all a bit scrappy, to inform the reality. Passing sequences include a premium proper now.
10 min: Nunez bumps into Goldson. A backyard selection foul that just about results in a minor brouhaha between Fabinho and Tavernier, each of whom having loads to say. All of it calms down rapidly sufficient.
8 min: Rangers aren’t giving Liverpool an inch. The press is on. “Neglect in regards to the glasses,” writes Jeff Sachs. “Klopp ought to get his baggage prepared.” Ouch, robust crowd in tonight. The Empire has nothing on this.
6 min: Tsimikas curls in from the left. His cross is simply too excessive for Nunez, six yards out. Had it been a couple of inches decrease, Rangers have been in hassle.
5 min: Kent, previously of Anfield, cuts in from the left and appears to curve one into the highest proper. It’s a good effort, not too distant, although Alisson most likely had it lined. Rangers can be comfortable sufficient with their energetic begin.
4 min: Lundstram finds Sakala with an excellent diagonal cross out proper. Sakala drops a shoulder to get previous Tsimikas and into the Liverpool field, however his eventual shot is tame and dribbles by way of to Alisson.
3 min: Konate comes clattering into Jack, getting each ball and man. Ibrox desires a yellow card; it’s solely a quiet phrase with the referee.
2 min: Liverpool cross it across the again as they discover their toes early doorways. That is their first aggressive fixture at this well-known stadium. “I’m questioning if Klopp has thought-about going again to his glasses?” wonders Brendan Giant, apropos Liverpool’s latest travails. “After all they acquired to the brink of the quadruple with out them, however solely received the least vital ones. I wager Trent would like to be enjoying prefer it was the final time Klopp had glasses.”
Liverpool get the ball rolling. There’s one hell of an environment at Ibrox, its denizens having develop into accustomed to soundtracking massive European nights of late. They’ve definitely discovered their voice once more tonight.
The groups are out! Ibrox roars as one when the gamers emerge from the tunnel. Rangers sport their royal blue, whereas Liverpool put on crimson. All the time pretty when each groups are dressed of their best. Fireworks gentle up the sky. We’ll be off in a few minutes, as soon as Uefa have given a nod within the course of Zadok the Priest.
Jurgen Klopp speaks to BT Sport. “It’s a busy interval and we can’t power the boys by way of, we have now to make modifications. Diogo Jota was not deliberate, that’s why he was in yesterday’s press convention, however we acquired a name from the medical division saying he can play, however not too lengthy. Oh nice! So we’d higher begin any individual else who can play 90 minutes. However he’s on the bench and is accessible.”
Giovanni van Bronckhorst talks to BT. “There is just one change. The workforce is doing effectively within the league. Right now we have now to begin proper, and attempt to assault them. We now have had nice experiences in Europe this season and final season, and the environment will be actually good. Nevertheless it’s solely good once you carry out as effectively on the pitch.”
Full time in Naples: Napoli 4-2 Ajax
Napoli have certified for the knockout stage with two Group A video games to play. Luciano Spalletti’s box-fresh facet have introduced themselves in fashion, and look greater than able to successful Europe’s largest prize for the primary time. An extended technique to go, after all, however the pleasure round them is palpable.
Ajax had been urgent for an equaliser … however an enormous Daley Blind clanger has simply secured the win for Napoli. Blind hesitated over a backpass, permitting Victor Osimhen to look from nowhere, take the ball off his toe, and roll it into the empty web, Remko Pasveer stationed elsewhere, ready for the cross that by no means got here. Newest rating: Napoli 4-2 Ajax.
It’s now Napoli 3-2 Ajax. Steven Bergwijn whips dwelling a penalty after 83 minutes. It was a reasonably mushy award, Brian Brobbey backing into Juan Jesus and crumpling, the referee generously pointing to the spot. However VAR didn’t see sufficient to overturn the choice, and the four-time winners are again in it!
The opposite sport in Group A kicked off early … and everyone’s new second-favourite workforce, Napoli, have simply gone 3-1 up on the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in opposition to Ajax. Hirving Lozano opened the scoring for the Italians on 4 minutes, Giacomo Raspadori including a second 12 minutes later. Davy Klaassen pulled one again for Ajax 4 minutes after the break, however the sensational Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has restored Napoli’s two-goal cushion by roofing a penalty. Newest rating: Napoli 3-1 Ajax.
Staff information: Colak begins, Salah benched
Only one change to the Rangers beginning XI from the 4-0 win in opposition to St Mirren. Ryan Kent replaces Rabbi Matondo, who drops to the bench. Antonio Colak, who has 13 targets to his identify this season already, leads the road. Style Sakala, a hard presence for Liverpool at Anfield final week, is tasked with offering Colak the ammo.
Liverpool make six modifications to the workforce named for the 3-2 defeat at Arsenal. Mohamed Salah, Thiago and Diogo Jota are all benched, whereas Luis Diaz, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joel Matip are injured. Stepping right into a youthful workforce: Harvey Elliott, Fabio Carvalho, Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez, Fabinho and Roberto Firmino.
The groups
Rangers: McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, Davies, Barisic, Jack, Lundstram, Sakala, Arfield, Kent, Colak.
Subs: Yilmaz, Davis, Matondo, Sands, Morelos, Scott Wright, McCrorie, McLaughlin, King, Devine, Tillman.
Liverpool: Alisson, Gomez, Konate, van Dijk, Tsimikas, Henderson, Fabinho, Elliott, Firmino, Nunez, Carvalho.
Subs: Thiago, Milner, Salah, Adrian, Jota, Robertson, Bajcetic, Phillips, Kelleher.
Referee: Slavko Vincic (Slovenia).
Preamble
Per week in the past this occurred …
… and now Rangers are on the point of an early exit from the Champions League. Nothing however a victory for the Mild Blues tonight can save them. Liverpool in the meantime are in search of a win that might nudge them nearer to the knockout part. Kick off is at 8pm BST. It’s on!