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Liverpool vs Spartak Moscow – Champions League as it happened

Live Blog

Liverpool thrashed Spartak Moscow at Anfield 

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Philippe Coutinho celebrates putting Liverpool in front Getty

Liverpool easily saw off Spartak Moscow in their final Champions League group game to seal top spot in Group E.

Live Updates

Hello and welcome to our LIVE coverage of tonight's Champions League action. Liverpool vs Spartak Moscow is our primary focus here but we'll also be bringing you goal updates from Shakhtar vs Manchester City and Spurs vs APOEL.
 
Team news will follow shortly.

Liverpool team to face Spartak Moscow

Manchester City team to face Shakhtar Donetsk

Spurs team to face APOEL

Permutations for Liverpool

Manchester City and Spurs have already guaranteed top spot in their respective groups but Liverpool's passage into the last 16 is yet to be sealed.
 
The odds are stacked in the Reds' favour for them to qualify. However, if they lose tonight and Sevilla avoid defeat away to Maribor, they'll finish third in the group and drop into the Europa League in the new year.
 
If Liverpool win they will qualify for the knock-out phase as group winners but a draw coupled with a Sevilla victory over Maribor will see Jurgen Klopp's men finish as group runners-up.
 
 

Steven Gerrard's pre-match thoughts

"You get the feeling it's a big occasion. This is huge. The players cant underestimate how big this game is.
 
"We've got to treat this like a cup final. To attract the best players in the world you have to be in the Champions League."
 
Quotes from BT Sport
 
 

Liverpool vs Spartak Moscow - last five meetings

  • Spartak 1-1 Liverpool, September 2017 (Champions League)
  • Spartak 1-3 Liverpool, October 2002 (Champions League)
  • Liverpool 5-0 Spartak, October 2002 (Champions League)
  • Liverpool 0-2 Spartak, November 1992 (UEFA Cup Winners' Cup)
  • Spartak 4-2 Liverpool, October 1992 (UEFA Cup Winners' Cup)
 
 

Pre-match quotes from Jurgen Klopp

On the need to be more clinical than they were in the away game against Spartak: "It's a completely different game. They have three very important players back so there's no difference in our approach.
 
"You cannot draw if you have the intention to draw for 90 minutes. We have to work and be well organised and play good football. It's our home ground and we are a strong side and we need to show that."
 
On the decision to leave Jordan Henderson out of the starting line-up: "I have a lot of difficult decisions. That's the line-up for tonight. Hendo played in midfield against Brighton and it was quite intense in that position so that's why I decided like this."
 
Quotes from BT Sport
Just five minutes to go until kick-off at Anfield. Will the Reds get the point they need to secure qualification to the last 16 or will they be dumped out of the competition against all expectations?
 
 
1' - We are underway at Anfield!
3' - Penalty! Mo Salah is dragged down in the box by Georgiy Dzhikiya and the referee points to the spot.

GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Spartak Moscow (Coutinho, pen)

4' - Skipper-on-the-night Philippe Coutinho sends Aleksandr Selikhov the wrong way to give Liverpool the lead!
 
Perfect start for the hosts.
6' - Emre Can picks up an early booking for a hefty challenge on Ze Luis. It's a significant booking for the German because it means he will miss the Reds' next European match.
10' - Sadio Mane goes for goal from an extremely tight angle after Philippe Coutinho's lofted through ball but his effort lashes the side netting.
 
14' - Luis Adriano's effort from distance takes a deflection off Dejan Lovren and Loris Karius gets down well to his right to keep the ball out.

GOAL! Liverpool 2-0 Spartak Moscow (Coutinho)

15' - Philippe Coutinho doubles his tally for the night and doubles Liverpool's lead!
 
Roberto Firmino shows good awareness to find his compatriot at the far post and Coutinho makes no mistake with the finish, guiding his first-time left-footed effort back across goal and into the far corner.

GOAL! Liverpool 3-0 Spartak Moscow (Firmino)

18' - Game over.
 
Spartak concede possession cheaply in midfield and Sadio Mane takes advantage, breaking forward before aiming a cross towards Mo Salah. The cross is blocked but the ball lands straight at the feet of Roberto Firmino, who guides a shot into the top corner with the outside of his right foot. 
 
That was a lovely finish and Liverpool have been irresistible in these early stages.