What you need to know about Liverpool's UCL opponents Red Star Belgrade

Carl Markham 00:17 06/11/2018
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  • Liverpool travel to Serbia to face Red Star Belgrade in their fourth match in Champions League Group C.

    Here, Press Association Sport takes a look at the home side, who were beaten 4-0 at Anfield a fortnight ago.

    European experience

    Red Star are in the group stage of this competition for the first time, having successfully made it through the qualifying rounds at what was their seventh attempt. They won the European Cup shortly before the Champions League rebrand, triumphing in the 1990-91 final as they beat Marseille on penalties following a 0-0 draw. They were UEFA Cup runners-up in 1978-79, and registered their best Europa League run last season as they reached the last 32. However, they were totally outclassed at Anfield and were unable to repeat their 1973 2-1 victory on Merseyside.

    Form

    Since their battering on match day three Red Star have won all three of their games in Serbia’s Super Liga, conceding just once. They won 2-0 at Proleta at the weekend to lead the table by nine points, having won 14 and drawn one of their opening 15 matches, scoring 40 and conceding eight. Since drawing on September 23 they have won all seven league matches to extend their unbeaten record to 41 matches, stretching back to October 1 2017. After a goalless draw in their opening Champions League fixture against Napoli, Red Star have conceded 10 and scored one in their next two matches. They will be eliminated from the competition if they lose and Napoli beat Paris St Germain on Tuesday.

    Home advantage

    The Belgrade club are unbeaten in seven European matches at the Rajko Mitic Stadium (three wins, four draws). In fact, their only defeat in their last 14 home European matches came at the hands of Arsenal in last season’s Europa League group stage. Red Star have conceded just five goals in those fixtures and never more than one in any game. They are unbeaten at home in the last 28 games in league and cup since losing to Arsenal. This season they have won 10 and drawn three of 13 home matches, scoring 30 times and conceding just five.

    Players to watch

    Forward El Fardou Ben Nabouhane scored six goals in the qualifying matches, and has 10 SuperLiga goals this season. Former Chelsea midfielder Marko Marin, who missed the game at Anfield through injury, is back in the squad.

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