Latest: Liverpool 3-1 Hoffenheim
- Reds welcome Julian Nagelsmann's men to Merseyside for crucial Champions League play-off round second-leg decider
- Emre Can's 10th-minute deflected strike beats Oliver Baumann
- Mohamed Salah quickly doubles the lead from close range after Georginio Wijnaldum hits the post
- Can scores again at the back post after fine interplay between Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino
- Substitute Mark Uth reduces the deficit as four goals are scored in the opening 28 minutes
- Hosts took a 2-0 lead during last week's first meeting in Sinsheim thanks to Trent Alexander-Arnold's free-kick and an own goal from Havard Nordtveit, although Uth's late effort gave Hoffenheim hope
- Wantaway playmaker Philippe Coutinho has recovered from a back injury, but remains sidelined through illness as Barcelona continue to pursue high-profile transfer
- Nathaniel Clyne and Adam Lallana are also out
- Liverpool have not lost any of their previous 14 home matches against German sides, winning 11 and drawing three
- They have not lost a European tie on their own patch since October 2014
- Visitors have never previously reached the group stage, with this season marking their first involvement in Uefa competition
- Nagelsmann: Hoffenheim will not "intimidated" by Anfield atmosphere
Not Mignolet's finest moment. The oft-maligned custodian gets nowhere near an attempted punch before dropping what looked to be a fairly simple catch.
Alexander-Arnold wins possession for Liverpool and Baumann produces another strong stop to deny Wijnaldum.
The Hoffenheim 'keeper has certainly been busy over the course of the two legs.
Baumann is called into action once again to beat away a powerful Mane drive at the front post.
Liverpool are pushing hard for a fourth goal at Anfield.
Demirbay and Gnabry combine to find Uth, whose latest attempt flies harmlessly past the far post.
Hoffenheim are caught napping from an Alexander-Arnold throw-in down the right-hand side. Wijnaldum plays a quick one-two with Salah before blazing over the crossbar.
Baumann looked to get a touch on that, but the referee points for a goal kick.
Mane turns on the afterburners and wins a corner down the Liverpool left. The ball is floated in towards Matip, who gets his header all wrong.
A magical turn from Firmino, who is kicked by Hubner before being cynically blocked off by Kevin Vogt.
A deserved yellow card for the Hoffenheim skipper.
Mane makes his presence felt in a defensive capacity and Liverpool break. Salah tries to breach Hoffenheim's high defensive line but is quickly flagged for offside.
Liverpool immediately get themselves back on the front foot, but Firmino is just unable to force an opening.
The Brazilian playmaker is then prevented from applying the finishing touch to a searching Alexander-Arnold cross.
2 - Emre Can has scored 2+ goals in a game for the first time in his professional career. Brace. pic.twitter.com/58sAXO96Gd
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 23, 2017
Well, that certainly wasn't dull. Sometimes profligate Liverpool's attacking unit looked unstoppable for much of the opening 45 minutes, with Mane and Firmino putting on a show and Can profiting nicely.
After an absolutely nightmare opening, Hoffenheim have looked dangerous themselves going forward. However, they look totally incapable of keeping their opponents at bay.
It's now 5-2 on aggregate and more goals after the interval appear guaranteed.
![Roberto Firmino Roberto Firmino](http://web.archive.org./web/20170823200728im_/https://d.ibtimes.co.uk/en/full/1632828/roberto-firmino.jpg?w=400)
Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson joins Geiger and Kaderabek in the book after standing on Demirbay's foot.
Mane looks for the return pass from Can but is stopped in his tracks by the offside flag.
One minute of added time to be played at the end of this entertaining first half.
Hoffenheim spring forward quickly on the counter and Uth forces a low save from Mignolet.
Moreno then makes a strong challenge to dispossess Gnabry following a short corner.
So close to a first half hat-trick for Can, who takes over from Mane and bends a low shot just wide of the post.
Awful at the back, Hoffenheim are still posing a real attacking threat.
A purposeful run from Gnabry is stopped by Matip before the Bayern loanee also fizzes a shot narrowly wide of the far post.
I should mention that Hoffenheim have now collected a couple of yellow cards. Geiger had his name taken for a bad foul on Wijnaldum and Kaderabek is cautioned for a nasty step on Mane's calf.
Liverpool come forward once more and earn a corner off Steven Zuber. Firmino is denied by Baumann after being nicely picked out by Salah and the goalkeeper also collects a curling strike from Mane.
Nagelsmann's attacking change pays off. Hoffenheim have come into the game since the third Liverpool goal and substitute Uth, who also notched in the first leg, beats Simon Mignolet with a fine low strike after collecting a Wagner pass.
Four goals in a truly breathless opening 28 minutes. Surely there isn't a comeback on the cards?