Liverpool 3-1 Hoffenheim: Champions League play-off decider - Mark Uth reduces deficit

Goal: Liverpool 4-1 Hoffenheim (Roberto Firmino)

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.

Gnabry's evening is over. He is replaced by Szalai and heads straight down the tunnel.

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.

The second half is underway. Let's hope it's every bit as scintillating as the first.

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.

Half-time

Liverpool 3-1 Hoffenheim

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?

Goal: Liverpool 3-1 Hoffenheim (Mark Uth)