Eintracht Frankfurt v Liverpool: Champions League – live

Key events

Show key events only

Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature

Arne Slot finally ditches the starting XI sent out to face both Chelsea and Manchester United in Liverpool’s two previous matches. He’s made five changes after the 2-1 defeat to United at Anfield on Sunday. Mohamed Salah dropping to the bench is one piece of big news; the return to the starting line-up of Florian Wirtz is another. Hugo Ekitike, Curtis Jones and Jeremie Frimpong, all of whom, along with Wirtz, added energy to Liverpool’s play when coming on against United, are also back in, as is Andy Robertson; Milos Kerkez, Conor Bradley and the out-of-sorts Alexis Mac Allister drop to the bench alongside Salah, while Ryan Gravenberch is at home having picked up an ankle problem against United.

The teams: Salah benched

Eintracht Frankfurt: Zetterer, Kristensen, Amenda, Koch, Theate, Gotze, Larsson, Knauff, Doan, Brown, Bahoya.
Subs: Grahl, Santos, Chaibi, Burkardt, Skhiri, Wahi, Dahoud, Chandler, Buta, Batshuayi, Collins, Uzun.

Liverpool: Mamardashvili, Szoboszlai, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson, Frimpong, Wirtz, Jones, Gakpo, Ekitike, Isak.
Subs: Woodman, Gomez, Endo, Kerkez, Mac Allister, Salah, Bradley, Chiesa, Ngumoha, Misciur.

Referee: Francois Letexier (France).

Preamble

After losing four matches in a row, Liverpool aren’t quite heading towards uncharted waters. But the map they’re referring to is old, yellow and fraying at the sides. Here’s a sequence Don Welsh’s side put together in the autumn of 1953 …

Bolton Wanderers 2-0 Liverpool
Newcastle United 4-0 Liverpool
Liverpool 1-5 Preston North End
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 Liverpool
Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Liverpool

… and that’s the last time the Redmen (still wearing white shorts back then, mind) lost five on the bounce. They ended up being relegated from the old First Division in last place.

Now, nobody’s seriously suggesting Liverpool are going down this season. But that sequence is a 72-year-old bit of history Arne Slot won’t fancy repeating. Plus his side need to get their Premier League and Champions League campaigns back on track quicksmart … though exactly what to expect tonight is anyone’s guess: Eintracht Frankfurt’s first two matches in this year’s competition both ended 5-1 – a home win over Galatasaray and an away defeat at Atletico Madrid – while Liverpool have beaten the team Eintracht lost to, and lost to the one Eintracht beat. So the rules of the playground are of no use whatsoever here. The unpredictable fun begins at 8pm UK time. It’s on!