Teen Trent makes waves
TRENT Alexander-Arnold had a night to remember as he made his name in Europe.
The 18-year-old was making his European debut for Liverpool in this play-off first leg.
And the teenager curled home a sensational free-kick from 25 yards to hand the Reds a first-half advantage.
But if Jurgen Klopp’s side thought the tie was done and dusted when Havard Nordtveit’s own-goal from a James Milner cross gave them a second on 73 minutes, they can think again.
The Germans pulled one back in the 87th minute when AlexanderArnold was caught ball-watching and Mark Uth finished superbly to give the Bundesliga side hope ahead of next week’s return at Anfield.
But Liverpool will certainly be more than happy with the result in what Kop manager Klopp had described as “the most difficult steps” to the Champions League group stages after finishing fourth in Premier League last season.
In these parts the build-up was all about Hoffenheim’s debut in European football.
Just a decade ago, the German side were not even a fully professional outfit and it was only nine years ago that they reached the Bundesliga.
But 10 years ago AlexanderArnold was just eight and dreaming of one day donning the red shirt of his beloved Reds.
While all the fuss was about Hoffenheim and their 30-year-old manager Julian Nagelsmann, there was a right-back in Liverpool’s side making his own Euro bow.
Not many on the continent know about Alexander-Arnold yet, but if performances like this continue then it won’t be long.
He may only be in the team because of Nathaniel Clyne’s injuries, but he may not relinquish the role when the more experienced full-back returns.
While he got the goal, it was also a defensively assured display from him despite that late error when he was left appealing for an offside. But he will learn.
Yet Liverpool started this tie as they finished in their 3-3 with Watford in the Premier League on Saturday – all over the place defensively.
It took a last-ditch lunge from Joel Matip to deny former Arsenal man Serge Gnabry from tapping home in just the sixth minute.
Then Dejan Lovren clumsily upended Gnabry in the area in the 11th minute to give the hosts at the Rhein-Neckar Arena the chance of a great start.
It was a chance they blew though as former Leicester forward Andrej Kramaric’s shocking penalty was punched away by Simon Mignolet.
Just four minutes later, Mohamed Salah should have put Liverpool in
front when Roberto Firmino – on his return to his former club – put the £36.9m signing clean through but he slid his shot wide.
Liverpool were also looking nervous every time Hoffenheim put in a set-piece but somehow got all the first-half attempts away.
The 35th-minute opener came when Sadio Mane forced Ermin Bicakcic to foul him 25 yards from goal. Emre Can, Alberto Moreno and Alexander-Arnold stood around the dead ball with the latter the least expected to strike.
But the right-back was the one to curl it over the wall and keeper Oliver Baumann was left flat-footed as the ball found the bottom corner. Alexander-Arnold celebrated his first senior goal before Lovren should have put the Reds two up just before the break but he headed a Moreno corner just wide. Firmino should have added a second after the suberb Mane had set him up. Mane’s marker Bicakcic was soon withdrawn.
Hoffenheim continued to cause problems, Gnabry having an effort rightly ruled offside and Mignolet saving well from Nadiem Amiri.
But the Reds had their own chances and deserved their second from Milner’s deflected cross but Uth’s late strike ensured the tie is not quite over.