Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
BEAST FROM THE FEAST
Don’t expect another 4-0 rout... Red Star will be a different animal in Belgrade bearpit warns Robertson
ANDY ROBERTSON believes Liverpool will face a “different beast” when they take on Red Star Belgrade tonight.
The Kop defender says the Reds can forget about another easy night against the Serbian champions.
Jurgen Klopp’s side cruised to a 4-0 win (above) at home last month to go top of Group C.
But that evening there were no away fans inside Anfield as Red Star surrendered far too easily.
Now they will have almost 55,000 supporters roaring them on in the Rajko Mitic Stadium that is known for being a cauldron of noise.
It helped Red Star hold Serie A side Napoli to a goalless draw earlier in the group stage.
And Robertson reckons it will fire up the hosts to ensure they give Klopp’s men a much sterner test than last month.
The Scot (right) said: “I think it will be a different proposition. At Anfield we scored at the right times and were at 100 per cent.
“I think they’re a different beast when they’re at home. They proved that against Napoli, getting a draw. They’ll be hoping to use that to their advantage and hopefully we’ll quieten them.”
In fact, the left-back wants his side to use the raucous atmosphere to their advantage.
And the run to the Champions
League final last season, which included a trip to
Roma’s Stadio
Olimpico for the semi-finals, means this side are more prepared.
He added: “There was a few of us new to the Champions League last season. We gained invaluable experience by going the distance and just falling short, but I feel as though we’ve taken that into this campaign already.
“The semi-final at Roma was a special atmosphere as well and we’re probably more experienced than we were last season too.
“We need to use it to our advantage. Once we’re out on the pitch it’s 11 v 11.
“We can hopefully quieten the crowd and focus on the game, not the stuff around it.” Liverpool can extend their onepoint lead at the top of Group C tonight with Napoli hosting Paris Saint-germain in the other match.
Victory would mean, barring two defeats in their final two games, the Reds will be in the last 16. Klopp said: “I don’t think about the other game, but it is obvious they play against each other so they both can’t get three points.
“If we could win here it would give us a bit of control, but only until the next game because everything is open again.”
The German (right) could make some changes to freshen up his side from their 1-1 draw with Arsenal on Saturday.
Roberto Firmino could be rested despite the Liverpool boss insisting he has “no concerns” over the Brazilian’s form, which has seen him score just once in the Reds’ last nine games.
Liverpool may not be at full strength but Red Star boss Vladan Milojevic is prepared to welcome one of the contenders for this season’s Champions League trophy to their home.
“For the club, Belgrade, Serbia and the whole region it is an important occasion, and we are looking forward to a
spectacle,” he said.
“One of the best teams in Europe and the world comes to us. I think it will be a spectacle in the stadium and an atmosphere awaits us that only our fans can create.
“Liverpool are one of the main contenders to win the Champions League – the team is made to attack for the title.
“We need to be concentrated all the time, because every pause and the smallest little thing is immediately punished.”