RB Leipzig were victorious in their last fixture, in the Bundesliga against Mainz. - © IMAGO/Roger Petzsche

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RB Leipzig vs. Liverpool: UEFA Champions League team news, match stats and LIVE blog!

21.10.2024

RB Leipzig will look to pick up their first UEFA Champions League points of the season as they host Liverpool at the Red Bull Arena on Wednesday (kick-off: 9pm CEST).

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Leipzig are still unbeaten in the Bundesliga this term and are second in the table to Bayern Munich on goal difference. However, they are still without a point from their opening two Champions League matches of the campaign, having suffered narrow, late defeats against both Atlético Madrid and Juventus. It doesn't get much easier for Die Roten Bullen as they host English Premier League leaders Liverpool. Marco Rose may also have to deal without Amadou Haidara for the visit of the Merseyside club after the midfielder was forced off in the second half of the 2-0 victory over Mainz, although Loïs Openda's ankle issue that led to him being substituted should not keep him out of this next encounter. Haidara could therefore join Nicolas Seiwald, David Raum, Assan Ouédraogo and Xaver Schlager in the treatment room, leaving Rose with some key players unavailable. The good news is Kevin Kampl is back in contention having come against Mainz, and the Slovenia international may well be called upon to provide a solid base for the likes of Xavi Simons and Benjamin Šeško to build on further up the field.

Liverpool prepared for this clash with a narrow 2-1 victory over Chelsea to move back to the summit of the Premier League table. Jürgen Klopp, who recently committed to becoming Red Bull's head of global soccer from January, has been replaced by Arne Slot in the Liverpool dug-out, and the transition under the Dutchamn has been seamless. A 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest on Matchday 4 of the league campaign is the only game they have so far failed to win, prevailing in each of their other 10 fixtures in all competitions. Mohamed Salah has been the stand-out performer, racking up seven goals and six assists so far this term, while Luís Díaz and Trent Alexander-Arnold have also impressed. Slot will be without goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who is continuing his recovery from a hamstring injury, while Diogo Jota needed to come off against Chelsea with a problem. Federico Chiesa may also be unavailable, and Harvey Elliott will be definitely be on the sidelines due to a broken foot.

Watch: Best of Benjamin Šeško 2024/25

Match stats

Šeško already has three goals in the Champions League this season and is the team's top goalscorer in all competitions with six.
Rose's side have lost just two of their previous 11 home matches in all competitions, although both of those defeats came in the Champions League.
Leipzig had won four of their last six Champions League group stage matches prior to the start of 2024/25.
At 21, Xavi boasts 30 goals and assists in 53 competitive appearances for Leipzig.
Ibrahima Konaté and Dominik Szoboszlai both played for Leipzig before moving to Liverpool in 2021 and 2023 respectively, while Péter Gulácsi spent six years on the Reds' books earlier in his career, although he never made an appearance for them.
Only Emil Forsberg (41) has made more Champions League appearances for Leipzig than Yussuf Poulsen (38).

Probable teams

Leipzig: Gulácsi - Geertruida, Orbán (c), Castello, Henrichs - Nusa, Kampl, Vermeeren, Xavi - Openda, Šeško
Out: Raum (ankle), Ouédraogo (knee), Schlager (knee), Seiwald (adductor)
Doubtful: Haidara (knock)
Coach: Marco Rose

Liverpool: Kelleher - Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, Van Dijk (c), Robertson - Mac Allister, Gravenberch - Salah, Jones, Díaz - Jota
Out: Allison (hamstring), Elliott (foot)
Doubtful: Chiesa (knock)
Coach: Arne Slot

LIVE blog!

Leipzig

Wed, 23.10 19:00

Liverpool

Champions League
League phase, Matchday 3 League phase, Matchday 3 Red Bull Arena

3:28

Watch: All of Xavi's Bundesliga goals and assists

It is 23 goal involvements and counting for the Dutch magician.

2:03

Watch: Mainz 0-2 Leipzig

Xavi Simons scored a brilliant solo goal to put his side on course for yet another win, with this victory coming against the side that Marco Rose represented during his playing days.

3:13

Watch: Are Leipzig title candidates?

Their impressive start to the season has put Marco Rose's side in the conversation of potential Bundesliga champions, and here's why.

European form

Despite their respective domestic success so far this season, the two sides have had contrasting fortunes in Europe. Leipzig have lost their two opening games against Atletico Madrid and Juventus while Liverpool have won both of their games against AC Milan and Bologna.

Two top sides

Leipzig and Liverpool have both enjoyed fantastic starts to the season, with Liverpool sitting one point ahead at the top of the Premier League table and Leipzig sitting joint-top with Bayern. Leipzig are yet to lose a Bundesliga game while Liverpool only have one loss to their name so far.

2:49

Šeško on fire

In-form striker Benjamin Šeško could well be the man to get the ball rolling for Leipzig in Europe. Though it's still October, the Slovenia hit-man is on track for a personal-best campaign, with six goals and three assists in nine appearances across all competitions, including both goals against Juventus. Liverpool, you have been warned.

Tough start

Despite flying high in the league, RB Leipzig are yet to get off the mark on the continent this campaign and sit in 29th place in the standings, following a 2-1 loss away to Atletico Madrid on Matchday 1 and a 3-2 home defeat to Italian giants Juventus last time out. Liverpool, meanwhile, sit in fifth after beating Milan 3-1 in Italy and Bologna 2-0 at Anfield.

A first time for everything

High-flying RB Leipzig will be out to tip the historical balance and grab a first win over six-time Champions League winners Liverpool when they clash on Wednesday. The clubs have met twice before - home and away in the 2020/21 round of 16 - with the Reds prevailing 2-0 on both occasions. Time for Marco Rose's men to take their undefeated domestic form (four wins, two draws) onto the continental stage...

Welcome!

Thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of RB Leipzig's third UEFA Champions League game of the 2024/25 league phase at home to Liverpool on Wednesday.