and good evening on what is a perfect night for football the floodlights
shining down on the players as we speak derrick ray here in the comedy position
and i'm joined as always by lee dixon and we've got so much to look forward to
this is where it all begins in europe's premier club competition the uefa champions league
the group stage match day one action i certainly can't wait for this league well the first group
stage of the champions league is always exciting three points is vital for both teams to get off
to a good start or a draw may be a good result as well we're about to find out what happens
this is the lineup for the home team voice gensley begins in goal
alexandro plays with danilo as full backs rodrigo bentancur plays alongside atheia
rabio in the center of the park and the front player cristiano ronaldo starts with morata
and this is how liverpool start the game
well as a team they do have their stylistic preference and it really is all about trying to
put the opposition under pressure making sure that they don't compose themselves lee do you expect to
see more of that in this game yeah pretty much they love to press eye don't they it's their
preferred style of play winning the ball high up the pitch it certainly benefits their strikers
they're very good at it it's the opening match day champions league group stage match day one
underway alex sandro
rabiot danilo and plenty of skirt to be creative in that wide position
and the header well he's in a great position
techniques pretty good but he just hits the woodwork
andrew robertson
now with konate
diogo jota and the ball has been played forward towards
that's coutinho to rob them of possession
well cristiano ronaldo lee doesn't really need an introduction nowadays but what in particular are
you looking forward to seeing from ronaldo here paul is loose well it came to nothing in the end
throw-ins given
on a pretty ordinary challenge ventancure
radio
ball with daniela good tackle
konate
it is to be a throw-in
marasa a bit sloppy in possession roberto firmino fabinho now over the top into the
stride of sadio manet it has gone over the touchline for what will be a throw-in
good pressure can they make something of this
pressure exerted but he keeps the ball tiago
looking confident with the ball that his face
can they take the lead here oh it was a crucial challenge
thiago alexander arnold
sadio manny now an authoritative challenge
alexander arnold and options in the center and thiago alexander arnold oh the crosswell blocked
there by keolini well derrick there's nothing between these two teams in terms of possession
can someone take control of this game take a few more risks hopefully we'll see a goal soon
a move of promise on the flank
cornate and now coutinho physically strong and secure on the ball
and thrusting through the gears juan quadrado away
and so it is the first half story has been written
and so the second half of this champions league group stage match day one contest commences
virgo van dijk it's with roberto firmino andrew robertson
thiago liverpool have given us away
and a good-looking ball and he could cash in a really vital interception
across from cuadrado
this could pose problems for the defenders crucial intervention just then amid impending danger
will occur now
alexander arnold iris thiago well we always like to assess how things are going for cristiano
ronaldo a case of could it do betterly well he's worked his socks off hasn't he
played really really well done everything but score hit the woodwork being energetic creative
really good first half what we got for the second half let's find out oh that's an interesting pass
oh a vital interception
good defending
tiago fabinho now
oh lovely incisive pass
defensive efficiency personified
roberto firmino
thiago here's oxlade-chamberlain firmino
a goal it is at long last they've broken the deadlock well it's been so close this game
tactics have played a part now they're going to have to change the tactics and see what happens
well here it is again it's all about the pace in transition they were so quick to get out from the
back and he chooses to use power in the finish not much chance for the keeper when he's hit that hard
well it can be difficult being a manager at times none more so than now
what a big moment in the dying embers will it prove decisive here
well liverpool's name of the game is keeping possession however after that the coach would
be disappointed with what they produced they need to be a little bit more clinical in front of goal
oh a tremendous block if they can score again from this corner
it probably would be the end of the story
attempting to play catch up in this second half lee what are the priorities to be
liverpool will feel that because the game is so close there's another goal out there
more pressure more balls in the box more intensity force the issue he's in behind sends it back
and that's fantastic goalkeeping to get across and deal with the danger
time is not on the side this corner could help the prospects as they look for an equalizer
well he had the measure of it the goalkeeper corner once more
played into the center of the box making sure that was pushed well away from
danger just the one minute left in normal time here
and we will have a couple of additional minutes at the end here him with a chance can he find the net
well that's really sound goalkeeping not letting the opposition have any scraps
and that's it for tonight's full time and an encouraging start for them three points from
the initial fix julie yeah really really strong start that's what you need but with
five games to go very important you stay in the now one game at a time derrick bit of a cliche
all in only ronaldo is going to have a big smile on his face tonight
you