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Hoffenheim vs Liverpool: Champions League match day experience

By Rahul Kevin Tanna

VILLARREAL, SPAIN - APRIL 28: Jurgen Klopp manager of Liverpool salutes the travelling fans after the UEFA Europa League semi final first leg match between Villarreal CF and Liverpool at Estadio El Madrigal on April 28, 2016 in Villarreal, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
VILLARREAL, SPAIN - APRIL 28: Jurgen Klopp manager of Liverpool salutes the travelling fans after the UEFA Europa League semi final first leg match between Villarreal CF and Liverpool at Estadio El Madrigal on April 28, 2016 in Villarreal, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) /
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Liverpool got a good result in Hoffenheim. Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) /

Liverpool had a great result in Germany against Hoffenheim in the Champions League qualifier first leg. Out man Rahul Tanna was there to see it.

I was lucky enough to be at the game on Tuesday night, and the experience of safe standing seats were absolutely incredible!

Related Story: Liverpool v Crystal Palace: Match preview

2,000+ Liverpool fans had travelled to Germany for this fixture, The Reds were back in Europe. Not just Europe, but the Champions League, a competition to means a lot to the fans and the club. Will this be the year Liverpool make it six times?

I landed on Tuesday morning at Stuttgart Airport. Match day… Nerves were getting the better of me. Got the train to our hotel, put our stuff in our rooms and then left to go Hoffenheim.

Once we arrived into Hoffenheim, all you could see were Liverpool banners and hear fans chanting various Liverpool songs.

Finally got into the ground an hour before kick off, the feeling of following Liverpool round Europe is the best feeling in the world. Meeting the same faces, and being with the best fans in the world. The first thing we did was put our banners up on the fences, and then we started chanting as the players were training on the pitch. The scene was set, Liverpool fans wanted nothing less than a win.

Gametime

As predicted in my Hoffenheim preview article, the team was exactly the same as the one that started against Watford last Saturday.

Liverpool’s defence were looking poor in the first half. Lovren bringing down Gnabry in the box eleven minutes into the game. Hoffenheim were awarded a penalty, which Mignolet saved. The Reds were given another life line, as the score lines stayed 0-0.

Salah having a chance, receiving a pass clear on goal from Firmino, but crumbled under pressure by Hoffenheim’s defence and missed. This left us all shocked in the stands, that could have potentially been the miss of the game.

Sadio Mané’s pace and power on the ball won us a free kick in the 35th minute of the game. Moreno, Emre Can and young Trent Alexander-Arnold stepped up for the free kick. I personally thought Moreno was going to take it, so when Trent took it and scored in style everyone went absolutely mental. Jumping on each other and going crazy, the young 18-year-old had put Liverpool 0-1 up in the Champions League!

In the second half both sides carried on pressing and Hoffenheim were looking for the equaliser. In the last 20 minutes James Milner made it 0-2, with an absolutely incredible goal with a deflection.

Liverpool were looking confident on the ball, and kept pushing for a third goal. In the 87th minute Hoffenheim made it 1-2.

Next Wednesday is massive, Liverpool take on Hoffenheim at Anfield in the second leg of the Champions League Play Off.

90 minutes away from reaching the group stages!

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