The Liverpool Offside - Champions League Coverage: Spartak Moscow vs. LiverpoolZeppeline, Trinken, & Pink Badeshortshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/51345/ltos-fav.png2017-09-26T23:45:01+01:00http://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/rss/stream/161288872017-09-26T23:45:01+01:002017-09-26T23:45:01+01:00Spartak Moscow 1, Liverpool 1: This Again
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<img alt="Spartak Moskva v Liverpool FC - UEFA Champions League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/7oSReJd7vQRK5gkH_d-Fljm-S6M=/1x0:4558x3038/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56867515/854259164.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>NOT GREAT, BOB | Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Reds draw in a match they dominated. Yes, we’re shocked as well.</p> <blockquote><p id="DG9ilQ"><strong>Spartak Moscow 1</strong> <em>Fernando 22’</em><br><a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/"><strong>Liverpool</strong></a><strong> 1</strong> <em>Coutinho 30’</em></p></blockquote>
<p id="1S3WJt">Yet again, wasted chances at the front and headlessness at the back ensure that Liverpool gift their opponents points in a contest they should’ve decided many times over.</p>
<p id="vJbBGo">Jürgen Klopp put out as close to his true first choice XI as he’s had a chance to this season, with <span>Loris Karius</span> and Trent Alexander-Arnold the only presumed second-stringers. Otherwise, Joël Matip and <span>Dejan Lovren</span> joined Alberto Moreno at the back, <span>Jordan Henderson</span> and <span>Emre Can</span> featured in midfield, and the quadrumvirate of <span>Philippe Coutinho</span>, Sadio Mané, <span>Roberto Firmino</span> and Mohamed Salah started their first competitive match together. Combined with their opponents’ shoddy defensive record, the line-up had Reds fans licking their lips in anticipation before kick-off.</p>
<p id="SxksDQ">It was clear the visitors thought they could blow their hosts out of the water as well, because they came out at a ferocious pace, with every pass seemingly looking to be the killer ball and every run aimed directly at goal. The energy was high, but the quality was lacking, all encapsulated six minutes into the contest by Emre Can getting himself booked for a wild lunge following a poor touch.</p>
<p id="eQ5kNg">The Reds held the ball nearly constantly in the rambunctious noise of the Otkrytiye Arena, but it was ten minutes before they registered their first shot, Alexander-Arnold volleying wide after some keepy-up with Salah. Two minutes later, Coutinho found Salah with a through ball, but the Egyptian’s effort was blocked for a corner, and on fifteen minutes, a quick free kick saw the former Basel man race through on goal, this time foiled by Artem Rebrov in the Spartak goal.</p>
<p id="tLsAUE">On the very next possession, a gorgeous inswinging cross from Mané found Roberto Firmino six yards out, but the Brazilian put his header to close to the goalkeeper. The Reds were warming up and it looked only a matter of time before the Russian walls would be breached.</p>
<p id="9f2F2E">Predictably, sloppy play in their own half would see Liverpool concede to the first shot on target for the fourth time in five matches. A desperate Emre Can pointlessly chased a lost ball thirty yards to the sideline and played it blindly back towards his own goal, where, after a bit of vintage chaos, Coutinho tripped a Moscow player just outside the Reds box. Fernando showed his class and bent a terrific free kick over the wall and past Karius, giving the hosts an undeserved lead.</p>
<p id="scxO8u">The Reds were right back on their job, and two minutes after the goal, a Mané diving header from a beautiful Alexander-Arnold cross was chalked off after the Senegalese attacker was caught offside. The same man effortlessly cut inside his marker soon after, but saw his driven effort well saved by Rebrov. </p>
<p id="pJPbZk">On the half-hour mark, the visitors equalised. Coutinho played a delightful one-two with Mané, took a touch and blasted the ball over the head of Rebrov and into the back of the net. It looked absolutely effortless, and one wonders why it took so long to conjure up. </p>
<p id="rBugEF">A minute later the Reds broke following some successful gegenpressing, but a blocked through ball saw Salah blast the ball over the bar from 20 yards. A gorgeous Henderson cross to the back post snuck past a Spartak defender, and a befuddled Firmino failed to make solid contact from five yards out, the ball harmlessly dribbling into the hands of Rebrov. </p>
<p id="Kh2pZR">One minute from half time, the visitors somehow conspired to mess up a five on two counter attack. Roberto Firmino carried the ball and played it into the path of Henderson, whose low cross sliced past an unmarked and offsides Mané before finding Salah at the back post, only for the Egytion to put his effort wide of the open goal, albeit from a tight angle. It was a wasted opportunity to take the lead at a perfect time, and one the Reds would end up ruing. </p>
<p id="fHr6ne">The second half began at a slower pace, with Coutinho’s free kick saved at the near post the only noteworthy event of the opening ten minutes. Shenanigans ensued minutes later, as a clash of shins between Salah and Rebrov in the Spartak box saw the match completely halt for eight minutes, culminating in the home side substituting their goalkeeper. </p>
<p id="vWT1hE"><span>Daniel Sturridge</span> came on for Sadio Mané on seventy minutes, and <span>Georginio Wijnaldum</span> replaced Can on the next stop in play, both introduced into a game that had lost all sense of flow and quality. Alexander-Arnold blasted an effort wide of the near post and Firmino hammered a shot over the bar after picking a defender’s pocket 20 yards out, and time was ticking away from the increasingly exhausted-looking Reds.</p>
<p id="K9kNxV">Firmino found and offsides Sturridge with a chipped through ball, but the striker smashed his effort wide anyway. A minute later, the Brazilian found the Englishman again, this time with a flicked header, but the volley from a narrow angle bounced off the post and out of play.</p>
<p id="GSiNMO">The Reds were pushing desperately for the winner, and on the stroke of full-time, Jordan Henderson found Sturridge at the back post with a gorgeous lob, but the 28-year old smashed his volley high over the bar from six yards out. On the fourth of eight injury-time minutes, Alberto Moreno picked out the run of Firmino in the left channel, but the Brazilian’s cutback was behind Salah, and the Egyptian failed to get a shot off. </p>
<p id="RwwqJ3">As the minutes waned away and the Spartak players dropped like flies to the dual threat of cramps and time-wasting, Alexander-Arnold produced yet another stunning cross to pick out Salah six yards out and central, but the Egyptian put his headed effort straight at substitute goalkeeper Alexander Selikhov, securing yet another disappointing draw for the Reds.</p>
<p id="jI3Bu7">Not much to say that hasn’t already been said. Liverpool look perfectly solid at the back until they don’t, and absolutely lethal in offense right up until they somehow fail to convert. Roberto Firmino had a game to forget, missing two massive opportunities, while Sturridge and Salah will also go home knowing they had huge chances to win it for the visitors. </p>
<p id="iBCuUW">Sevilla did their job at Maribor, which means that the Reds are now two points behind the Spaniards in Group E, ahead of tonight’s opponents on goals scored. It’s three weeks until the next Champions League round, as the Reds travel to Slovenia on October the 17th.</p>
<p id="cKQApn">One more game before the next international break, and Klopp will be hoping his team can end this run of matches with a result that’s as dominant as their performance, when they travel north to Tyneside to face former manager Rafa Benítez and <a href="https://cominghomenewcastle.sbnation.com/">Newcastle</a>.</p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2017/9/26/16370434/spartak-moscow-1-liverpool-1-this-again-match-recap-champions-league-2017-fernando-philippe-coutinhoAudun Manum2017-09-26T21:55:01+01:002017-09-26T21:55:01+01:00Spartak Moscow 1, Liverpool 1: Man of the Match
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<img alt="Spartak Moskva v Liverpool FC - UEFA Champions League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/mioudzMuqCD2jCDfDrORGZjtI-s=/0x124:1494x1120/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56866361/854294016.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>With a frustrating draw in the books, we want you to rate Liverpool's players and choose your man of the match.</p> <p id="LFD9aT">That wasn’t much fun. <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a> dominated possession and created numerous chances but came away with a draw for the second time in a row in the Champions League. Instead of being clear on top of Group E with six points they’re stuck on two, and as has been the case too often this season, the biggest problem appears to be the attack simply cannot take the chances they create and are letting the the fans, manager, and themselves down.</p>
<p id="1OMT1s">Now let us know how you saw it. Hitting the thumbs up button is a vote to move the player up the list—or to help keep them on top. Hitting thumbs down is a vote to push that player closer to the bottom. It's half man of the match poll and half power ranking, and we want to use it to find out who you think played well after each Liverpool match and, at the other end, who you'd maybe like to see given the next game off.</p>
<p id="RWs4gW">At the end of the month we'll go through the results of the month's polls and vote The Liverpool Offside’s player of the month and, come next May, those monthly results will help to determine your TLO player of the season for 2016-17. Those visiting on Google AMP who wish to vote will have to navigate to the front page and re-enter the story to access the non-AMP version of it.</p>
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https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2017/9/26/16370442/best-worst-performances-vote-motm-spartak-moscow-1-liverpool-1-cl-2017Noel Chomyn2017-09-26T21:42:26+01:002017-09-26T21:42:26+01:00Spartak Moscow 1, Liverpool 1: First Thoughts
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<img alt="Spartak Moskva v Liverpool FC - UEFA Champions League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/fuciHYkXIIEtImvt1ghFu065eyo=/8x0:5203x3463/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56866265/854259592.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Football is unfair and I hate it. </p> <blockquote><p id="udDCUd"><em><strong>Spartak Moscow 1:</strong></em><em> Fernando 23’, </em><br><a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/"><em><strong>Liverpool</strong></em></a><em><strong> 1:</strong></em><em> Coutinho 31, </em></p></blockquote>
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<li id="VwMnTu">
<strong>Pre-match Thought: </strong>Tonight marks the <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2017/9/26/16365324/liverpools-new-fab-four-to-make-their-bow-coutinho-salah-mane-firmino-spartak-moscow-jurgen-klopp">first time we get to see the fab four</a> start a game. John, Paul, George, and Ringo only had a total of seven minutes together before Paul was subbed off last time out in the Champions League. There are definitely goals out there, so long as our defense can keep a Promes-less Spartak at bay, we should set ourselves up for a good finish in the group. I’m feeling cautiously optimistic: always a bad sign before a big game. </li>
<li id="5fZpVh">
<span>Emre Can</span> in trouble early after badly mistiming a tackle, and going straight into the book. It will be a long remaining 84 minutes for a midfielder prone to rash challenges. </li>
<li id="EE2w1Z">The first big chance of the night falls to the unlikely Trent Alexander-Arnold. He works a 1-2 with Mohamed Salah inside the box, but cannot put his chest-down volley on target. Salah looking <em>very </em>lively early. </li>
<li id="lPvWgl">The amount of time Alexander-Arnold is taking on throw ins is the stuff of Tony Pulis’s deepest, darkest fantasies. </li>
<li id="HHL5CT">
<span>Roberto Firmino</span> nearly opens up scoring with a bullet header from about 10 yards. Unfortunately, it was hit straight at the keeper, and Salah can only win a corner from the shot off the rebound. </li>
<li id="uBwCs7">Can proving to be the weak link so far, giving up a dangerous counter attack from an ill-advised pass, eventually resulting in a free kick from 25 yards out in the center of the park. </li>
<li id="eCh80u">
<strong>Goal. </strong>Fernando steps up and buries it. The shot was just beyond Karius’s reach, though it is fair to wonder if the young German keeper couldn’t have done better. And, repeat after me: It. Was. On. Their. First. Shot. On. Target. (Or otherwise).</li>
<li id="1jaAyT">The net finally bulges for Liverpool, but Mane’s cool headed finish won’t count as it is justly blown offside. </li>
<li id="MlMohT">
<strong>GOAL!</strong> Liverpool Level things up, finally getting their reward after a dominant first half an hour. Coutinho plays a fantastic 1-2 with Mane, leaving the Brazilian in the box alone with a terrified keeper. Which is fair, because the only thing stoping Phil from 8 yards is himself. Game on. </li>
<li id="FJ75KX">Firmino whiffs on a tap-in at the back post. It looked like he wasn’t expecting the defender to miss Jordan Henderson’s cross, but really any solid contact would have given the Reds a deserved lead. </li>
<li id="LyTco7">Yet <em>another</em> golden opportunity left wanting by the Reds. Liverpool spring a counterattack with numbers off the first Spartak corner of the night. Trent to Hendo, and then Hendo tried to square to either Mane or Salah, who were both in position to tap it home. However, Mane was slightly offside, and Salah couldn’t convert anyway. So it goes. </li>
<li id="hfYhaV">
<strong>Halftime Thought: </strong>Another dominant half leaves us wanting, and fearful that we’ll pay for not taking full advantage. Spartak have 1 goal from 1 shot, whereas Liverpool have 1 goal from 9 (5 on target). </li>
<li id="HRQJ28">Coutinho gets his chance to shine on a free-kick, but despite putting it on target the Spartak keeper was up to the challenge, getting down to palm away the effort. </li>
<li id="hsRReu">Hey! <span>Loris Karius</span> finally made a save this season. Atta boy! More please. </li>
<li id="xuryJJ">You will never see a more clear-cut penalty than Salah wasn’t awarded. Unbelievable. The Egyptian was clear through on goal, only for the defender to kick his legs out from under him. Should have been a pen, and possibly a red too. </li>
<li id="892i9k">Sturridge coming on for Sadio Mane. Interesting. </li>
<li id="iqgVou">And now Emre Can off for Georginio Wijnaldum. Hey Gini, good time to score away from home, eh? </li>
<li id="CBksRy">As we approach the last quarter of an hour, this game has really ground to a halt. Liverpool look gassed, and Spartak look to hold on to the point. </li>
<li id="sWU9DA">Firmino is having a frustrating night. He’s getting into all the right positions, and doing everything right except for the finish. He just now picked a defender’s pocket at the edge of the box, turned, and fired his shot into the stands. Chances appear to be dwindling. </li>
<li id="TxZfkV">Henderson picks out Sturridge for another huge chance from about 8 yards out in the dying moments of the match. You expect Danny to at least find the target, but not tonight. Instead he skies his shot. </li>
<li id="o1p7zE">Salah, with another bullet header straight down the throat of the keeper. It’s just not our night. </li>
<li id="rpFFYQ">
<strong>Final Whistle Thought: </strong>I just don’t know at this point. Another dominant performance, another disappointing draw. Liverpool didn’t take their many chances, and Spartak took their one. </li>
</ul>
<p id="FAAjd2">We'll be back shortly to take an in-depth look at everything that happened in today's game with the full recap. Until then, let us know your take on the ups and downs of the match in the comments, and if you haven't already, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/account/setup?community_id=373"><strong>join the community on the Liverpool Offside</strong></a>, where we'll have full coverage and lively in-game discussion for every match this season.</p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2017/9/26/16369112/spartak-moscow-1-liverpool-1-match-recap-report-champions-league-2017Zachary Marx2017-09-26T20:30:42+01:002017-09-26T20:30:42+01:00Watch: Philippe Coutinho Gets Liverpool On The Board
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<img alt="Spartak Moskva v Liverpool FC - UEFA Champions League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/t-ysIkF0K5uRRO2WpYGnq08qcFM=/0x1:4052x2702/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56864767/854255346.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Bang!</p> <p id="bKZgoO">Stop me if you’ve heard this before: </p>
<p id="SXc8qC">Liverpool start a game off strong— controlling the ball and getting some promising chances. Then they concede a stupid, unnecessary goal. They spend a long time trying to piece things back together while fending off a resurgent opposition eager to press their advantage. Finally, one of the Reds’ blistering attackers does the legwork and gets his side back into the game.</p>
<p id="ELl04u">Tonight’s rescuer against Spartak Moscow was none other than Philippe Coutinho, finally back as a regular starter after all that nonsense from the summer. Around the half-hour mark, the Brazilian charged into the box and, with barely any space to line up a shot, fired a dart from close range and scored at the near post.</p>
<p id="G21szi">Exactly what was needed, exactly when needed.</p>
<p id="Rn1g5Z">Liverpool are level at 1-1 with Spartak Moscow with time running out in the first half.</p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-social-facebook-stories-fanshots/2017/9/26/16369270/watch-philippe-coutinho-gets-liverpool-on-the-boardBridget Gordon2017-09-26T18:15:02+01:002017-09-26T18:15:02+01:00Jürgen Klopp Expects Both Sides to Play Football in Spartak Moscow Match
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<img alt="Leicester City v Liverpool - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/lqcyc1IYJK1sbC0uXL5-OVoGN_k=/0x0:4086x2724/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56855953/852416560.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Forget cagey defending tonight in the Champions League, expect fast-paced attacking football.</p> <p id="t2xun0">For as much hype and prestige as the Champions League offers, sometimes its mid-week matches can turn into lifeless, tactical, defensive affairs—cagey outings with at least one of the sides set out first and foremost to frustrate the opposition. Jürgen Klopp, though, doesn’t expect that from Spartak Moscow.</p>
<p id="krrCOv">“They are a football playing side,” he noted ahead of Tuesday’s match. “And an experienced side. Last year a new manager took over and immediately they won the league. They’ve had injuries and struggled as a result this season but they still have a lot of quality so it will be an interesting match.”</p>
<p id="ylO99U">If Spartak are willing to play football—and their reputation as a high-scoring side with more than a few defensive question marks, much like <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a>, may mean they have little choice—then certainly fans should expect some exciting football and more than a few goals to show for is when the game kicks off.</p>
<p id="CvFhED">On paper, though, with Spartak likely without star Quincy Promes and Liverpool having all four of Sadio Mané, <span>Roberto Firmino</span>, Mohamed Salah, and <span>Philippe Coutinho</span> available for the first time this season, an open game favours Liverpool and should see the visitors taking control of Group E with a solid victory.</p>
<p id="3hLCDL">“We started with a home game and we didn’t win,” noted Klopp, who despite his strong attack and Spartak’s open play isn’t taking anything for granted. “That’s not a positive. But in the end it was still a point. Obviously if we don’t win any away games then it will be quite difficult, but we take it game by game.</p>
<p id="yDbJip">“The atmosphere is different for sure but the pitch is grass and pretty much the same size as Anfield so that is not a problem. It is a big opportunity. It's an away game against a strong side who were champions last year. It is exciting."</p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-news-coverage/2017/9/26/16365932/liverpool-boss-expects-both-sides-to-play-football-in-spartak-moscow-matchNoel Chomyn2017-09-26T16:30:02+01:002017-09-26T16:30:02+01:00Matchday: Spartak Moscow vs. Liverpool
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<img alt="Dietmar Hamann and Alexander Danishevskiy" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/6dpdpXgNsavv0nTcwq-AVg2ulyQ=/0x73:2965x2050/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56854449/1473925.1506412417.jpg" />
<figcaption>photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Lineups, television and streaming options, and live Champions League coverage as Liverpool face off against Spartak Moscow.</p> <div><aside id="oWebtU"><q>TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH</q></aside></div>
<p id="n3M2DF">Liverpool look to stake a claim as the group leader with a tough road trip to Moscow tonight. A win here would go a long way toward ensuring safe passage to the Round of 16, and possibly even see the Mighty Reds go top of Group E. Standing in their way is a struggling Spartak Moscow team, although form has a habit of going out the window when teams come up against Liverpool in Europe. </p>
<div><aside id="K0lqFr"><q>THE MATCH</q></aside></div>
<p id="Bo2AHt"><strong>Full Preview: </strong><a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2017/9/25/16360400/spartak-moscow-vs-liverpool-preview-team-news-ways-to-watch-champions-league-2017">Spartak Moscow vs. Liverpool</a></p>
<p id="g8Rbh9"><strong>Kickoff: </strong>7:45PM BST/2:45PM EST from Otkrytie Arena</p>
<p id="jW4oOd"><strong>Television:</strong> BT Sport 2 (UK); Fox Sports 2 (USA); beIN Sports 1 (Australia); TSN4 (Canada); SONY TEN 1 (India); Eurosport Asia (Malaysia); SuperSport 6 (Nigeria); Eurosport Asia (Singapore); SuperSport 6 (South Africa); other listings at <a href="http://www.livesoccertv.com/competitions/international/uefa-european-championship/"><strong>LiveSoccerTV</strong></a></p>
<p id="64OsT9"><strong>Online Streaming:</strong> BT Sport Live (UK); Fox Sports GO (USA) | <strong>Online Radio:</strong> <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.liverpoolfc.com%2Fvideo&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fliverpooloffside.sbnation.com%2F2017%2F9%2F26%2F16365382%2Fspartak-liverpool-champions-league-2017-television-channels-online-streaming-kickoff-time-teamsheets" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><strong>LFCTV GO</strong></a> (International)</p>
<div><aside id="8VmwX7"><q>SPARTAK MOSCOW</q></aside></div>
<p id="0cheJH"><em>Starting XI: </em>Rebrov; Eschenko, Kutepov, Tasci, Bocchetti, Dzhikiia; Fernando, Pasalic; Samedov, Popov, Adriano</p>
<p id="2Dtm7I"><em>Bench:</em> Selikhov, Petkovic, Bakaev, Samsonov, Melgarejo, Davydov, Rocha</p>
<div><aside id="vc7Chn"><q>LIVERPOOL</q></aside></div>
<p id="48hcrB"><em>Starting XI: </em>Karius; Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Matip, Moreno; Henderson, Can, Coutinho; Salah, Mane, Firmino</p>
<p id="CWw5jA"><em>Bench:</em> Mignolet, Flanagan, Klavan, Milner, Wijnaldum, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sturridge</p>
<div><aside id="n9UFM6"><q>JOIN THE CONVERSATION</q></aside></div>
<p id="Ye8Wt9">If you haven’t already, sign up for an SB Nation account and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/account/setup?community_id=373"><strong>join the conversation on The Liverpool Offside,</strong></a> where we'll have full coverage of every Liverpool match this season, breaking news, opinion, and tactical discussion.</p>
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https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2017/9/26/16365382/spartak-liverpool-champions-league-2017-television-channels-online-streaming-kickoff-time-teamsheetsZachary Marx2017-09-26T14:00:13+01:002017-09-26T14:00:13+01:00Spartak Star Winger Quincy Promes Expected to Miss Liverpool Game
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<img alt="FC Spartak Moscow vs FC Tom Tomsk - Russian Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/CrBc55SK7NBFdX9AZ5FNhWT0Xpg=/1156x169:4528x2417/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56855419/679720678.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Epsilon/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Russian side will be without their top scorer and best player when they take on Liverpool tonight.</p> <p id="hCGLkS">After his manager admitted yesterday that it was uncertain he would be ready to face <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a> at his pre-match press conference, today it appears all but certain Spartak Moscow’s top attacker will indeed miss the Champions League group stage tie this evening due to a calf injury suffered last week.</p>
<p id="SmnYZG">Quincy Promes, who already has six goals and three assists in 10 total appearances for Spartak this season, is expected to be left off the matchday squad entirely when it is released. The absence of the 25-year-old winger, who has been heavily linked to Liverpool in recent seasons, is a major blow for Spartak.</p>
<p id="pkzCpk">“It’s still uncertain if he will play tomorrow,” manager Massimo Carrera admitted yesterday afternoon when he was asked by reporters about Promes’ injury status. “I’ll have to discuss him with our doctors tonight, but I can only say for now that Pedro Rocha has more of a chance to feature.”</p>
<p id="yYLUgV">Both Promes and Rocha suffered injuries last week during Spartak’s mid-week domestic cup tie against FC Krasnodar, which Spartak won 2-0. As a result, both missed the weekend’s league match against FC Anzhi Makhachkala that saw Spartak concede two second half goals in a 2-2 draw.</p>
<p id="oIy982">Spartak signed the 22-year-old Rocha over the summer from Gremio, and the Brazilian is considered the long-term replacement for Promes should the star Dutchman leave the Russian club at the end of the current season—with Liverpool still being linked with him, at least in the Russian press.</p>
<p id="btpJEz">"He's a very good player but there's nothing else to say," was Jürgen Klopp’s take when asked about Promes. "There are a lot of good players we have already. We already have a Dutch player and they are good friends but this is not the place to talk about it. He's a good player but a Spartak player."</p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-news-coverage/2017/9/26/16365666/spartak-moscow-quincy-promes-calf-injury-miss-liverpool-champions-league-gameNoel Chomyn2017-09-25T23:00:56+01:002017-09-25T23:00:56+01:00Klopp: "We Just Have to Deliver Results"
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<img alt="Leicester City v Liverpool - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ke4dmoCTort8ftPX-ruy_Gz320s=/0x76:4993x3405/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56849025/852372572.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Jürgen Klopp believes that both progress and process have been good so far, but results must be delivered.</p> <p id="5SLTC4">Leadership is difficult. Sometimes it involves staying the course and trusting in a process that is bringing about change despite needing to refine it, tweak it, make it better. Some people will never have to make decisions under pressure where everyone is watching you, waiting for signs of hope or expecting immediate results. It may be a group of people involved, but often, there is a figurehead—an invdividual that shoulders the inevitable questions that the position demands. You must have answers, answers to any questions and problems that arise.</p>
<p id="ZojHSO">This is Jürgen Klopp’s lot as manager of <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a> Football Club, Merseyside’s finest, a storied giant of the world’s most popular and beautiful game. His <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-news-coverage/2017/6/17/15823050/jurgen-klopp-50th-birthday-early-liverpool-quotes-underline-philosophy">philosophy</a> and his <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-transfer-news/2017/7/25/16022400/klopp-not-interested-rivals-transfer-business-everton-manchester-united">charisma</a> make the former <a href="https://www.fearthewall.com/">Borussia Dortmund</a> trainer an ideal fit for a club with Liverpool’s traditions, but there is still work to do. Next month will mark two years of Jürgen Klopp at Liverpool, and in that time, two finals and a best first half season in the Premier League era ultimately resulted in no trophies. It did, however, restore faith in a red revival, ignite expectations, and bring Champions League football back to Anfield.</p>
<p id="0iSJCw">The two now intertwine ahead of a first Champions League away game in the group stages since drawing 2-2 with Ludogorets in November 2014, merely six months on from nearly winning a first league title 1990. Nearly three years have passed since then, and Moscow will be Sofia’s successor as Klopp’s players seek to follow an eventful three points against <a href="https://fosseposse.sbnation.com/">Leicester City</a>—Klopp’s first at the King Power Stadium—with victory over <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/russian-premier-league/teams/spartak-moscow">Spartak Moscow</a>.</p>
<p id="6DZevS">Despite a first win since thrashing <a href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal</a> last month, process and progress are starting to be questioned. Can Liverpool continue to move forward with such a large gap between the team’s offensive and defensive capabilities? Should Liverpool have moved on quicker from Virgil van Dijk to secure a better partner for Jöel Matip than <span>Dejan Lovren</span> and <span>Ragnar Klavan</span>? Are Jordan Henderson and <span>Emre Can</span> truly reliable options at the base of the midfield three? </p>
<p id="OqdKig">Talk of a crisis in September was <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-tactics-longform/2017/9/20/16338582/liverpool-fc-crisis-september-2017-bad-results-losses-jurgen-klopp-pressure">utterly unfair and unhelpful</a>, but that’s the nature of being Liverpool. For Klopp, though, Liverpool are doing well and need to keep the momentum going.</p>
<p id="Y6eKaB">"People who are too negative don’t see it and people who are not really interested don’t see it," Klopp <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.liverpoolfc.com%2Fnews%2Ffirst-team%2F276516-klopp-we-re-in-a-good-mood-a-good-moment-and-ready-to-deliver&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fliverpooloffside.sbnation.com%2Fliverpool-fc-news-coverage%2F2017%2F9%2F25%2F16356778%2Fklopp-leicester-city-win-spartak-moscow-champions-league-deliver-results" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">told the official site</a>. "We have a lot of things to do, 100 per cent, but we all know we are on a good way. Yes, a few things are not fixed, which happens when you are not flying. The Man City game is a good moment to describe it; for half an hour we were the better side, we got the red card and then City started flying from this moment.</p>
<p id="jSadfp">"Each team will have difficult moments in the season because no team will collect 120 points or something like this! Our learning process started again already in this season. We have 11 points and each point we’ve got so far we’ve deserved. We could have had one, two or three more – everybody knows that. It’s not the perfect season, but we have 11 points. The teams with the perfect season so far have 16, so that’s a five-point difference. It sounds like it’s everything is already decided!</p>
<p id="7dCrzc">"I said after the [Leicester] game that we know and we are responsible, we have to deliver results. If nobody asked, we’d only carry on working – keep on working, keep on working, keep on working, keep on working. But because everyone is asking, it’s always this kind of, ‘Stop, so 3-2… you are happy?’ Not 100 per cent, but 80 per cent. ‘You are 80 per cent happy?’ Yes – sorry about that.</p>
<p id="ZrBnyH">"We are really in a good mood and in a good moment, we just have to deliver results – [starting with] the next one in Moscow."</p>
<p id="eCpZqt">This is clearly a direct message to fans who are becoming increasingly disgruntled with both process and progress, but it appears that only emphatic results will quell murmurs of discontent. Liverpool remain a glorious creature, one that continues to frustrate as much as it thrills. However, this team is not far away from ruthlessly dishing out a few heavy defeats that will steer the conversation to a different direction.</p>
<p id="gePKb7">When such a time comes, one representing the many will be tasked with finding the right answers.</p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-news-coverage/2017/9/25/16356778/klopp-leicester-city-win-spartak-moscow-champions-league-deliver-resultsCStars