The Champions League returns on Tuesday as Liverpool face RB Leipzig in Budapest

Liverpool will be looking to return to winning ways when they face RB Leipzig in the Champions League.

This game will be played in Budapest at the Puskas Arena due to COVID-19 restrictions preventing travelers from the UK entering Germany. As it stands however, the second leg is still due to be played at Anfield at the beginning of March.

This is the first competitive encounter between both of these sides. However, this is the third English opponent in the Champions League for Leipzig since the start of 2020. The hosts eliminated Tottenham at this stage last season and beat Manchester United in their final group game to progress to this stage of the competition.

The German side come into this game on a back of a four-game winning run, having lost just once in their last seven games in all competitions, with their recent win coming at home against Augsburg on Friday night. Christopher Nkunku netted his fifth goal of the season before Dani Olmo scored a penalty at the second attempt to move the German side three points behind leaders Bayern Munich at the top.

Julian Nagelsmann’s side is full of confidence and are unbeaten in their last six matches in the Champions League having got revenge against Manchester United. The hosts lost the first game 5-0 at Old Trafford but won the home tie 3-2 to knock the Red Devils out of the Champions League and secure a place in this season’s last 16 draw.

Former Manchester City man Angelino will look to put more despair on another Premier League side as he did in the previous round. The Spaniard is the club’s leading goal scorer this season with seven goals.

The Reds’ Premier League form went from bad to worse when his team suffered three straight defeats in the league for the first time in seven years. Jurgen Klopp will hope a return in Europe can spark some life back into their season.

Defeat to Leicester City on the weekend put more pressure on the defending Premier League champions who have recorded just one win in their last eight. Mohammed Salah opened the scoring for the Reds but individual mistakes led to Liverpool conceding three in seven minutes.

They did progress as Group D winners however, winning four, drawing and losing once to secure their passage to this stage. At the time of their last Champions League match against Midtjylland, Liverpool were level on points with Premier League leaders Tottenham, but now are 13 points behind Manchester City at the top.

Klopp will look to inspire his side once more in this competition as he did in 2019. The Liverpool manager has said that the Reds’ title defence is over leaving the Champions League their only route to silverware this season.

Salah has been in excellent form even in testing times and is the leading Premier League goal scorer with 17 goals. The Egyptian will look to trouble a Leipzig backline who have conceded 12 goals in the Champions League, more than any other side who has qualified this season.

Team News

Liverpool target Ibrahim Konate returned from injury during Leipzig’s win over Augsburg at the weekend. Peter Gulasci spent five years at Liverpool without ever making a first-team appearance and will get the chance to face his old club

The German side rested their two centre backs, their captain and first choice striker as they prepared for this huge clash against Liverpool on Tuesday. However they will be without Emil Forsberg, Konrad Laimer and Dominik Szobaszlai.

James Milner picked up a hamstring injury on Saturday and won’t be available whilst Fabinho is still out.

Naby Keita has returned to training having been sidelined since December but the midfielder will not be ready for the trip to Budapest to take on his former club.

Divock Origi and Ben Davies traveled with the squad to Hungary having recovered from their injuries and participated in training today.

The backline continue to be an issue but despite the struggles on the weekend and given the injuries, the assumption is that Ozan Kabak will get another chance alongside captain Jordan Henderson.