by James Nalton
Red Star Belgrade 2 Liverpool 0

LIVERPOOL manager Jurgen Klopp was full of praise for Milan Pavkov after the Red Star Belgrade striker’s double sank last season’s Champions League finalists on Tuesday night.

Pavkov’s header from former Chelsea winger Marko Marin’s corner was textbook, before the 24-year-old forward scored with a rasping effort from outside the penalty area.

“He is a proper target player and he played a fantastic game,” Klopp said. “With the second goal he was a bit surprised himself that he was in, but he hit the ball well in that moment.”

Liverpool knew what they were in for as they ran through their usual pre-match routines on the pitch before the game. It was as much a warm-up for the Red Star fans’ vocal cords as it was for Klopp’s players and, as the teams entered, the volume raised further.

This Champions League group has seen Liverpool visit two of the most intense atmospheres in Europe, with the packed stands of Red Star’s Rajko Mitic Stadium matching Napoli’s San Paolo for volume and intensity.

“It was a good football atmosphere, but nothing to be afraid of,” Klopp said. “It was only loud. The atmosphere, noisewise, was not a problem, but the atmosphere after the second goal, especially, in their whole club, if you want, they could now smell it.”

Pavkov’s goals gave them even more reason to ramp up the volume and Liverpool faced a tough task to come back against a stubborn Red Star team who are yet to concede at home in this group, despite having conceded ten in two games on their travels, including a 4-0 reverse at Anfield two weeks ago.

Klopp rang the changes at half-time, but his side barely threatened.

“The second half was more like our match in Liverpool, but we played with our heart and we won,” said Red Star manager Vladan Milojevic.

“We are dedicating this victory to all supporters, to this wonderful atmosphere, which only the Red Star can make.”