Liverpool will hope to book their spot in the Champions League group stage by defending a 2-1 aggregate lead over Hoffenheim at Anfield.
Trent Alexander-Arnold's free-kick and an own goal earned the Reds an advantage in Germany, though Mark Uth's late reply has given Julian Nagelsmann's side a lifeline.
Having got off to a winning start on their own turf against Crystal Palace at the weekend, though, Liverpool will be confident of completing the job on Wednesday night.
| Game | Liverpool vs Hoffenheim |
| Date | Wednesday, August 23 |
| Time | 19:45 BST / 14:45 ET |
TV CHANNEL & LIVE STREAM
In the UK, the match will be available to watch live on television on BT Sport 2 and by stream via the BT Sport app.
| UK TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| BT Sport 2 | BT Sport app |
In the US, the match will be available to watch live on television on FS1 and by stream via Fox Sports Go and ESPN3.
| US TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| FS1 | Fox Sports Go / ESPN3 |
SQUADS & TEAM NEWS
| Position | Liverpool players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Karius, Mignolet, Ward |
| Defenders | Lovren, Gomez, Klavan, Moreno, Robertson, Matip, Flanagan, Masterson, Alexander-Arnold |
| Midfielders | Wijnaldum, Milner, Henderson, Grujic, Can, Brannagan, Ejaria, Ojo |
| Forwards | Firmino, Salah, Sturridge, Mane, Origi, Solanke, Kent, Brewster, Woodburn, Wilson |
Liverpool will be without the injured Philippe Coutinho and Nathaniel Clyne, while Adam Lallana and Danny Ings were not named in the squad for this stage of the competition due to longer-term issues.
Potential starting XI: Mignolet; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Lovren, Moreno; Can, Henderson, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane.
| Position | Hoffenheim players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Baumann, Stolz, Kobel, Draband |
| Defenders | Kaderabek, Bicakcic, Toljan, Schulz, Hubner, Vogt, Hoogma, Ochs, Posch |
| Midfielders | Nordtveit, Rupp, Polanski, Demirbay, Grillitsch, Zuber, Amiri, Zulj, Gnabry, Geiger, Hack |
| Forwards | Wagner, Uth, Terrazzino, Kramaric, Szalai, Skenderovic |
Hoffenheim do not appear to have any new absentees. Kevin Akpoguma is working his way back from a serious neck injury and was not included in their squad for this round.
Potential starting XI: Baumann; Nordtveit, Vogt, Hubner; Toljan, Rupp, Demirbay, Zuber; Gnabry, Wagner, Kramaric.
BETTING & MATCH ODDS
Liverpool are 4/6 favourites to win, according to dabblebet, with Hoffenheim priced at 15/4 and the draw available at 16/5.
Roberto Firmino and Daniel Sturridge are joint 4/1 favourites to score first. Click here to view dabblebet's full selection of match markets.
GAME PREVIEW
Philippe Coutinho has ensured it has been far from a smooth start to the new season for Liverpool, but if they can navigate the second leg of this Champions League play-off round tie they can be satisfied with their first couple of weeks' work.
Hoffenheim showed they are no pushovers in Germany and their talented young coach Julian Nagelsmann will surely have a couple of surprises for Jurgen Klopp up his sleeve.
But Liverpool are in a position of strength having earned a 2-1 lead in the away leg and one goal will leave their visitors with a lot of work to do.
Progressing to the group stage of the Champions League would certainly help to persuade Coutinho to call off his pursuit of a move to Barcelona and if the Reds can get a deal for Virgil van Dijk over the line, they might finally be able to focus exclusively on their football rather than the transfer market.
Get the job done against Hoffenheim and take advantage of a vulnerable Arsenal side in the Premier League this weekend and an acceptable start to the campaign will become an excellent one.