Hoffenheim 1 Liverpool 2: Trent Alexander-Arnold scores his first club goal

TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD marked his dream Champions League debut with his first Liverpool goal.

The local lad, 18, curled in a 35th-minute beauty to move his boyhood club one step closer towards a crack at conquering Europe.

Trent Alexander-Arnold celebrates after scoring against Hoffenheim

Jurgen Klopp’s men were lucky not to be a goal down within 12 minutes when Dejan Lovren gave away a clumsy penalty after being nutmegged by ex-Arsenal ace Serge Gnabry.

Simon Mignolet saved Andrej Kramaric’s resulting spot-kick to redeem himself somewhat for his Watford horror show.

James Milner replaced Jordan Henderson on 63 minutes to take up a spot in midfield – an unfamiliar position for him these days.

But it was his 74th-minute cross from the left which bounced off Havard Nordtveit and into the Hoffenheim goal to double Liverpool’s lead.

Substitute Mark Uth grabbed what could be an important consolation for Hoffenheim in the 87th minute, plucking the ball down and pinging it past Mignolet.

Trent Alexander-Arnold celebrates after scoring against Hoffenheim

FACTS, STATS, GOALS & LOLS

    Liverpool made their first Champions League appearance since December 2014. But it was the Hoffenheim fans who were most excited, with a single flare being let off in the home stand before kick off.

Serge Gnabry hits the deck after nutmegging Dejan Lovren and forcing contact 

Simon Mignolet saves Andrej Kramaric’s 12th-minute penalty

Simon Mignolet saves Andrej Kramaric’s 12th-minute penalty

Hoffenheim manager Julian Nagelsmann is touted as the young pretender of German bosses. He definitely looked the part in a trendy white grandad collar shirt.


Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Champions League debut began with a stunning 35th-minute free-kick – his first for the club.

Hoffenheim boss Julian Nagelsmann is touted as the young pretender of German bosses – and definitely looked the part in a trendy white grandad collar shirt

 

Jurgen Klopp had a happy return to Germany after beating Hoffenheim 

Germany boss Joachim Low was in the stands at Hoffenheim’s Rhein-Neckar-Arena 

Ironically, had Philippe Coutinho been playing Alexander-Arnold would not have taken it.

Any Arsenal fans watching may be wondering why they allowed Serge Gnabry to leave after nutmegging Dejan Lovren in the box and winning a penalty.

Simon Mignolet made amends for his howler against Watford by saving the resulting spot-kick.