Liverpool 4-0 Red Star Belgrade: Mo Salah hits double as Reds enjoy simple Champions League night

Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane were also among the goals as Jurgen Klopp’s men thrashed the Serbian champions at Anfield

Liverpool barely broke a sweat as they cruised to a rampant 4-0 victory against Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League.

Mohamed Salah struck either side of the break after Roberto Firmino opened the scoring, and Sadio Mane rounded things off to send the Reds top of Group C.

Jurgen Klopp’s side were awarded two questionable penalties, one converted by Salah and the other missed by Mane, however they were never troubled by the Serbian champions.

After 19 minutes of little quality, a move oozing it gave Liverpool the lead. Xherdan Shaqiri won the ball back in midfield and then played a tremendous pass to Andrew Robertson, who pulled it back for Firmino in the centre of goal to take a touch before drilling it in via a deflection.

Red Star were banned from having any fans in the stadium because of trouble at a previous match in Salzburg, but it was barely noticeable so marginal were they as an attacking force.

The goal settled Liverpool down and it was only a matter of time before they grabbed a second.

Shaqiri was again the instigator with a ball through to Salah, who had once more looked rather hesitant but this time acted decisively to slam the ball into the net.

If the contest was still just about alive, it was ended six minutes into the second half when Salah converted from the penalty spot for his50th Liverpool goal.

Referee Daniel Siebert took an age to decide that Filip Stojkovic’s block on Mane was worthy of a penalty, much to the annoyance of Red Star.

Liverpool continued to push forward, and Firmino drew a decent save from Borjan, but Klopp’s mind began to turn to Saturday’s clash with Cardiff and he withdrew both Shaqiri, who received astanding ovation, and Salah.

Moments later Liverpool were awarded a second penalty for a handball by El Fardou Ben Nabouhane but Mane was denied by a superb save from Borjan and was unable to put away the rebound.

Redemption arrived only four minutes later when he timed his run expertly to collect a Daniel Sturridge pass and poke the ball past Borjan.

Meanwhile, Angel Di Maria’s late equaliser for Paris Saint-Germain at home to Napoli means that Liverpool’s victory sends them top of Group C.