The Champions League anthem blares out over the speakers.

One of THE great football tunes.

Hoffenheim, in white, get us under way at Anfield.

Mandeep Sanghera
BBC Sport at Anfield

The phones are out as fans film another of those renditions of You'll Never Walk Alone as the Kop set up another of those famous European nights Anfield is known for.

I wonder if Barcelona's board are catching this in Hoffenheim shirts. If Liverpool get knocked out it might help their hopes of landing Philippe Coutinho.

Image source, Reuters

Fancy some EFL Cup action?

Head here to join Gary Rose for Wednesday's games.

"Walk on...walk on...with hope...in your heart..."

They are in good voice at Anfield today.

They are up for it.

Image source, Reuters

BBC Radio 5 live

Hoffenheim head of international relations and scouting Lutz Pfannenstiel on BBC Radio 5 live: "If we say we have no chance, we should have stayed at home. We go to Anfield with a lot of confidence and belief in ourselves. The first leg showed we are roughly on the same level and both team play good football. We did well enough to get a better result.

"It is our big goal to reach the Champions League group stages. A German team has never won at Anfield, one day that will change an hopefully that happens tonight.

"We created chances, so did they. Their defence is not the big weakness because you have to look at how they counter-attack and their pressing game. It is difficult to stop a team completely, so we have to focus on attacking their set-pieces and the defensive worries they may have, that is our only chance.

"We should not be scared even though it is the biggest game in our history."

Image source, Getty Images

Hoffenheim, who finished fourth last season, began their 2017-18 Bundesliga campaign with a 1-0 victory over Werder Bremen.

Former Leicester striker Andrej Kramaric was the match-winner with an 84th minute strike.

Liverpool

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, speaking to BT Sport: "We have to be at 100% in both games. I thought it was good enough for the first game but we need to improve. We need to have more concentration and organisation, we have to be more brave and more clinical. That's how it is.

On whether Liverpool have to use the crowd to their advantage: "I don't think I have to use anything. If the players are ready for it they are ready for it. If I have to say anything it is probably too late.

"When I want to sign a player or offer them a new contract, talks are often about the Champions League. It is their job to help us get there. We have to fulfill our own dreams. We have to fight together.

On selecting Alberto Moreno at left-back ahead of Andrew Robertson: "I was happy with Andrew in his first game against Crystal Palace, he made a fantastic game. But Alberto had a good pre-season and played well at Hoffenheim, especially defensively, so I have good options available."

Dan: Coutinho isn't the issue, swallow your pride Klopp and get Sakho back in to sort the defence out!

Hasan: Liverpool should forgive him and put him back in the first team. In the past few years they have struggled to maintain a squad and build on it. Klopp can achieve big things only if he can keep his important players.

Tim: Coutinho. Fully respect his desire to go to Barca. But, he's our best player and was happy to sign an enhanced contract earlier this year. If he wanted to leave, he shouldn't have signed it. Can't have it both ways.

Liverpool hold a one-goal advantage for the second leg of their Champions League play-off tie with Hoffenheim after Trent Alexander-Arnold's free-kick and an own goal earned them a hard-fought victory in Germany.

Rookie full-back Alexander-Arnold became the club's youngest European Cup goalscorer with an expertly-taken 35th minute free-kick.

James Milner deflected cross found the net for Liverpool's second, before Mark Uth fired in late on for Hoffenheim, who also missed an early penalty.

Read the full report

Image source, bb

Liverpool have played German opposition 18 times at Anfield in European competition...

...and have never lost - winning 15 games and drawing three.

In those matches, Liverpool have have kept 13 clean sheets and conceded only seven goals - three of which were scored by Borussia Dortmund in April 2016.

If YOU were Jurgen Klopp, what would you do?

Ernest Sebogodi‏: Coutinho wants to play in the World Cup for his country so he is going to suck it up and give his all. Keep him. Contributes more than £101m.

Afegbai Ozoya: I would force him to stay then banish him to the stands for half the season then sell him to a club in China.

Mikey: Sell if he wants to leave. Why deprive him of a dream Barca move? Take the £100m-odd, strengthen the squad and move on. Simple.

Mandeep Sanghera
BBC Sport at Anfield

Image source, Reuters

To say the Hoffenheim fans are in good voice would be an understatement - they are literally bouncing as their team warm up.

Liverpool's players have just come out and get nicely cheered out by the Anfield faithful.

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp makes his way to just outside the centre circle and shares a handshake and hug with Hoffenheim boss Julian Nagelsmann before they have a cosy chat. You don't see that often between rival managers just before kick-off.

Image source, Reuters

Ahead of the match, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said there is no problem between him and midfielder Philippe Coutinho.

Hit the play button below.

If YOU were Jurgen Klopp, what would you do?

Lewys: Drive him there for that price.

Jim Hume: For the reported fee, definitely sell! Mane, Salah and Firmino more than adequate.

Ryan‏: Sell him? It's a no brainer top money for a good player.......

Image source, Getty Images

I'll just leave this here...

Philippe Coutinho will miss the game through illness, having missed the start of the season with a back injury.

Manager Jurgen Klopp says he has "no idea" when the midfielder will return.

The Sun

Wednesday's Sun back page said Barcelona will offer a final £136m to Liverpool for Philippe Coutinho, having already had three bids rejected for the Brazilian.

Even this late in the transfer window, surely Liverpool need to take the money and run?

Image source, The Sun

Everton

Image source, Getty Images

Across the city...

England's all-time leading goalscorer Wayne Rooney has retired from international football after turning down the chance to be part of the squad for next month's World Cup qualifiers.

The Everton striker was asked by England boss Gareth Southgate to be involved against Malta and Slovakia.

"Every time I was selected was a real privilege but I believe now is the time to bow out," said the 31-year-old.

The former Manchester United captain scored 53 times in 119 internationals.

Read the full piece

BBC Radio 5 live

Listen to BBC Radio 5 live or hit the play button at the top of the page for the Wednesday Night Club.

Presenter Mark Chapman is alongside former Arsenal striker Ian Wright.

There will be commentary on the EFL Cup match between Cheltenham and West Ham, plus updates from Liverpool v Hoffenheim.

Mandeep Sanghera
BBC Sport at Anfield

It's a nice mild evening at Anfield tonight and there was a bit of pantomime boo-ing when the Hoffenheim coach made its way through the players entrance a bit earlier.

The German club's fans seem in jovial mood but can their side stage a comeback?

If their side has been practising set pieces you never know.

But it's a tough, tough ask. Liverpool have two away goals to their credit after a 2-1 win in Germany and have home advantage.

If YOU were Jurgen Klopp, what would you do?

Jibin Mathew George: Too late for new signings. Allow him back into the team. He won't want to sit out without performing with the World Cup next year.

PilgrimDave‏: In my opinion, once the window closes @Phil_Coutinho, external will be professional and play, then go next year, which gives us time to replace him

Sal: Let Coutinho go, get Diego Costa and Van Dijk.