Liverpool’s teen newcomer stands tall against Hoffenheim
In the absence of unsettled playmaker Philippe Coutinho, Liverpool turned to an 18-year-old right back making his European debut for some set-piece success in its Champions League playoff win against Hoffenheim on Tuesday.
“Our little hero,” Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp said of Alexander-Arnold, who has been at the English club since the age of 6, has played for England’s youth teams and is making his full breakthrough in the first team this season.
Liverpool — a five-time European champion— is on course to reach the group stage after Havard Nordtveit inadvertently deflected substitute James Milner’s cross into his own net to make it 2-0 in the 74th minute.
In other games, CSKA Moscow beat Young Boys of Switzerland 1-0 on an own goal in added time, Azerbaijani club Qarabag FK moved closer to its first appearance in the group stage by beating FC Copenhagen 1-0, former Champions League quarterfinalist APOEL beat Slavia Prague 2-0, and Sporting Lisbon played Steaua Bucharest to a scoreless tie.
Bradley Wright-Phillips scored two of the visiting New York Red Bulls’ goals in a 3-2 semifinal win over FC Cincinnati.
The United Bid Committee is considering 49 stadiums — including Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara — for inclusion in the official bid that will be sent to soccer’s international governing body, FIFA, in March.