Despite their exciting 3-2 opening Champions League win over PSG, Al Hain-Cole thinks the Anfield crowd may have to endure a frustrating clash
Liverpool face a must-win clash on Wednesday, as Red Star Belgrade visit Anfield for a crucial Champions League group game.
Defeat in Naples last time out has put Jurgen Klopp's men under pressure to take maximum points from their two games against the Serbian underdogs, with a tricky away match against PSG and return game at home to Napoli to follow.
Having won six and lost none of their eight Champions League home games under Klopp, they are overwhelming 1/20 (1.05) favourites with William Hill to secure a vital three points here.
The Red-Whites came out on top in both of the previous encounters between this pair way back in the 1973/74 European Cup, but are huge 35/1 (36.00) outsiders to pull off a shock win in this one.
Five of the guests' last six European matches have resulted in draws, and there are odds of 14/1 (15.00) available on them claiming an impressive point on Merseyside.
Sadio Mane and Naby Keita are still unlikely to feature after returning from international duty with injuries, while Jordan Henderson is a doubt after going off with a hamstring problem against Huddersfield at the weekend.
Having missed the defeat against PSG in the preview round through injury, top scorer Richmond Boakye is fit to lead the line for Vladan Milojevic's outfit.
After opening the campaign with an exciting 3-2 victory over PSG, it seemed the Reds were set to revive the thrilling attacking European form that carried them on to last season's Champions League final.
However, a subsequent 1-0 defeat away to Napoli was unfamiliarly lacklustre to anyone who followed them on the road to Kiev, underlining the downturn in attacking performances this season.
Klopp's team have scored more than twice in just three of their 12 fixtures this campaign, and struck only three goals in their last five.
With Red Star bound to sit deep and hope for a similarly resilient performance to the one that earned them a goalless opening draw against Napoli, odds of 5/4 (2.25) could prove a smart investment on under 3.5 goals being scored for Liverpool's 11th game in 13 this season.