Liverpool were shell-shocked in the Champions League as they lost 2-0 to Red Star Belgrade.
Milan Pavkov, a 24-year-old scoring his first European goals in only his 11th appearance, beat Alisson Becker twice in seven first-half minutes to stun the Reds and put them on their way to their second defeat of their Group C campaign.
A 2-0 home victory could be backed pre-match with Sky Bet at odds of 200/1.
🚀 What a goal from Milan Pavkov
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) November 6, 2018
🇷🇸 Red Star Belgrade flying
🔴 #LFC shell-shocked
👇 #REDLIV #UCL pic.twitter.com/2K4Y9afFnq
History:
This is the FIRST time a Serbian side has EVER won a game in the Champions League at the 16th attempt (W1, D4, L11)
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) November 6, 2018
Red Star Belgrade defeat Liverpool courtesy of a shock 2-0 victory.
👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/XsFBogGye6
A third successive Champions League away defeat, taking into account May's semi-final reverse in Rome, equalled the run of 1979 which was 'achieved' over three seasons, not three successive matches.
It posed plenty of questions for manager Jurgen Klopp, whose decision to leave Xherdan Shaqiri, of Kosovar-Albanian parentage, at home in order to lessen local hostilities, had no bearing on this performance.
There was an ominous feeling to Liverpool's 200th match in the Champions League/European Cup when, in the 17th minute, Daniel Sturridge missed a sitter.
Sadio Mane found space down the left to drill a low cross which evaded Mohamed Salah but found his team-mate at the far post, only for the striker to lean back and balloon over.
Goalkeeper Alisson was soon forced to save low to his left after El Fardou Ben Nabouhane's shot from distance, but, from former Chelsea midfielder Marko Marin's resulting corner, Pavkov headed home.
The visitors were punished again on the half-hour as James Milner gave away possession with a loose pass infield and the ball was quickly transferred to Pavkov, who smashed home his second from 25 yards.
It was only the third time this season they have conceded more than one goal, but the second occasion in the Champions League and the first time since October 2014 they had conceded more than once in the first half of a Champions League game.
Left-back Andy Robertson saw a cross deflected on to the top of the crossbar in the second half, while Salah finally forced a save out of Milan Borjan, hitting a post with his next effort.
In the other early Champions League kick-off, Thierry Henry's Monaco were thrashed 4-0 at home to Club Brugge.
