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PARIS. — Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool will attempt to clinch their place in the lucrative Champions League soccer group stage this week as they take a 2-1 lead into their play-off second leg against Hoffenheim. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s free-kick and a second-half own goal handed the Reds a commanding advantage in Germany, but Mark Uth’s late strike provided Hoffenheim with a glimmer of hope ahead of the return at Anfield.

Klopp rotated his squad for Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace in the English Premier League, making five changes to the team with tomorrow night’s European encounter weighing heavily on his mind.

It is three years since the Anfield outfit, five times European champions, last graced the group stage of the continent’s elite club competition.

“The performance and the result were not perfect, far from it. We still have much to do in this tie,” Klopp said in Liverpool’s matchday programme at the weekend. — AFP.