Liverpool's troubles on their European travels continue with shock defeat at Red Star Belgrade

For the second successive European away day, Liverpool produced a lacklustre performance and were on the wrong end of a big shock, losing 2-0 to Red Star Belgrade.

A European night at Anfield is a special occasion, it is a famous old stadium at it’s loudest and most passionate. When the referee got Liverpool’s Champions League clash at Red Star underway, the Rajko Mitić Stadium made Anfield look timid.

The players’ biggest test should have been dealing with the hostile atmosphere, not the opposition they faced – they have far more quality than their Serbian counterparts.

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But the red-hot atmosphere, the occasion and dealing with a famous old club’s first foray into the elite European competition in 26 years proved too much for the Reds.

It is 45 years since Red Star shocked Bill Shankly’s side in the European Cup and they produced another famous result – this time on their own turf.

Milan Pavkov was the unlikely hero, netting a first-half brace that, if possible, increased the decibel level in the stadium and knocked the wind out of Liverpool. It also made their progress into the knockout stages far from a certainty.

Jurgen Klopp’s side have thrived in European competition, it is quite possibly their best chance at silverware this season considering Manchester City’s early season form, and they should have taken another step towards qualification from a tough group with victory at Red Star.

It was nervy start though. Red Star were up for it, Liverpool were tentative and the hosts made them pay.

Daniel Sturridge had been handed the perfect chance to silence the crowd after 16 minutes. Sadio Mane broke down the right, his low cross found Andy Robertson and although the Scot scuffed his shot, it bounced into the striker’s path. Rather than get over the ball and bury a routine chance, Sturridge skied his effort over the bar.

Alisson Becker then had to be on his toes to tip a fierce Ben Nabouhane header wide and from the resulting corner, Red Star struck. Pavkov attacked the corner, met it with his head and found the bottom corner of Liverpool’s goal.

It went from bad to worse for the Reds shortly after. Pavkov was the hero again, shrugging off a weak challenge from Gigi Wijnaldum and firing a shot into the corner from 20-yards out. Alisson may feel he should have done better.

Adam Lallana’s header was deflected wide, Sturridge and Salah fired efforts over the bar and Liverpool went into half-time 2-0 down.

Sturridge was taken off at the break alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold, with Roberto Firmino and Joe Gomez on to replace them.

Belgrade had already had a penalty shout turned down when Mane saw an effort from close-range blocked in the line. It was fast becoming one of those nights for Klopp’s men.

They pressed and probed with a greater intensity after the break, yet never created wave after wave of clear-cut chances. Andy Robertson’s deflected effort landed on top of the bar but Klopp kept resisting the temptation to make make his final change.

Maybe he was looking for someone like Xherdan Shaqiri on the bench, who had been sensibly left at home due to his Albanian heritage.

Milan Borjan would have expected a busy night in the Red Star goal – they did concede four goals in the reverse fixture at Anfield – but he had been relatively quiet before being alert to keep a Salah effort out. His punch from the following corner was not quite as smart and this time Salah beat Borjan, only to see his left-footed shot hit the outside of the post.

Even when Milan Rodic kicked the ball out of his own keeper’s hands, it bounced straight to a fellow defender and they were able to clear. Joel Matip should have done better with a header from a long throw and Borjan denied Salah again.

Divock Origi’s introduction was never likely to change too much and in the end it was another frustrating night for Liverpool.

They were impressive away from home last year, smashing Maribor and Porto, winning at Manchester City, but it is now two defeats from two this time around – and three in a row, when you add in the semi-final second leg loss at Roma. It is a worry for Klopp.

Their group with PSG and Napoli never looked easy and going into the second half of the group stages – after PSG meet Napoli later on Wednesday night – it’ll be all to play for.

Red Star Belgrade: Borjan, Savić, Rodić, Degenek, Stojković (Gobeljic) 59, Marin (Causic 63), Krstičić (Jovicic 73), Jovancic, Srnic, Ben Nabouhane, Pavkov.

Subs: Popovic, Babic, Stojiljkovic, Simic.

Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold (Gomez 45), Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Wijnaldum, Milner, Lallana (Origi 79), Mane, Salah, Sturridge (Firmino 45).

Subs: Mignolet, Fabinho, Keita, Moreno.