Entertainment

John Arne Riise tells the story of Liverpool’s blistering start against Hoffenheim

Liverpool surged to a 3-0 lead – and Riise went nuts.
Liverpool surged to a 3-0 lead – and Riise went nuts. Liverpool surged to a 3-0 lead – and Riise went nuts.

Liverpool got off to a blistering start against Hoffenheim in their Champions League play-off round.

The Reds surged to a 3-0 lead within just 21 minutes at Anfield, and the start sent fans wild but there was one fan shouting loudest on Twitter who you might like to hear from – Jon Arne Riise.

The left back played a whopping 348 games for Liverpool and won the Champions League with them in 2005 – so it’s unsurprising the Norwegian is something of a fan.

For Liverpool’s latest exploits in Europe, a deflected finish from Emre Can as he ran onto Sadio Mane’s neat back-heel gave them the lead.

Can scores the first goal of the game
Can scores the first goal of the game (Dave Thompson/AP/PA Images)
(Dave Thompson/AP)

Naturally Riise was over the moon.

But, just eight minutes later, there was cause for celebration again – as Georginio Wijnaldum’s shot bounced off the post and into the path of predatory new signing Mohamed Salah.

Salah celebrates the second goal
Salah celebrates the second goal
(Dave Thompson/AP)

Hold up though John, there’s more.

Within three minutes it was Can, the 23-year-old German, who pounced onto Roberto Firmino’s clipped ball to the back post – after the Brazilian had ran onto another back-heel from Mane.

Can celebrates the third
Can celebrates the third (Nigel French/EMPICS Sport)
(Nigel French/Empics)

If there’s one thing that pleases a 36-year-old Norwegian football retiree – it’s silky football by Liverpool.

If only every game had this running commentary…