LIVE: Middlesbrough v Liverpool: Reds face midweek clash with chance to go second

Liverpool can go level on points with Arsenal in 2nd place in the Premier League tonight if they can get all three points away at Middlesbrough.

The reds penultimate clash before Christmas has them looking for their first win in three, after a disappointing defeat by Bournemouth, followed by a home 2-2 draw against West Ham.

The pre-match rumours have centred on a goalkeeping change for the reds - with Karius under fire from Gary and Phil Neville in their roles as media-pundits.

There are a total of 8 Premier League fixtures tonight - with Chelsea also in the North East facing Sunderland.

As it happened...

18:35 UK
Change in keeper?

Heavily rumoured that Simon Mignolet will start ahead of Loris Karius in the Liverpool goal tonight.

Team news imminent.

18:49 UK
CONFIRMED LFC TEAM

Mignolet in for Karius. Klavan in for Matip.

LFC STARTING XI

Mignolet;
Clyne, Lovren, Klavan, Milner;
Henderson (c), Wijnaldum, Lallana;
Mane, Firmino, Origi.

Subs: Karius, Moreno, Lucas, Stewart, Alexander, Ejaria, Woodburn

18:58 UK

Matip did travel with LFC tonight but has a slight ankle issue and the boss decided not to risk him. 

19:07 UK
2nd best?

A Liverpool win tonight would put us on 34 points after 16 games.

It would be the joint 2nd highest points tally for Liverpool in the past 25 years.

The reds were also 11th and 9th after this stage in the last two seasons - a three goal victory would see us into 2nd place.

19:09 UK
Klopp on Karius/Mignolet

The Liverpool boss has been speaking about the goalkeeping situation:

"There was a lot of talk about this position in the last few weeks so there was no reason to push Loris through this situation, especially when you have a goalkeeper like Simon Mignolet who is training at an unbelievable level. That was the easy decision."

19:10 UK

A determined looking Klopp arriving at the Riverside stadium earlier tonight

19:18 UK
Middlesbrough team

Starting XI: Valdes, Barragan, Chambers, Gibson, Fabio, Clayton, De Roon, Forshaw, Traore, Fischer, Negredo

Subs: Guzan, Nsue, Bernardo, Leadbitter, Downing, Rhodes, Nugent

19:29 UK

Middlesbrough are 91st out of the 92 English professional teams at scoring this season.  They have scored just 13 goals - one more than League One's Oldham Athletic.

Liverpool are the joint highest scorers in the Premier League with 37 goals.  Arsenal, also on 37, have played one extra game.

19:47 UK
KICK OFF

Underway at the Riverside.  LFC wearing their Toxic Thunder kit.

19:58 UK
Quiet start

Quiet opening so far to this game.  Middlesbrough trying to use the wings at every opportunity.  

Klavan, Lovren and Mignolet with little to do so far.

20:08 UK
22 mins

Midway through the half and it remains 0-0.

Free kick in a dangerous area for Boro - Ben Gibson jumps up but it's a weak header and Mignolet collects.

20:14 UK

Ball comes to Mane in the box - there's plenty of Middlesbrough defenders back and he tries to take a shot.

A pass to Wijnaldum at the edge of the penalty area may have been a better option.

Coming up to 28 minutes. 0-0.

20:15 UK
GOAL!!! 1-0. LALLANA

Liverpool break the deadlock in the 29th minute.  Cross from Clyne deep down the right wing - Adam Lallana runs in and heads in!

20:18 UK

Lallana goal

20:26 UK
Boro searching for an equaliser

The home side definitely fancy their chances of getting back into this.  They've seen plenty of the ball since that Liverpool goal.

Now it's Liverpool's turn to get 10 men behind the ball.

20:29 UK
WOODWORK!

43' Middlesbrough 0-1 Liverpool

Sadio Mane fires low at the far corner - but it hits the post.  Origi is there to follow up but he puts it narrowly wide.

2 minutes till half time. LFC 1-0 up.

20:33 UK
HALF TIME

A good but not great half from Liverpool.

Most importantly Liverpool are 1-0 up as the quality of Clyne's cross and Lallana's header seperates the teams at the break.

20:48 UK
Second half underway

Liverpool leading 1-0.  No substitutions at half time.

20:51 UK
Strong start

Liverpool have come out of the blocks quickly in the second half.

Sadio Mane fires goalbound and Valdes has to react well to save.

20:54 UK

Mane crosses in but Firmino's header goes just wide of the goal.

Liverpool looking for a second goal.

20:59 UK
Boro subs

56 mins: Boro 0-1 Liverpool

Fischer and Clayton off.

Leadbitter and former red Stewart Downing on.

21:04 UK
GOAL!!! 2-0.

A wonderful team move and as the clock ticks on to 60 minutes, Lallana lays it across to Origi to fire in!

21:07 UK

Here's Origi's goal that made it 2-0.

21:13 UK
GOAL!!! 3-0!!!

ADAM LALLANA makes it 3-0 to the reds who, if it stays this way, will be heading into the top two.

Been an impressive second half performance and there is 20 minutes still to go.

21:15 UK

Lallana making it 3-0.

21:27 UK

82 mins

Lallana gets a fine ovation from the Liverpool fans as he is taken off.

Lucas Leiva on for him.

21:30 UK
Another sub for Liverpool

87 mins Middlesbrough 0-3 Liverpool

Ovie Ejaria on for Wijnaldum.

21:38 UK
FULL TIME

Middlesbrough 0-3 Liverpool

It was a wonderful performance, particularly the second half.

Two goals one assist for Lallana.

One goal and one assist for Origi.

Liverpool go 2nd.

21:53 UK

Thanks for joining us - the reds first win in December - the first of many we hope.

Our match report will be updated shortly here.



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