Champions League news - Liverpool to return to Budapest for last-16 second leg with RB Leipzig

Updated 04/03/2021 at 15:46 GMT

The Champions League tie will be completed in Hungary, where the first leg was also staged, as the German club’s ‘home’ fixture, which Liverpool won 2-0. The match - which will still be played on March 10 - has been moved from Anfield as Leipzig would have to quarantine on their return from the UK under current Covid-19 travel restrictions in the state of Saxony.

Jurgen Klopp

Image credit: Getty Images

Liverpool will complete their Champions League last-16 tie with RB Leipzig back in Budapest, Hungary, where the first leg - a 2-0 victory for Jurgen Klopp’s side - also took place.

The second leg has been moved to the Puskas Arena from Anfield due to Covid-19 travel restrictions in the German state of Saxony, which would have required Leipzig’s players to quarantine on their return from the UK. The date, March 10, with an 8pm (GMT) kick-off, remains the same.

The first match was moved to Budapest for the same reason, as Liverpool would have needed to spend time in isolation in order to compete in Leipzig.

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Neither the UK nor Germany have strict travel rules imposed on Hungary, and a return to the same venue will be seen as a good move for sporting integrity.

Liverpool and Leipzig will return to Puskas Arena, Budapest

Image credit: Getty Images

Goals from Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane have put the Premier League title winners in charge of the tie, as those will count towards the ‘away goals’ rule, even though it was played in a neutral venue.

Several other English sides have had their European matches moved because of Covid-19 restrictions in recent weeks.