Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary from the UEFA Europa League clash between Hearts and Liverpool.
Reds boss Brendan Rodgers, looking to bounce back from a humbling opening-day defeat at the hands of West Bromwich Albion, has rung the changes tonight.
Steven Gerrard, Joe Allen and Luis Suarez are among the big names being rested for the trip to Tynecastle, while Andy Carroll is out with an knee injury
Hearts have gotten off to a good start in the Scottish Premier League, sitting in second with five points from three matches, but will have to raise their game if they hope to cause an upset tonight.
94 minsThere goes the full-time whistle. Hearts were unlucky tonight. There were on top for lengthy spells and could easily have gotten an equaliser at the death there.
93 minsPaterson with a last ditch effort for Hearts. He shoots from way back, but can only direct it wide.
92 minsBorini comes off and is replaced by Adam Morgan.
90 minsChance! Another great chance for Hearts as Paterson shoots from close range, forcing a great save from Reina!
88 minsHearts brought on Scott Robinson to replace Darren Barr moment before that gilt-edged chance.
88 minsChance! the ball falls invitingly for Hearts sub Driver, who turns well but can only direct his shot straight at Reina.
84 minsHearts make a change, bringing on Dale Carrick for Novikovas. They replaced Templeton with Driver minutes earlier.
84 minsSterling with an audacious curler that drifts over the bar. Hearts are running out of steam here and don't look like drawing level.
80 minsIt was a good move from Liverpool, yet you have to feel for Hearts and Webster. The home side have looked stronger in the second-half and have fallen victim to a momentary lapse in focus.
78 minsGOAL! Liverpool take the lead through a Webster own goal! Kelly puts in a dangerous cross to Borini, but it's the Hearts player who go the last touch.
76 minsLiverpool look very short of ideas in this second-half. If any team looks like they are going to nick a goal, it's Hearts.
71 minsA lovely turn by David Templeton there. Hearts have been full of fight in the last few minutes and look the better team.
70 minsMcGowan does well to get past Adam. He puts too much on his cross and its sails out for a Liverpool throw.
68 minsA shot from Adams takes a deflection but doesn't trouble MacDonald at all.
67 minsIt's been a scrappy second-half so far, but that hasn't stopped the home fans from singing their hearts out.
64 minsGood interception from Spearing as Paterson puts in a menacing cross. Liverpool clear the danger.
61 minsLiverpool substitution: Downing replaces Robinson.
59 minsNovikovas will a similar effort for Hearts at the other end. His shot flies over the bar.
58 minsAdam shoots wide from way back. He gets a lot on it, but it goes well wide.
56 minsGood pressure from Hearts as Sutton pushes forward and gets around Agger. His shot fails to trouble Reina, though.
52 minsAround this time last year, Hearts were dead and buried against Spurs. Does that say more about Liverpool than it does the Scottish side?
48 minsA searching ball from Grainger isn't far away from finding the head of Sutton. Agger clears.
8.45pmWe are back in business here at Tynecastle.
8.43pmA quick update on the action from elsewhere. Motherwell are a goal down at home to Levante, and Newcastle played out a 1-1 draw away to Atromitos. You can read our report of the latter game here.
8.34pmHearts have caused Liverpool more than a few problems. Templeton has been a live wire and Sutton a constant threat, but they are fortunate to be going in at 0-0.
45 minsThe half-time whistle blows, and Hearts will be breathing a sigh of relief after that let off.
44 minsChance! It's the best chance of the game and it falls to Liverpool. Great skill by Sterling, who unselfishly lines up Borini, but the striker hits the post! He should have put that away!
42 minsHalf-chance for Liverpool as Charlie Adam bursts into the box. He puts in a dangerous cross, which Sutton puts behind.
41 minsAnother penalty shout for Hearts as the players appeal from handball against Carragher. Another good call by the ref, who waves away their protests. It was nowhere near the defender's arm.
39 minsChance! Templeton blasts one over the bar. He was going for the top corner but put too much on that one.
34 minsHearts have been equal to Liverpool tonight, though it hasn't been the greatest of games. 0-0 is a fair reflection of the first-half so far.
33 minsChance! Great link-up play between Henderson and Borini. They play a one-two, but the Italian can't quite reach the return cross.
31 minsChance! Shelvey makes a nice turn and plays in Borini, but he can't find enough space to get a clean shot in. He wins a corner though.
30 minsAppeals for a Hearts penalty as Templeton goes down under a challenge from Borini. There was absolutely no case. It was outside the area for starters!
28 minsSterling has a go from 30 yards but directs his effort straight at MacDonald, who makes short work of it.
26 minsMcGowan is given aches of space in the middle of the park. He surges forward into the final third but goes down for a free kick.
24 minsMcGowan concedes a corner. His backpass was a little over-zealous there. Anything more on that and it could have completely thrown MacDonald.
23 minsThe first booking of the game goes to Barr for his crunching tackle on Adam. He can have no complaints about that one.
21 minsShelvey is picked out by Sterling, who drills the ball in the danger area, but the flag goes up for offside.
16 minsTempleton redeems himself by winning the ball deep into the Liverpool half and earning a corner after winning a tussle with Carragher.
15 minsGreat skill by Zaliukas in midfield. He finds Templeton, who loses the ball.
12 minsHearts keep up the pressure with a strike from Sutton, though it goes well wide of the post.
11 minsChance! Novikovas tries his luck from way out in an attempt to catch Reina off his line. The Liverpool keeper is equal to it, but concedes the corner.
7 minsChance! A long-range strike from Adam is palmed aside by MacDonald and goes out for a corner.
6 minsA nervy back pass from Carragher is almost picked up by Sutton, but Reina is quick off his line and the ball is cleared.
5 minsGood possession from Liverpool. It's a confident start for the visitors who are seeing much more of the ball than their opponents.
2 minsShelvey concedes a free kick with a mistimed tackle on Taouil.
1 minSterling tries to outpace McGowan, but the Hearts defender stands his ground and it goes out for a throw.
7.45pmWe're under way!
7.41pmThere's a great atmosphere here at Tynecastle. The teams are heading out onto the pitch and kickoff is just minutes away.
7.40pmBorini leads the attack for Liverpool, with support from Sterling and Henderson. The Italian will no doubt be keen to impress tonight.
7.39pmHearts have packed the midfield tonight, playing Sutton upfront as a lone striker. Getting support up to him is vital from them.
7.36pmThe Lithuania international passed a late fitness test ahead of tonight's game, and his presence is a big boost for the Scottish underdogs.
7.33pmHearts players to watch include striker John Sutton, ever a goal-scoring threat in domestic competitions, and the ever-reliable Marius Zaliukas.
7.29pmIt's a big night for Liverpool's 17-year-old star Raheem Sterling, a great opportunity for him to impress.
7.27pmRodgers: "We've got a very small squad so I have to try and protect some of the players, particularly given many of them played in a side with only 10 men on Saturday. It's a chance for me so see the young players, Raheem Sterling has played really well in pre-season and Jack (Robinson) has been limited in what he's been able to do."
7.26pmMcGlynn: "I think everyone knows the European nights are special here at Tynecastle and I want to make sure that is the situation again. We'll do our absolute utmost on the pitch and if the fans can get behind us we can make it a really good night. We need every fan supporting every single one of us. I understand the fans would have been disappointed leaving the stadium on Saturday after we threw away a 2-0 lead. As much as we're disappointed, these things happen and it's very important we regroup and get ready for Thursday night. Hopefully the team can put on a performance against a massive football club. It's certainly one to look forward to."
7.25pmSome quotes from both managers on the way...
7.22pmThey have a new manager in the shape of John McGlynn, and won the Scottish Cup at the end of last season with a 5-1 thrashing of their bitter rivals Hibs.
7.21pmSo what are the chances of a Hearts upset tonight? I'd say not out of the question. They were thrashed by Tottenham this time last year, but a lot of water has passed under the bridge since then.
7.19pmHearts 6/1, Liverpool 8/15, Draw 11/4.
7.17pmNo fewer than seven changes from the Liverpool side that lost at West Brom, but even with the likes of Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez absent, they are still the red hot favourites. Some match odds coming up for you...
7.16pmLiverpool: Reina; Robinson, Carragher, Agger, Kelly; Henderson, Spearing, Adam, Shelvey, Sterling; Borini
7.16pmHearts: MacDonald; McGowan, Webster, Zaliukas, Grainger; Barr, Taouil; Paterson, Templeton, Novikovas; Sutton
7.15pmGood evening and welcome to our live coverage of tonight's Europa League play-off first leg between Hearts and Liverpool in Edinburgh. Team news coming up...
Written by
Mark Langshaw
Mark Langshaw
