Liverpool host Red Star Belgrade on Wednesday night as their 2018-19 Champions League campaign resumes under the Anfield floodlights.

The two sides have met before, back in 1973, when the then Yugoslavian outfit beat Bill Shankly's Reds in both legs of a European Cup tie.

Fortunes have changed for each team since then, with eight-time finalists Liverpool going on to win the competition on five occasions.

Red Star lifted the European Cup in 1991 but, until this year, had not qualified for the group stages of the tournament since its rebrand to the Champions League the following year.

Now back at the top table, the Serbian Super Liga winners held Carlo Ancelotti's Napoli to a 0-0 draw in their Group C opener in Belgrade last month but were then beaten 6-1 at Paris Saint-Germain.

So, what can we expect from Vladan Milojevic's team at Anfield?

We spoke to Belgrade journalist Dejan Stankovic (@DejStankovic) - chief editor of Serbia's MOZZART Sport - to get the lowdown...

Tell us about the manager...

He has worked miracles! Three summers ago, Red Star were eliminated from the Europa League qualifying rounds by Kazakhstan side FC Kairat - at the time, a far better team.

Two summers ago, Italian outfit Sassuolo demolished Red Star (3-0) and the then coach said: "It's going to take us three or four years just to play in the group stage of any European competition."

Then Milojevic arrived.

Last year Red Star progressed through the group stage of the Europa League and this season, after 27 years, Red Star are in the Champions League.

The most important thing Milojevic did was to convince the team and the fans that they are truly the successors of the sides that were European giants; that it is not just a thing of the past, that it is a heritage that you have to strive for.

To do that, he first had to bring everyone down to earth. So: work, work and nothing but the work.

What are his favoured tactics?

Mostly 4-2-3-1, with some variations. The way Red Star play in Serbia is much different than in Europe.

Red Star and Partizan aside, Serbian football is financially somewhere around England's League Two so most players leave as soon as they can. That is why Belgrade's eternal rivals in Serbia look like Real Madrid and Barcelona in Spain. They don't have many tough games... and you can tell when it comes to Europe. 

So, expect the bus - maybe two - parked in front of Red Star's goal. Not because that is the idea, and it could be, but because Liverpool operate at a much faster pace than Red Star are used to playing. Then they will counter-attack - if it can be done.

Although, at this point I must remind you that Red Star provided inspiration for your own legends Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley when the two clubs met in the second round of the 1973-74 European Cup. 

That is when the legendary Boot Room realised that the game had to be played from the back.

How far do Red Star expect to go in the Champions League?

This group stage is about as far they can go. However, as former European champions some Red Star fans hope - and sometimes they actually think - that they can win against anyone. Reality does not agree. Their budget does not compare with their rivals.

So, just being here is even more than the club had hoped. Every point that Red Star win is a bonus.

Who is the star of the team?

There is no star. One of the main characteristics of Milojevic's football philosophy is that his sides play as a team. Everyone defends, for example. Something like Atletico Madrid, but on a much lower level. 

There are some standout players, of course; Nenad Krsticic, who played for eight seasons in Sampdoria, in the midfield.

Centre-backs Vujadin Savic and Milos Degenek are solid, goalkeeper Milan Borjan is a good one, playmaker El Fardou Ben Nabouhane and up front Richmond Boakye. They just play like a team to make the whole better than the parts.

What is the team's biggest strength?

In Europe, it was the defence. In the Europa League last year Red Star conceded just three goals in eight games - against Arsenal, BATE Borisov, FC Cologne and CSKA Moscow. A compact team, everyone knows where to be and what to do.

Which key battle could turn the match in either team's favour?

Hard to say. To be honest, Liverpool are much better in all positions. Let's say that Roberto Firmino scares me the most, because Red Star will no doubt be deep in their own half so there won't be much space for Liverpool's fast game. And because it will be tight in Red Star's box, Firmino's role, will, in my opinion, be crucial.

What is your prediction for the game?

Liverpool are clear favourites. I don't think we will see a drubbing like in Paris, but anything other than a Liverpool win would be a huge surprise. If Red Star can make it through the first half unscathed then maybe it could be interesting, but I know Liverpool usually start very aggressively.