UEFA Champions League, Group E: Red Bulls Demolish Genk; Inauspicious Start To Reds' Title Defense

Group-stage play in the UEFA Champions League opened on Tuesday with eight games, two of them in Group E.

At Wals-Siezenheim, Austria:

Erling Haland produced a hat trick (2', 34', 45') as FC Red Bull Salzburg scored five first-half goals en route to a 6-2 home demolition of KRC Genk.

Photo from UEFA website

At Naples, Italy:

Dries Mertens (PK-82', that's him here celebrating) and Fernando Llorente (90') each scored once as Napoli blanked visiting Liverpool 2-0, spoiling the opening of the defending champs' title defense.

Getty Images

Group E Standings:

1. FC Red Bull Salzburg (GP: 1; GD: +4; PTS: 3)
2. Napoli (GP: 1; GD: +2; PTS: 3)
3. Liverpool (GP: 1; GD: -2; PTS: 0)
4. KRC Genk (GP: 1; GD: -4; PTS: 0)