Al-Ettifaq vs Al-Nassr updates as Gerrard and Henderson win Saudi opener

Goodnight!

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Full-time!

And that's the full-time whistle! Steven Gerrard's men are victorious in their first match of the season.

Goals from Quaison and Moussa Dembele see the three points secured despite Sadio Mane's opener.

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Mane just failes to gather

A wonderful chance for Al-Nassr to equalise right at the death.

A ball is played into the Ettifaq box but Mane just fails to collect.

Extremely late sub

Another late change from Saudi Arabia.

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Nawaf Boushal comes on for Al-Nassr teammate Muhammad Ahmed Yahya Sahlouli.

14 minutes added time!

Well, that Mane goal did not really come in the closing stages.

We've got 14 (yes, fourteen) minutes added time.

Mane sees celebrations cut short

Mane thinks he's equalised for Al-Nassr with just one minute of normal time remaining.

The ball finds itself to Mane at the back post, who lashes home a bouncing volley. The linesman's flag quickly goes up and it's the correct decision.

Late changes

Late changes from Gerrard as he attempts to close out victory.

Goalscorer Dembele comes off for Hamed Al-Ghamdi. Henderson also comes off the pitch in place of Berat Ozdemir.

No penalty

It was only a brief check as we get back underway with no penalty coming the way of the visitors.

Penalty appeals

More penalty appeals this time from Al-Nassr!

The ball gets flicked on in the area and strikes a hand. It was very close though. VAR are looking...

So close for Al-Nassr!

How are Al-Nassr not level? They hit the woodwork again before a great bit of defending from Tisserand.

A header goes up and hits the angle of post and bar. Yayha latches onto the rebound and looks set to volley home a powerful effort.

Tisserand literally gets his face in the way to block.

No penalty!

Al-Ettifaq appeal for a penalty as Quaison goes down in the penalty area.

However, the shouts are coming more from the crowd with the Brazilian seemingly struggling from cramp.

Double change for Al-Nassr

The changes keep coming for both sides.

Ghareeb and Al-Hassan come off for Abdulfattah Adam Ahmad Mohammed and Ayman Yahya. Steven Gerrard has also responded with a couple of alterations of his own.

Substitution for Nassr

Second alteration for Al-Nassr.

AlSulhayim comes off for Al-Najei.

Al-Hassan then tries his luck from range but it's an easy collect for the goalkeeper.

Gerrard masterminds comeback

Whatever this man said in the break, it's certainly worked...

Steven Gerrard during Monday's match with Al-Nassr (Getty Images)

Post!

Well, this one has really livened up as Al-Nassr go SO close to levelling matters once again.

Al-Sulaiheem strides onto the ball and his powerful effort bounces off of the outside of the upright.

GOAL AL-ETTIFAQ!

The turnaround is complete!

The goalkeeper fails to collect a cross and Moussa Dembele reacts quickest to spear home.

GOAL AL-ETTIFAQ!

Just a minute after the break and we're all level.

Alaqidi attempts to collect Jordan Henderson's corner but collides into Al Hazazi. He then drops the ball and it's subsequently tapped home by Quaison.

VAR checked the strike but it has been given.

Back underway

And we're rolling again at the Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd Stadium and we've got a change apiece from both sides at the break.

AlAlewa is replaced by Khaleed Al-Ghannam for Al-Nassr, whilst Al-Ettifaq's Victor Santos replaces Al-Ghamdi.

Gabriel eyed for Saudi move

As we await the second-half, we've got another star being eyed for a move to Saudi Arabia.

Arsenal defender Gabriel is the latest big-name star to be targeted for a big-money move to the Gulf state

The Gunners are aware of the interest but it remains to be seen whether they would be open to selling, having previously rebuffed interest in the Brazil centre-half.

Read more here

The half-time whistle blows

And that's the end of the first-half.

It's Sadio Mane's Al-Nassr that are ahead against Jordan Henderson's Al-Ettifaq.

Gerrard is seen in a fiery discussion with his opposite number as he heads down the tunnel.

Five minutes added on

We've got five minutes added on here...

Mane celebrates his first goal

Here's the moment that still separates between the two sides so far...

Sadio Mane celebrates his goal against Al-Ettifaq (Getty Images)

Oh dear, Dembele

Well, Dembele's blushes have been spared by the offside flag.

The Frenchman is released in-behind by the Al-Nassr defence with a lofted ball and looks to have timed his run perfectly. His shot does not match as his right-footed effort dribbles to his side. It looks doubtful it would even have enough power to go out for a throw-in.

Fortunately, the linesman pulls play back as he went slightly too early.

Almost!

Great chance to Moussa Dembele to run there as he is played in-behind but the ball is slightly overhit.

Mane then attempts to get on the end of the cross and is involved in a heavy collision with the Al-Ettifaq goalkeeper.

He receives treatment from the club's medical staff but is now up and on his feet again.

High and wide

Good chance for Al-Nassr to double their lead there.

The ball falls to Al-Sulaiheem on the edge of the area but his right-footed effort spins high and wide of goal.

Ettifaq finding their rhythm

After their early blow, Ettifaq are just trying to hold possession for now.

Steven Gerrard has imparted a number of instructions to his players to keep hold of the ball and be slightly more accurate with their passes.

Close from Mane!

Almost a second for Mane just minutes after the opener.

The Senegalese tries an effort from range on the volley that drops just wide of the post.

This has been a scintilating start from Al-Nassr.

Mane scores for Al-Nassr!

Well that's the start that Sadio Mane wanted as he scores his first goal for Al-Nassr.

Mane ghosts into the box to get on the end of Al-Hassan's low cross to tap home into an empty net.

It comes just after he had the chance to stretch his legs, only to see Tisserand get a good toe in.

Underway!

And we're underway in Saudi Arabia!

Will Mane or Henderson be toasting a first win of the season come 9pm?

Players in the tunnel

The players come out onto the pitch and there's a very Liverpool feel to the teams.

Al-Ettifaq are led out by Jordan Henderson, whilst Sadio Mane leads his new teammates into the arena.

We're just a couple of minutes away from kick-off.