Liverpool have been asked to win differently twice in the space of five days. Both times they have answered emphatically. That, rather than the scorelines, fills Jurgen Klopp with renewed optimism.
Manoeuvring Maribor, certainly nowhere near as easy as a fortnight ago, was not the result of furious pressing. Neither was Huddersfield. On Wednesday night a Slovenian lock had to be picked with patience, with more finesse than they are accustom.
When the truly pivotal moment arrived, a second goal putting too much distance between themselves and Darko Milanic’s diligent defenders, the beauty was in its simplicity.
Daniel Sturridge thrashes home from close range to complete the scoring for Liverpool in the 90th minute
The England striker celebrates netting his first Champions League goal in seven years and first for Liverpool
Liverpool midfielder Emre Can finds the back of the net by putting the finishing touch on a sweeping move by the home side
Emre Can celebrates with his arms oustretched after doubling Liverpool’s lead against Maribor on Wednesday night at Anfield
Mohamed Salah settled a few nerves among the home supporters after finally putting Liverpool ahead
The Egyptian celebrates after finding the net for the 10th time since his big-money move from Roma in the summer
Salah gets down to his knees after diverting Trent Alexander-Arnold’s near-post cross beyond the Maribor goalkeeper
MATCH FACTS, PLAYER RATINGS AND MATCH ZONE
Liverpool (4-3-3): Karius 6; Alexander-Arnold 7.5, Matip 6, Klavan 6.5, Moreno 7; Can 7.5, Milner 6.5, Wijnaldum 6 (Henderson 17min, 6.5); Salah 8 (Sturridge 74, 6), Firmino 7.5 (Grujic 85), Oxlade-Chamberlain 7
Subs not used: Mignolet, Gomez, Robertson, Solanke
Goalscorers: Salah 49, Can 64, Sturridge 90
Manager: Jurgen Klopp 7
Maribor (5-4-1): Handanovic 7.5; Milec 6.5, Billong 7, Rajcevic 5, Suler 6.5, Pihler 6.5; Hotic 6 (Ahmedi 81), Kabha 6.5, Viler 6.5, Bohar 6 (Bajde 68, 6); Mesanovic 5 (Tavares 58, 6)
Subs not used: Obradovic, Vrhovec, Tavares, Vrsic, Palcic
Booked: Bohar, Rajcevic
Manager: Darko Milanic 6
Referee: Ivan Kruzliak 7
Emre Can finishes off a flowing Liverpool move after a one-two with James Milner outside the box. CLICK HERE for more from MATCH ZONE.
Already a goal ahead, Emre Can searched for a second just before the hour. He drove from midfield, popping a ball into James Milner around 20 yards out.
Milner barely moved, opened up his right foot and carved open the visitors with one gentle pass. Maribor stood in awe as Can ran on and bent beyond the goalkeeper. That finished this as a contest and means only two disastrous results can stop Liverpool progressing to the knockout stages.
They did have to wait. Mohamed Salah’s opener had not come until four minutes after half-time and the Reds showcased the sort of composure which has lacked for much of Klopp’s two years on Merseyside.
‘We are better equipped now,’ Klopp said. ‘We have everything we need for it. We’re missing three (Philippe Coutinho, Adam Lallana and Sadio Mane) of the most creative players in the league.’
He did have complaints about the first half, even though Anfield responded positively to their constant, calm probing.
Liverpool defender Alberto Moreno slides in to challenge Maribor’s Dino Hotic early on in Wednesday night’s game
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain attempts to get a cross into the Maribor penalty area as Martin Milec looks to block his path
Roberto Firmino tries to get past Maribor centre-back Jean Claude Billong during the early stages of the game
Liverpool vice-captain James Milner looks to find a way through Maribor’s packed defence under the Anfield lights
Georginio Wijnaldum winces as he goes to kick the ball during the first-half against Maribor at Anfield
The Dutch central midfielder receives medical attention but is unable to continue for the rest of the game
Jurgen Klopp embraces his midfield man as club captain Jordan Henderson comes on in his place in the 17th minute
‘We were in wrong positions,’ Klopp added. ‘We didn’t have enough offence in behind. We didn’t create enough.’
That was a surprise to hear. Midfielders were willing to push ahead of the ball and chances came and went. A Roberto Firmino effort was tipped onto the bar, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain went close on only his second start.
Liverpool’s attitude warranted a lead. Their recycling of 83 per cent possession did as well. A breakthrough felt inevitable, even after Georginio Wijnaldum was forced off with an ankle injury.
Can – imperious all evening – held off Jasmin Mesanovic in midfield, swivelled on the ball and switched play quickly four minutes after the break.
Maribor were soon shifted out of their rigid shape as Trent Alexander-Arnold collected Can’s spray. The right back took one look up, saw Salah darting across Aleks Rajcevic and the deftest of flicks flew in. Finally, that goal.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain tries to get the ball under control but sees his patch blocked by Martin Milec and Dino Hotic
Roberto Firmino comes to opening the scoring with a deflected header off Jean Claude Billong that loops towards the goal
As the ball looks set to nestle in the top corner of the net Maribor No 1 Jasmin Handanovic palms it onto the crossbar and out
Emre Can has his head in his hands after missing a header from just outside the six-yard box in a frustrating first 45 minutes
The injured Philippe Coutinho watches from the stands alongside Danny Ward, Danny Ings and Jon Flanagan
Jasmin Handanovic gets down well to smother the ball into the palms of his hands ahead of Roberto Firmino
‘We noticed during the first half that a lot of our chances came from crosses – we agreed at half time to keep on doing it,’ Alexander-Arnold said.
One should have quickly become two. Firmino tied Rajcevic in knots on the byline, wriggling past him and subsequently wrestled to the ground. Penalties, however, are such a problem on Merseyside.
Salah missed against Huddersfield and Milner was guilty here, 39-year-old Jasmin Handanovic brilliantly tipping onto the post. A fourth consecutive penalty miss at Anfield in 2017. ‘Well for sure we will find a player!’ Klopp laughed.
Incredibly, Salah thumped a header over the bar from six yards from Alberto Moreno’s sumptuous cross soon after. The game was done after 64 minutes, Milner and Can combining wonderfully for the German to curl in. ‘Fantastic play,’ Klopp said. ‘Speeding up in a small space.’
There was even time for substitute Daniel Sturridge to thrash in a third late on – his first Champions League goal for seven years – and, over the last few days, there is a growing sense that Liverpool can start winning slowly.
Roberto Firmino is pulled down inside the 18-yard box by Aleksander Rajcevic and earns Liverpool a penalty kick
James Milner’s penalty is low to Jasmin Handanovic’s left but he gets a glove onto the shot and tips it against the post
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is sent flying by a desperate lunge from Maribor centre-back Jean Claude Billong