A MO-MENT OF SHEER MAGIC!
Ace Salah rides to Reds’ rescue
MOHAMED SALAH, Emre Can and Daniel Sturridge were on the mark as Liverpool stumbled rather than strolled to a win over Group E whipping boys Maribor.
Liverpool went into this clash at the top of their group on goal difference as they thrashed Maribor 7-0 last time out.
Visiting boss Darko Milanic promised life would be very different last night after the Slovenian team were left red-faced a fortnight ago.
And he was dead right as Liverpool created few chances and also missed another penalty as James Milner saw his second-half spotkick saved.
However, Salah eased the pressure straight after the break with a finish that showed why he is one of Europe’s hottest prospects before Can slotted home a second to finally give Jurgen Klopp a reason to smile.
Anfield new boy Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain made just his second start but there was no place for Andy Robertson – a decision by Klopp that left many scratching their heads.
This match seemed to offer the Reds boss the perfect opportunity to give the young defender some much-needed game-time but he sat on the bench alongside usual captain Jordan Henderson.
Deflected
The Reds began in the mood to dish out more Maribor misery as Milner caused problems down the right alongside Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
But the visitors rolled their sleeves up early on, kept Liverpool out and did their best to silence an excited Anfield.
Without Philippe Coutinho, Liverpool huffed and puffed as Oxlade-Chamberlain failed to get on the ball while Roberto Firmino was a passenger.
Liverpool had to wait until the half-hour mark to worry Maribor as Jasmin Handanovic pulled off a wonder save from Firmino.
The Liverpool frontman got onto a cross and his nodded effort deflected off JeanClaude Billong and looked to be looping over Handanovic but the keeper did brilliantly to tip the effort onto the bar.
The break came and went with Liverpool still looking for the breakthrough and the Anfield crowd began to get frustrated.
Finally though, Salah made the breakthrough after 49 minutes as he brilliantly flicked home Alexander-Arnold’s whipped-in cross to lift the mood on Merseyside.
Liverpool then began to pour forward and when Firmino was dragged down by Rajcevic after 51 minutes, it looked to be game over.
However, Milner’s penalty was stunningly saved by Handanovic as their spot-kick woes continued.
Salah missed one against Huddersfield on Saturday and it was Milner’s turn to fumble LIVERPOOL Sevilla S Moscow Maribor this time around and the miss meant Liverpool could not yet afford to relax.
However, Can then allowed the Reds to start enjoying themselves as he collected a one-two with Milner and intelligently slotted home from 18 yards out to kill off Maribor’s hopes of nabbing a point.
Sturridge added the late icing, blasting home from six yards after Alberto Moreno’s cross had been glanced on by a defender. LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): MARIBOR (3-4-3): Referee: P W D L F A Pts 4 2 2 0 13 3 8 4 2 1 1 8 8 7 4 1 2 1 8 5 5 4 0 1 3 1 14 1