Reds in seventh heaven
Klopp’s men send timely reminder of attacking brilliance
LONDON: Juergen Klopp’s Liverpool have been breathtaking and infuriating in equal measure this season, but they displayed their devastating attacking prowess in a 7-0 victory against Maribor.
As has been the case too often this season, Liverpool’s opening two Champions League draws against Sevilla and Spartak Moscow were characterised by both defensive fragility and attacking frustration.
Yet from the moment Roberto Firmino opened the scoring in the fourth minute against the Slovenian side, Liverpool cut through the hosts’ defence with irrepressible vim and vigour and ended up recording the biggest away win by an English team in European Cup history.
The first half was only 19 minutes old by the time Philippe Coutinho and Mohamed Salah added their names to the scoresheet – the latter then netting his second, and the team’s fourth, in the 39th minute on Tuesday.
By the time Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai blew the final whistle, Firmino, substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and defender Trent Alexander-Arnold had scored second-half goals.
“Our attitude was outstanding, we were spot on from the first second,” Klopp told BT Sport.
“We scored wonderful goals, played wonderful football and it looked like they were not very good, but it is difficult to play against us.
“I love the fact we stayed really concentrated in the second half, we controlled the game and it was a very mature performance.
“You can struggle in a game like this if you do not have a 100% attitude ... Seven goals was wonderful, but the counter pressing I was close to celebrating it, it was so good.
“They are a really good football team and they could not cope with this.”
Such are Liverpool’s attacking options at present, dynamic England midfielder OxladeChamberlain has had to be content with a place on the bench since his arrival from Arsenal in August.
“We were very clinical and putting almost all of our chances away,” the midfielder said.
“It feels like we have a lot of goals in us, we create a lot of chances.
“This is a competitive team, we have had a few results that have not gone our way, and I’m ready whenever I get an opportunity.”
The victory has given Liverpool the confidence to be more clinical in front of goal, said Salah.
“I think it’s an important result for us so we have to keep looking forward and we have to win the next games,” said the Egyptian.
“In the last three or four games we missed many chances ... and we had bad luck.” — Agencies