IT’S IN THE CAN!
Emre puts Liverpool in control of group
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, fill Jurgen Klopp with renewed optimism.
Mastering Maribor, certainly nowhere near as easy as a fortnight ago, was not the result of furious pressing. Neither was the 3-0 win against Huddersfield here on Saturday.
last night a Slovenian lock had to be picked with patience, with more finesse than liverpool are accustomed.
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.
Already a goal ahead, liverpool searched for a second just before the hour. emre Can 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 the ball 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 been lacking 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.
‘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 on to the bar by Jasmin Handanovic and Alex oxladeChamberlain went close on only his second start since signing from Arsenal for £35million.
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 mid- field, 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.
‘We noticed during the first half that a lot of our chances came from crosses,’ Alexander-Arnold said. ‘We agreed at half-time to keep on doing it.’
one should have quickly become two. Firmino tied rajcevic in knots on the byline, wriggling past him and was 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 Handanovic brilliantly tipping on to 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 has been a growing sense that liverpool can start winning slowly. 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. Scorers: Salah 49, Can 64, Sturridge 90. Booked: None. 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, Vrsic, Palcic. Booked: Bohar, Rajcevic. Manager: Darko Milanic 6. Referee: Ivan Kruzliak (Svk) 7. Attendance: 47,957.