LFC Move Closer To CL Last 16

Sports - Football - Champions League - LFC 3:0 NKM

Liverpool got one step closer to qualify for the Champions League knockout stages for the first time since 2008-09, topping the group after beating NK Maribor 3-0 at Anfield, in not the most riveting and convincing victory on Wednesday night.

Click here for my full LFC ByTheMin match coverage.

The first half was the only goalless half of the night in Europe, agonising to watch the Reds dominate the ball, creating chance after chance, Maribor's keeper Jasmin Handanović and defensive back line of eight frustrating the hell out of the home side.

Ragnar Klavan and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were the two changes for the Reds since the two sides met in Slovenia a couple of weeks ago, replacing Dejan Lovren and Philippe Coutinho due to lack of form and fitness respectively.

It didn't help when Liverpool were forced to make their first change, Georginio Wijnaldum getting injured with just over 15 minutes played, to be replaced by Jordan Henderson.

Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino created most chances for the Reds, but it was still goalless at the break, the home side unable to break the deadlock despite 12 chances and 84% possession in the first half alone!

The atmosphere reflected the frustration and disappointment, the Maribor fans making themselves heard at Anfield more than once or twice.

Momo finally found the breakthrough shortly after the interval with a cheeky back-footer, Joël Matip winning the ball back near the centre-circle, passing to Trent Alexander-Arnold, who found the Egyptian in the box.

Salah registered his 10th goal in all competitions, plus three assists, that's more goal involvements than any other LFC player.

Seconds later, the Reds were awarded a penalty after Bobby was wrestled to the ground by Aleksander Rajčević, who was booked for his wrestling/judo skills.

Skipper James Milner's spot kick was soft and predictable, Handanović able to glove it onto the post and clear.

With that miss, Liverpool have messed up five out of their last seven penalties!

Salah missed more sitters, Firmino was denied by Handanović, the crowd died down and shut down more and more in silence.

Even Jürgen Klopp showed less tantrums and more composure than usual. Worrying. Disappointing.

Emre Can finally doubled the lead with just under half an hour to go, banging the ball from the centre of the box with his right foot into the back of the net off Milner's pass.

Loris Karius did not have much to do, but the couple of times Maribor did attack, the keeper showed full attention and good focus, stopping and saving well.

Substitute Daniel Sturridge made it three in the final minute, waking up Anfield with a nice first touch and then strong volley with his left foot, capitalising off another Red corner and sleepy defence in the box.

It was a very one-sided game, but the visitors can be very happy the way they frustrated the hell out of the home side. Patience is a virtue. One more and more LFC fans seem to lack...

It is a win for the Reds which sees them top of Group E, a point ahead of Sevilla in second, plus a clean sheet, but it was nowhere near the quality, glory and entertainment of other European clashes.

On a more positive note, Liverpool have kept four clean sheets in their past five games in all competitions, after managing none in the seven games before that, and have scored 14 in the last five matches. 14!

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Liverpool Goals: Salah 49', Can 64' & Sturridge 90'.

Liverpool Team: 1 Karius; 18 Moreno, 17 Klavan, 32 Matip, 66 Alexander-Arnold; 5 Wijnaldum (14 Henderson 16'), 23 Can, 7 Milner (c); 11 Salah (15 Sturridge 73'), 9 Firmino (16 Grujić 85'), 21 Oxlade-Chamberlain. 4-3-3
Substitutes not used: 22 Mignolet, 12 Gomez, 26 Robertson, 29 Solanke.
Coach: Jürgen Klopp

NK Maribor Team: 33 Handanović (c); 4 Šuler, 26 Rajčević (booked 53'), 3 Billong; 28 Viler, 8 Kabha, 6 Pihler, 22 Milec; 39 Bohar (booked 23') (20 Bajde 69'), 27 Mešanović (9 Tavares 58'), 10 Hotić (7 Ahmedi 81'). 3-4-3
Substitutes not used: 69 Obradović, 5 Vrhovec, 12 Vršič, 29 Palčič.
Coach: Darko Milanoč

HT Stats: LFC 0-0 NKM
Possession: 84%-16%
Passes: 459-91
Shots: 12-1
On target: 2-0
Corners: 9-0
Fouls: 2-4
Yellow cards: 0-1

FT Stats: LFC 3-0 NKM
Possession: 75%-25%
Shots: 23-5
On target: 9-1
Corners: 17-2
Fouls: 7-9
Yellow cards: 0-2

Referee: Ivan Kružliak (SVK)
Assistants: Martin Balko & Tomaš Somolani (SVK)
Additional assistants: Peter Kralović & Filip Glova (SVK)
Fourth official: Branislav Hancko (SVK)
UEFA delegate: Danilo Filacchione (ITA)
Man of the match: Emre Can
Ground: Anfield

Click here for my previous LFC match report.

All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match report, Twitter and beIN sport live match coverage.

Liverpool Record-Thrash Maribor 0-7

Sports - Football - Champions League - NKM 0:7 LFC

Liverpool record the biggest away win by an English team in the history of the European Cup after thrashing Slovenian side NK Maribor 0-7, the win taking them to the top of Group E after Sevilla lost 5-1 at Spartak Moscow on the same Tuesday night.

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This was the first ever competitive meeting between the two sides and finally the Reds made the flood of chances and stats count after their frustrating goalless draw against Manchester United on Saturday!

It didn't even take four minutes for Jürgen Klopp's men to find the breakthrough, man of the match Roberto Firmino tapping in from close range after a great breakthrough and pass by Mohamed Salah from the right.

Just under ten minutes later, Philippe Coutinho doubled the lead putting a lovely right-footed shot into the back of the net after a great counter, the home side unable to keep the ball.

Salah made it three sending a perfect left-footer past keeper Samir Handanovic's right seconds after being denied a penalty seeing the ball bounce off a Maribor defender's arm.

The great Egyptian was dancing through the opposition and was great to watch.

Firmino and Salah worked well together to make it four before the break, both thinking they scored, but it was the latter beating his team mate to have the final touch on Alberto Moreno's cross from the left to net the ball.

The referee whistled HT five seconds early, that said it all regarding the game. After the break, the Red dominance continued over the Violets, no matter what keeper Handanovic tried and kept.

Ten minutes after the break, Firmino headed in another LFC free kick seconds after Handanovic had made a great save jumping to his top-right corner to deny Coutinho.

Around an hour gone, both sides started to make their changes, and in the final minutes two of Liverpool's substitutes combined to make it six.

Daniel Sturridge picked out Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain after the Reds bullied their way all over NKM and the former Arsenal man made no mistake of converting the chance to score his first goal for the Merseyside club.

And that wasn't it. Red youngster Trent Alexander-Arnold added his name to the long score list unable to miss the chance, totally unmarked, right-foot shot, 0-7, thank you very much.

The French commentator called it a massacre, Klopp "nice to write a piece of history", I feel it is just what the Red doctor ordered after all the chances and points missed and dropped over the last month-and-a-bit!

After only one win in the previous eight games, two defeats, five draws, scoring eight and conceding 14 in all competitions, the second consecutive clean sheet will be very much appreciated by and for the much criticised defence too.

And seeing Sevilla thrashed 5-1 at Spartak Moscow makes the Reds' draw in Russia look less disappointing and more credible.

Hopefully Liverpool can take this confidence boost to Wembley where they face Tottenham on Sunday in the Premier League.

Click here for my full ByTheMin live match coverage.

Liverpool Goals: Firmino 4' & 45', Coutinho 13', Salah 19' & 39', Oxlade-Chamberlain 86' & Alexander-Arnold 90'.

NK Maribor Team: 33 Handanovic, 28 Viler, 4 Suler, 26 Rajcevic, 22 Milec (booked 45'), 5 Vrohec (booked 80'), 8 Kabha, 39 Bohar (27 Mesanovic 81'), 7 Ahmedi (6 Pihler 58'), 97 Kramaric (10 Hotic 58', booked 89'), 9 Tavares.
Subs not used: 3 Billong, 12 Vrsic, 29 Palcic, 69 Obradovic.

Liverpool Team: 1 Karius, 66 Alexander-Arnold, 32 Matip, 6 Lovren, 18 Moreno, 5 Wijnaldum (29 Solanke 76'), 23 Can, 7 Milner, 11 Salah (21 Oxlade-Chamberlain 57'), 9 Firmino (15 Sturridge 68'), 10 Coutinho.
Subs not used: 12 Gomez, 14 Henderson, 17 Klavan, 22 Mignolet.

HT stats: NKM 0-4 LFC
Possession: 35%-65%
Shots: 5-14
On target: 2-9
Corners: 0-3
Fouls: 3-6
Yellow cards: 1-0
Red cards: 0-0

FT stats: NKM 0-7 LFC
Possession: 30%-70%
Shots: 5-26
On target: 2-14
Corners: 0-9
Fouls: 10-11
Yellow cards: 3-0
Red cards: 0-0

Referee: Viktor Kassai
Man of the match: Roberto Firmino
Ground: Ljudski Stadium
Attendance: 12,506

Click here for my last LFC match report.

All pictures, quotes, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match report and beIN sports live match coverage.