There was plenty of Champions League entertainment on display on Wednesday – but precious little of it in L4.
A rampant, rampaging Liverpool team completely embarrassed Maribor 7-0 two weeks ago as Jurgen Klopp’s men lined up to score in Slovenia and hopes were high that Anfield would see another goal-fest last night.
However, this contest could not have been much different as the Reds toiled – and missed yet another penalty – against a far more determined looking opposition.
However, in the end, Liverpool got the job done as goals from Mohamed Salah, Emre Can and Daniel Sturridge helped them struggle to a win that will be forgotten by everybody involved almost instantly.
Salah, Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino all outclassed Maribor in the first match with their pace and energy but with Coutinho out injured, this clash gave Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain the chance to come in and shine.
Maribor manager Darko Milanic promised that there would be no repeat of that humiliating thrashing but the pre-match statistics did not do the visitors any favours.
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Emre Can doubled Liverpool's lead in the second half
Indeed, they had never kept a single clean sheet in any of their nine previous matches against English opposition.
Early on in this contest, however, they certainly looked more settled and stable at the back and, although Liverpool had more of the ball, Maribor goalkeeper Jasmin Handanovic had little to worry about.
Liverpool had to bide their time as the visitors refused to lay down for the Reds and Klopp’s side were not helped when Georginio Wijnaldum hobbled off after 17 minutes.
As the first half progressed, the feeling grew that it was just a matter of time before Liverpool broke the deadlock as the entire match was played out in Maribor’s half but the ball refused to fall kindly for either Oxlade-Chamberlain, Firmino or Salah.
In fact, there were red shirts all over the penalty area but Liverpool failed to create a really golden opportunity.
After 30 minutes, Firmino went closest to opening the scoring but was denied by a real wonder save from Jasmin Handanovic.
The Liverpool striker outjumped Jean-Claude Billong and nodded goalward, it deflected off Billong on the way and although it looked like it was going to loop over the Maribor keeper, he somehow hung in the air to claw the effort up and onto the crossbar.
After the break, the game awoke from its slumber as Liverpool finally found their scoring touch when Salah beautifully back-heeled Trent Alexander-Arnold’s superb cross past Handanovic after 49 minutes.
Anfield expected the floodgates to open, especially when Firmino was hauled down by Aleksander Rajcevic in the area, but Milner missed the resulting spot-kick as Handanovic did wonderfully well to tip it onto the post.
It was Liverpool’s second consecutive penalty error after Salah’s was saved against Huddersfield on Saturday, they have now missed five of their last seven and an incredible four on the trot at Anfield.
That statistic did little to quell the nerves that could still be felt around the ground although the visitors still did barely little other than kick the danger clear and get every man behind the ball.
And eventually their luck ran out after 64 minutes as Can threaded home a fine effort from outside the box as Liverpool finally twisted the knife and gave themselves some breathing space.
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