Liverpool 3-0 Maribor, 5 Talking Points

Liverpool played host to the Slovenian side in an all-important UEFA Champions League game at Anfield. Jurgen Klopp made a couple of changes to the team that played Maribor on match day 3. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain started in the place of injured Philippe Coutinho and Ragnar Klavan in place of Dejan Lovren.

Maribor made five changes from their last meeting with Liverpool. Captain Marcos Tavares dropped to the bench as Darko Milanic deployed a defense-minded starting XI at Anfield

Maribor stuck to their plan and frustrated Liverpool in the first half and it was 0-0 at halftime. But the breakthrough was always coming and Mohamed Salah opened the scoring right after the break. James Milner missed a penalty, but goals from Emre Can and Daniel Sturridge ensured Liverpool got all 3 points.

Let's see the 5 talking points from Liverpool vs Maribor game:

#5 Salah keeps scoring important goals for Liverpool

Liverpool FC v NK Maribor - UEFA Champions League

With Philippe Coutinho and Sadio Mane in and out of the Liverpool side, the Egyptian has been a consistent performer for Liverpool ever since his €42m move during the summer transfer window. He has been directly involved in 13 Liverpool goals in all competitions this season (10 goals, 3 assists).

Again, last night, he was the key man in breaking a stubborn Maribor resistance. It was 0-0 at halftime and Liverpool fans got a little uneasy. In the 49th minute of the game, he opened the scoring for Liverpool, slotting the ball in with a deft finish from a Trent Alexander-Arnold cross. He was involved in almost every attacking move by Liverpool and was a constant threat going forward.

Though he wasted a couple of good chances in the first half, he was a live wire on the field, until he was withdrawn in the 73rd-minute of the game to give some rest ahead of Liverpool's trip to West Ham on Saturday.

Mo Salah's game stats:

Shots on target - 3

Goals - 1

Key Passes - 2

#4 Jean-Claude Billong and Martin Milec were Maribor's best players on the pitch

Liverpool thrashed Maribor 7-0 on matchday 3 at Stadion Ljudski vrt, and Darko Milanic made some changes to the lineup at Anfield. Jean-Claude Billong was given a start at the back. The 23-year-old Frenchman was given the job of keeping Salah and Firmino quiet.

He was brilliant in the first half, and was the first to most of Liverpool crosses, and made some excellent blocks. His relentless efforts kept Liverpool quiet in the first half.

Another name that needs mentioning is the midfielder Martin Milec. He had a superb game on the right side of midfield and was Maribor's only attacking avenue on the night. He created a couple of good chances for Maribor but his teammates failed to capitalize on it. He was impressive at the back and had a good game overall.

If not for these 2, Liverpool would have added a couple of more goals.

Billong's & Milec's combined game stats:

Interceptions - 5

Total Tackles - 5

Clearances - 16

#3 Impressive show by Trent Alexander-Arnold

Jurgen Klopp started young defender Trent Alexander-Arnold on the right. Jurgen Klopp has been giving him chances this season and results are beginning to come. He had an excellent game on Wednesday against Maribor and was Liverpool's key attacking avenue when Maribor crowded Liverpool's penalty area in the first half.

He made some brilliant crosses in the first half, but Salah and Firmino failed to benefit from it. He was lively with his runs and tested Maribor's defence throughout the game as they struggled to deal with his crosses.

It was his cross that opened the deadlock in the second half. Salah finally got to it and slotted it past the goalkeeper to give Liverpool the lead. He showed a great deal of maturity for an 18-year-old and proving to be a huge asset to Jurgen Klopp.

Trent Alexander-Arnold's game stats:

Passes (PA%) - 97 (92.80)

Crosses - 14

Key Passes - 2

Total Tackles - 3

Interceptions - 3

#2 Maribor made Liverpool work hard for 3 points

After a demoralizing defeat at home, Maribor had to do a lot of homework ahead of the tough Anfield fixture. Darko Milanic made some changes to the lineup and right from minute one, Maribor parked the bus in their own box. One cannot blame the Slovenian side after the Matchday 3 defeat.

They thwarted Liverpool for the first 45 minutes, and were organized better defensively. Liverpool never had a clear-cut chance in the first half and Maribor's plan to sit back and defend worked perfectly in the first half. Liverpool had 80% of possession in the first half but made little use of it.

Rajcevic, Suler, and Billong had a great first half at the back, leaving Liverpool's players and fans frustrated. Liverpool played better in the second half and 90 minutes proved too long of a period for Maribor to hold Liverpool back. Liverpool finished the game with a 3-0 win, but nonetheless, it was a spirited performance from Maribor.

#1 Ox showed promise but Liverpool definitely miss Coutinho and Mane

In the absence of his key players, Jurgen Klopp gave Ox his second start in Liverpool colours. He did not disappoint and was very lively in the first half. He failed to create the same sort of impact in the second half but had a good game overall.

He squandered a couple of chances in the first half and Klopp switched him from the left to the right. He created a couple of good crosses, but his teammates did not capitalize on it and were unlucky to see a shot deflected over the crossbar. It was just his second appearance for Liverpool and he will definitely improve with more game time.

The absence of Coutinho and Mane was felt throughout the game, especially in the first half when Liverpool struggled to break open Maribor's defence. They were one dimensional and made it easy for Maribor to sit back and soak up the pressure.

Liverpool missed Coutinho's precision and Mane's defence-splitting runs. Liverpool play Sevilla on matchday 5, and they will need their star duo to return.

Edited by Aakanksh Sanketh