3:45pm ET, live in the US on ESPN3 and Fox Soccer Plus
Previous Group results:
Liverpool: 7-0 Maribor (a); 1-1 Spartak (a); 2-2 Sevilla (h)
Maribor: 0-7 Liverpool (h); 0-3 Sevilla (a); 1-1 Spartak (h)
Last three matches:
Liverpool: 3-0 Huddersfield (h); 1-4 Tottenham (a); 7-0 Maribor (a)
Maribor: 1-0 Domzale (a); 1-0 Ankaran Hrvatini (h); 0-7 Liverpool (h)
Goalscorers (Europe):
Liverpool: Firmino, Salah 4; Alexander-Arnold, Can, Coutinho 2; Oxlade-Chamberlain 1
Maribor: Tavares 4; Viler 2; Bohar, Zahovic 1
Referee: Ivan Kružliak (SVK)
Guess at a line-up:
Karius
Trent A-A Matip Klavan Robertson
Wijnaldum Can Milner
Salah Sturridge Firmino
It should go without saying that Liverpool can't stroll into Anfield expecting to whomp Maribor by seven goals again. Supporters cannot expect Liverpool to whomp Maribor by seven goals again.
Yes, Liverpool should win. Yes, we'll have a right to be angry if they don't. But no one - not the players, not us - can expect last time out to automatically happen.
It will, of course, be a slightly different side to the XI from last time as well. Coutinho and Lovren have a small chance of returning from their respective recent injuries, while both Moreno and Gomez have minor issues.
And if Liverpool need to change both full-backs in addition to players already absent and Karius as cup goalkeeper, I wouldn't expect many more alterations. We're all well aware how little Klopp likes to rotate unless need be.
So, give Sturridge another run as striker, another run with Firmino, seeing as how the two scored in the same game when both started for the first time in almost 18 months last match. Oxlade-Chamberlain could start in the front three (midfield's unlikely), but I expect he'll continue to be a substitute for the immediate future. Pick three from the usual four in midfield, and I don't really care whom. The same midfield we saw against Maribor (without Henderson), the same as against Huddersfield (without Can), or the most frequent combination (without Milner). There hasn't been a whole lot of difference between the units; sometimes they play well, sometimes they disappoint. It's been a roll of the dice. I'm guessing the above because Can was seemingly rested on the weekend, Milner did the press conference, and Wijnaldum will be playing at Anfield. But it's very much a guess.
Since we last spoke, Maribor have kept two clean in two matches, and scored two goals. Two 1-0 wins, one home and one away. As if to emphasize that demolition against Liverpool was an aberration.
As a reminder, this was Maribor's team in the last meeting: Handanovic; Milec, Rajcevic, Suler, Viler; Kabha, Vrhovec; Kramaric, Ahmedi, Boher; Tavares. There will probably be some changes; they've no new injuries, but Mesanovic's started both league games (once in place of Ahmedi, once in place of Taveres) and scored both of Maribor's goals. Pihler started both in place of Kramaric, Vrsic both in place of Vrhovec.
Maribor should be cagier than last time. Maribor should give Liverpool fewer opportunities to press. Maribor should put more emphasis on counter-attacking Liverpool (or just attacking Liverpool), especially if we see those changes in defense. Liverpool will have to cope, and as against Huddersfield, Liverpool will have to find a way to break through, no matter how long it takes or how frustrating it is.
After two draws to start the group, Liverpool sit top on goal difference after the massacre in Maribor. Spartak, who surprisingly housed Sevilla in the last round of fixtures to go level on points with Liverpool, travel to Sevilla, who are just a point behind. This is a chance for Liverpool to stake a claim to qualification, before traveling to Sevilla and hosting Spartak in what should be two more difficult fixtures than this.
This is a chance to prove that Liverpool's last match wasn't a fluke. Something Liverpool couldn't do in the match following that massacre at Maribor.
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