Visualized: Liverpool 3-0 Maribor

Previous Match Infographics: Huddersfield (h), Tottenham (a), Maribor (a), United (h), Newcastle (a), Spartak Moscow (a), Leicester (a), Burnley (h), Sevilla (h), Manchester City (a), Arsenal (h), Hoffenheim (h), Crystal Palace (h), Hoffenheim (a), Watford (a)

Match data from WhoScored, except average position from the LiverpoolFC.com app.



(Here's the formation diagram usually included in match reviews.)

That was almost – almost – more satisfying than strolling 7-0 at Maribor.

Are two matches enough for a trend? Do two swallows make a summer?

0-0 at half time, 3-0 at full time. Against a deep, deep, deep defense. At Anfield. Despite a missed penalty.

It really was Huddersfield all over again. But better, against deeper.

More shots, better shots. Four clear-cut chances, as against Huddersfield, but a higher percentage of Danger Zone shots and a higher Expected Goals total. More possession. Somehow out-tacking and out-intercepting Maribor despite having 75% possession, with ten of 19 tackles and four of ten interceptions in Maribor's half. Better goals. Liverpool didn't require an opposition error to open the scoring, but won the ball back in Maribor's half, sustained possession, and saw both an well-taken cross and finish. Liverpool's second was one of the better goals they've scored this season, and the exact type of move needed to break through 11 defenders: quick passing finished with a wonderful one-two through the heart of the defense, excellently taken by Emre Can. Even the penalty was better won and better taken, even if it ended in the same result.

There were more Maribor shots than Huddersfield shots, but it's hard to have fewer than one, and Maribor's five chances had about the same chance of going in as Huddersfield's one. Liverpool have now allowed one – one! – shot on-target in the last two matches, and that one shot on-target was about as routine as save as possible, low, central and from about 30 yards out.

The massacre in the last meeting forced Maribor to change tactics, formation, and style. Five at the back for the first time this season. An average position which saw all 11 starters in Maribor's half of the pitch.

And it took time for Liverpool to break through, as against Huddersfield. That happens when there are 11 opposition players in one half of the pitch. That happens when Liverpool make two changes to the front six, and need to make a substitution within 17 minutes. And it's frustrating. But it's not the end of the world. It's hard for us to remember there are 90 minutes in a football match, especially when Liverpool's best matches have seen Liverpool at their best from the opening whistle.

And despite that first half frustration, Liverpool score within five minutes of the restart. And Liverpool finish 3-0 winners. Mohamed Salah scores his 10th goal in his 16th start. Emre Can scores his third Champions League goal in his sixth Champions League match this season; he had five goals through all of last season. Liverpool's fullbacks both contribute assists. James Milner creates the most Liverpool chances and tallies an assist in consecutive matches, Daniel Sturridge scores in consecutive matches – something he hasn't done since April 2016. And with two games to play, Liverpool sit top of the group. Liverpool need one win from their last two games to assure qualification to the Champions League knockout rounds, a place they haven't been since 2008.

Six points from six in the last two games, against the type of sides who've frustrated Liverpool in the past two seasons. The sides who have been happy to sit deep and wait for Liverpool to fall apart, either up front or at the back. Or sometimes both. And Liverpool haven't done either.

Two swallows may not make a summer, but it's an awful lot better, and an awful lot more encouraging, than what came before.

Liverpool v Maribor 11.01.17

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.

Visualized: Liverpool 7-0 Maribor

Previous Match Infographics: United (h), Newcastle (a), Spartak Moscow (a), Leicester (a), Burnley (h), Sevilla (h), Manchester City (a), Arsenal (h), Hoffenheim (h), Crystal Palace (h), Hoffenheim (a), Watford (a)

Match data from WhoScored, except average position from the SofaScore app.


(Here's the formation diagram usually included in match reviews.)

I missed you, goals. Yep, it was only a matter of time before Liverpool absolutely went off on someone. Just like we all *looks around shiftily* predicted.

• 53.8% shot accuracy. In the six non-League Cup games following the Manchester City debacle (Sevilla, Burnley, Leicester, Spartak, Newcastle, and United), Liverpool's shot accuracy was 26.1%.

• 33.3% goal conversion. In those previous six games, Liverpool's goal conversion was 9.9%.

• Seven clear-cut chances created, five clear-cut chances scored. In those previous six games, Liverpool created 15 clear-cut chances, but scored only three.

• 19 of 26 shots from inside the box – 73.1%. Just 56.7% of Liverpool's shots in those previous six games came from inside the box.

• 4.5 xG. Liverpool's xG average over the previous six games was just under 2.0. Liverpool's previous xG high under Jürgen Klopp was 3.7, the 4-0 massacre of Everton in 2016.


I also missed you, counter-pressing. All but one of Liverpool's seven goals started in Maribor's half.

• Viler's error and Salah's pace for the first. One pass later, goal.

• Can blocking an attempting clearance, which fell directly to Firmino, to start the move for Liverpool's third. One pass later, goal.

• Can recovering a mis-hit pass out of the back to start the move for Liverpool's fourth. Three passes, goal.

• Can winning a free kick after Maribor couldn't clear Coutinho's free kick for the fifth. One set play cross, goal.

• Suler's error and Sturridge's quick counter and pass to Oxlade-Chamberlain for the sixth. One pass, goal.

• Tavares' weak header picked up by Coutinho, spread wide for Alexander-Arnold for Liverpool's sixth. One pass (and one deflection), goal.

Liverpool had sustained possession prior to the third, fourth, and seventh goals as well. Yes, Liverpool lost possession. But Liverpool didn't let Maribor out. Liverpool swarmed, Liverpool immediately reclaimed possession – by both luck and talent – and Liverpool punched Maribor in the face. Repeatedly.

And that's not to downplay Liverpool's second goal, arguably the best of the bunch. Coutinho recovers the ball in Liverpool's defensive third and charges forward. Firmino holds position as the fulcrum on the halfway line, receives the pass, and immediately looks for a charging Salah down the right. A throughball to Milner, a cross to Coutinho – who, again, started the move basically in Liverpool's penalty area – hit first time past Handanovic. The move took all of 16 seconds.

Go. Go fast. Go fast towards their goal. Don't look back, don't let them get into position. Just go. That's how Liverpool succeed.

The early error and initial onslaught pushed Maribor deeper and deeper. Maribor are also probably the slowest side that Liverpool have faced this season. Maribor committed three errors leading to goals – including the all-important first – and two more leading to shots. Maribor admittedly were not good.

I do not care. Spartak Moscow weren't good, and Liverpool could only draw 1-1. Liverpool had five clear-cut chances in that match as well. Burnley, Newcastle, and United weren't all that impressive either, if to a lesser extent than Maribor or Spartak, and Liverpool could and probably should have won all of those matches.

There are only two matches in recent memory which come close to this level of annihilation: Liverpool's 7-0 FA Cup win at Birmingham in 2005-06 and Liverpool's 8-0 Champions League win over Besiktas in 2007-08. I don't care how bad the opposition may have been. When you're setting records for the joint-biggest Champions League away win, the biggest Champions League away win by an English side, and the club record biggest European away win, you're doing something right.

This was Liverpool's largest margin of victory in a decade. Just let that sink in for a second.

For the third time this season, Liverpool's starting front three all scored – the first time it's happened away from home – and they did so within 19 minutes of opening whistle. The match ended with each of those front three involved in three of the seven goals: two goals and an assist for both Firmino and Salah, two assists and a goal for Coutinho. Coutinho's now scored in four successive away matches. The last Liverpool player to do that was Steven Gerrard in 2013-14, and all of his goals during that stretch came from the penalty spot.

Seven different players created at least one chance, and six of them registered an assist. Five different players created a clear-cut chance: Salah, Milner, Firmino, Moreno, and Sturridge. Only Coutinho created more chances than Milner, making just his third start of the season. While Emre Can doesn't show up on the attacking stat sheet, he was heavily involved in reclaiming possession for the game-killing third and fourth goals.

And at the other end of the pitch, Liverpool kept its first clean sheet away from home this season; they may not have been tested often, but I'll churlishly point out that Maribor put more shots on-target than Manchester United did. And had a slightly higher xG total, thanks to Suler's missed set play clear-cut chance.

Liverpool are now top of their Champions League group on goal difference after Spartak amazingly beat Sevilla 5-1. It's a knot, with Liverpool and Spartak on five points and Sevilla on four. But Liverpool, with two of three matches left at Anfield, are back in control of their own destiny.

And Liverpool, after this performance, need to reclaim their destiny in the Premier League. We almost certainly won't see this potency again this season, but this performance cannot be a one-off. And it starts with Tottenham on Sunday.