Getting back in action after the disappointment of the weekend draw, Liverpool eased past KRC Genk 4-1 in their midweek Champions League match at the Luninus Areena in Belgium.
The result was never really in doubt but the Reds needed to restart their winning form. Having suffered a devastating loss to RB Salzburg, Genk knew that they were likely looking at an oddly similar possibility.
Still, Liverpool have found away matches in Europe a bit more challenging in the last couple of campaigns. Facing the sixth-ranked side in Belgium, however, presented a chance to return to winning ways on the continent.
Inside two minutes, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain struck from just outside the box to begin an evening of domination. The goal almost came too early. Liverpool were able to ease the pressure slightly in the first half, content to control the ball. A few momentary scares by some early Genk counterattacks ensured the Reds would resume imposing themselves but they were exercising patience.
It would take nearly an hour before Oxlade-Chamberlain would finish a beauty for a brace and all but end the contest. Twenty minutes later, Sadio Mané scored and victory was certain. Ten minutes after that, Mo Salah tallied too as Liverpool looked to have exhausted the Belgian hosts.
Genk would pull one back within a couple of minutes with a consolation for their home supporters after the Reds defence struggled to clear the ball cleanly. It was just a bit of untidy and unfortunate sequence at the end of a match that was won.
Here are four findings from the match.
